OF THE 350,000 cars that are stolen every year, only half of these are recovered. The remaining 175,000 end up as burnt-out wrecks, are exported by organised gangs, or end up back in the marketplace, offered for sale to unsuspecting buyers.

Figures for the amount of cars that are “written off” then sold on by unscrupulous individuals and businesses as a bargain buy are unknown, but, if you find that you have bought a stolen car, you could lose both your money and your vehicle. Or, in the case of a write-off, maybe even your life.

However, insurance website www.thequotenetwork.co.uk has the solution. Called Car Data Checking, its new service gives buyers immediate online access to a vehicle’s history, such as whether it is stolen or damaged and the number of previous owners.

The service covers cars, commercial vehicles, motorbikes and motor homes and at just £15 is half the price of other similar services

Buy online at www.thequotenetwork. co.uk/carwatch