Vehicle information provider HPI is lending its support to the Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) scheme, which is being launched on 7 April.
The scheme, which is part of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001, has been developed to deter criminals from disguising stolen cars as repaired or accident damaged. Vehicle crime accounts for a fifth of all recorded crimes.
HPI director Martin Brassell said: "HPI has been a member of the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) group looking at this issue.
"Based on our experience with the HPI Condition Inspected scheme (in operation since 1990), we were keen to ensure that new measures were put in place to make salvage vehicles less susceptible to `ringing.'
"HPI is committed to working with insurers and other parties to broaden the depth and range of information on damaged cars, so that all vehicles that should go through the VIC do go through it."
