What is a HPI Check?
HPI Check® refers to a service offered by HPI Ltd, the first company to offer vehicle provenance checks in Britain.
These advanced car checks go beyond publicly available data to provide a detailed picture of a car’s history.
It’s important to note that ‘HPI Check’ is also used as a generic term, which many people use to refer to any comprehensive paid car check service. Other notable providers include RAC, The AA, CarVertical, and Instant Car Check.
A HPI or paid car check should provide all the information you need to make a confident, informed buying decision – or walk away from the sale.
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What does a HPI check show?
A HPI check covers more than 80 data points and examines the records held for a vehicle to give you a comprehensive view of its background and history.
HPI checks and other paid car history check services dig deeper than free car checks, uncovering whether the car has:
- Been involved in an accident and/or written off.
- Outstanding finance.
- Been reported as stolen.
These insights can help you avoid serious financial and safety issues. If you’re thinking about buying a used car, we strongly advise investing in a HPI check.
How does a HPI check compare to other car check services?
| Check type | Free | HPI/paid car history check | Pre-purchase inspection (PPI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOT and tax info | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Basic car details | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stolen/scrapped/write-off check (Cat A,B,C,D,S,N) | ❌ | ✅ | ⚠️ Visual inspection. |
| Finance owed on car | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mileage check | ⚠️ MOT report only. | ✅ | ✅ |
| Service history | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ If available. |
| Tyres, brakes, battery, and steering | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Engine and mechanics | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Road test | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Sometimes included. |
| Cost | Free | £3-£10 per check or up to £20 (multiple). |
From £50 (basic) up to £270. |
An instant check service can provide a solid foundation when researching a car that you’re interested in without any monetary investment.
If everything seems to be in order, it’s worth getting a HPI check to ensure there are no discrepancies in its history.
Finally, a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is an examination carried out by an independent mechanic. This can highlight hidden mechanical concerns that may not have been flagged by other car checks.
Can I get a free HPI check?
No, there is no such thing as a free HPI check, so be wary of any companies purporting to offer this service.
Whilst free equivalents can provide a good starting point, their reports lack crucial details that should inform your purchasing decision (e.g. enhanced mileage checks or, whether the Police National Computer [PNC] shows it has been reported stolen).
If you’re still keen on the car, invest in a paid check to make sure there are no areas of concern.
Are there cheaper alternatives to a HPI check?
Yes, some alternative services offer reports with many of the data points featured on HPI reports, and often at lower price points.
The cheapest providers offer checks for under £5 while more comprehensive services usually cost around £10 for a single check, which aligns with HPI’s Ltd.'s pricing.
Here are some of the most popular options:
| Service | Overview | |
|---|---|---|
| CarGuide | Comprehensive car history checks with many of the same data points as a HPI check. | |
| Total Car Check | Silver checks cover key data; Gold checks offer a more comprehensive report. | |
| eBay & Gumtree | Provided by HPI Check with the same trusted data sources. Comes with a £30,000 data guarantee. | |
| Parkers check | Reports include many HPI features, but data guarantee is limited to £10,000. | |
| VIN-INFO | Car history checks available using registration number or VIN. |
What should I consider when choosing a car check provider?
Don’t hastily select the cheapest option. Check the list of features, make sure the report covers everything you need to know, review the data sources, and read independent customer reviews.
Not all reports offer the same level of cover as HPI (i.e. a £30,000 data guarantee in the event of inaccurate or incomplete data). Some alternatives only offer a £10,000 guarantee (or none), so proceed with care.
If in any doubt, it’s worth paying slightly more for a HPI check, as this is the trusted industry standard.
Why invest in a HPI check?
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Additional peace of mind
According to HPI data, 1 in 3 cars has a hidden history.
Running a HPI check can reveal issues that the seller may not have disclosed, helping you avoid legal and financial implications.
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Confirms V5C logbook
A HPI check will confirm whether the V5C logbook matches the vehicle – and verify the vehicle identification (VIN) if provided. This helps protect you against cloning and fraud whilst confirming the seller’s legal right to sell the car.
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Reveals MOT history and mileage issues
1 in 11 UK cars have mileage discrepancies, which could indicate odometer tampering!
HPI checks go further than standard checks by flagging any mileage discrepancies recorded on the National Mileage Register (NMR).
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Flags outstanding finance
1 in 6 HPI checks reveal finance issues. A car with outstanding finance cannot legally be sold on the private market – and if you unwittingly buy one, you could lose your car and your cash!
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Checks for stolen reports
Buying a stolen car could also lead to it being seized without a refund. A HPI check will confirm whether a car is listed as stolen with the police or an insurer.
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Number plate change and import/export history
Shows any changes to the car’s number plate and whether it has been imported or exported. This can affect its value, insurance premiums, and part availability.
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Includes valuation
HPI checks include four different types of car valuation: new price, trade-in, private sale, and forecourt value.
Knowing the value of your motor makes it easier to haggle and decide on the best way to sell your car.
HPI reports also include a depreciation timeline graph, showing how your car’s value may change over time. This can help you choose the best time to sell your car.
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Fuel cost check
Some HPI checks include a 12,000-mile fuel cost estimate, which can be helpful when working out the running costs of a car you’re interested in.
Does a HPI check show accidents?
Yes, a HPI check report can tell you whether a car has been involved in an accident, but only if the accident was recorded by an insurer, salvage company, or the DVLA. This includes write-offs and insurance claims.
It’s important to note that the report won’t flag unreported accidents or privately paid-for repairs.
Therefore, for complete peace of mind, it’s a good idea to combine a HPI check with a pre-purchase inspection. An inspection by an unaffiliated mechanic can detect signs of damage or repairs that a HPI check won’t pick up.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
If you have your car’s VIN number, you can request a VIN/chassis number check as part of your HPI check. Remember, you’ll also need the registration number to initiate the check.
Providing the VIN allows HPI to confirm that it matches the number referenced in the V5C logbook, helping ensure the car’s identity is accurate. The VIN is checked against data from trusted sources, including the DVLA, insurance, and police records.
A VIN number check will uncover any issues recorded against the VIN. You may find discrepancies that indicate fraud, such as a stolen or illegal ‘cut and shut car’, (where two cars are welded together).
Yes, if you only have the VIN, you can use VIN-INFO to get a report with many HPI Check data points.
No, the DVLA does not carry out HPI checks.
Their vehicle information service can provide you with surface-level details such as the CO2 emissions level, tax and MOT expiry date.
However, you’ll need to invest in a HPI or comprehensive check to uncover deeper insights such as outstanding finance and write-off status.
A HPI check will only flag a vehicle as stolen if it’s currently listed as such on the Police National Computer (PNC).
If the car has been recovered and the PNC record updated, the stolen marker will be removed. This means the vehicle will no longer be flagged as stolen on an HPI check.
Yes, a HPI check will show each recorded date, mileage, and test result in your MOT history. The report will also contain any past advisory notes and the reason(s) for refusal with any failed MOTs.
An ‘advisory’ refers to a potential issue flagged during an MOT test.
Whilst these minor faults won’t cause your car to fail its MOT, they could develop into critical issues if left unchecked.
You can see a vehicle’s advisory history by getting a HPI check or using webuyanycar’s free MOT check tool.
No, a HPI check won’t tell you the registered keeper of a vehicle.
To find the registered keeper of a vehicle, you can:
- Refer to the V5C logbook.
- Submit a V888 form to the DVLA. You must have ‘reasonable cause’ (e.g. finding the person responsible for an accident or tracing the registered keeper of an abandoned vehicle).
