What is an HPI check, and what does it cover?
“HPI check” has become the everyday name for a used-car history check: a look at the records held against a registration to make sure the car isn't stolen, written off or still owned by a finance company.
In short
- An “HPI check” is a vehicle history check. The name comes from HPI, one of the first companies to sell them, but many providers offer the same kind of check.
- It checks the things you can't see by looking at a car: outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records, plate and keeper changes, and mileage history.
- MOT history and tax status are free to check. Finance, stolen and write-off records need a paid check.
- Run one before you pay for any used car, even from someone you know.
Where the name comes from
HPI (originally Hire Purchase Information) began by keeping a register of cars with finance owed on them, so dealers could avoid buying them. Its name stuck, and “HPI check” is now used for any vehicle history check, much like “Hoover” for a vacuum cleaner. Your Car Data isn't affiliated with HPI. HPI is a trade mark of its owner.
What a history check looks at
| Check | Why it matters | Free or paid? |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding finance | If money is still owed on hire purchase or PCP, the finance company may own the car, not the seller. More on finance. | Paid |
| Stolen | A stolen car can be taken back by the police, leaving you with no car and no money. More on stolen cars. | Paid |
| Insurance write-off | Shows whether an insurer wrote it off, and the category (A, B, S or N). More on write-offs. | Paid |
| Plate and keeper history | Lots of owners in a short time, or recent plate changes, can be a sign of trouble. | Paid |
| Scrapped, imported, exported | A car recorded as scrapped or exported shouldn't normally be on the road. | Paid |
| Mileage history | Readings that go backwards suggest the car has been clocked. | Free from MOT records; a cross-check against other records is paid |
| MOT history | Every pass, fail and advisory since 2005. How to check MOT history. | Free |
| Tax status | Whether it's taxed and when the tax runs out. How to check tax. | Free |
What you can check free
MOT history, mileage readings from MOT tests, and tax status are all public records, and you can check them for free on GOV.UK or with the Your Car Data free check, which puts them together and flags anything worth asking about. Start there: it often rules a car out before you spend anything.
What needs a paid check
Finance agreements, police stolen-vehicle records and insurance write-off records aren't public. A paid history check gets them from the registers that hold them. These are the checks that protect your money: a free check won't tell you that a finance company owns the car.
When to run one
- Before you travel to see a car: run the free check and compare it with the advert.
- Before you pay, even a deposit: run the full history check. Do it on the day, because finance and stolen records can change.
- Buying from a dealer? Dealers should check, but it costs little to see the results yourself.
What a check can't tell you
A history check shows what's on record. It can't tell you about the car's mechanical condition, damage that was never claimed on insurance, or a service history the seller hasn't shown you. Read it alongside a careful viewing and test drive: our used car buying checklist covers the rest.
Check a vehicle now
Free MOT, mileage and tax check for any UK car, van or motorbike. The full history check (stolen, write-off, outstanding finance, a valuation and more) is £7.49.
No account, no subscription · pay per report