An HPI check is a vehicle history check that searches the finance, insurance, police and DVLA records attached to a car's registration and VIN. It tells you whether the car has outstanding finance, has been written off, is recorded as stolen, has a mileage discrepancy or has changed plates. It takes two minutes and costs less than a tank of fuel, and every car on our forecourt has one before it goes on sale. Here's exactly what it covers, what it can't see, and how to run one yourself.
What "HPI" actually means
HPI is a company (Hire Purchase Information, founded in 1938) whose name has become the generic term for a vehicle history check, the way "Hoover" became the word for a vacuum cleaner. Several providers now run the same kind of check against the same core databases: HPI, Experian AutoCheck, the AA, the RAC and others. When we say every DriveSure car is HPI checked, we mean it has been through a full provenance check and you get the certificate with the keys.
What an HPI check covers
| Check | Where the data comes from | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding finance | Finance companies' asset registers | If the previous owner still owes money on a PCP or HP agreement, the finance company owns the car, not you. They can repossess it even though you paid for it. |
| Insurance write-off | Insurers' total-loss register (MIAFTR) | Shows whether the car was declared a Category A, B, S or N write-off, and when. S and N cars can be legally repaired and sold, but must be priced and described as such. |
| Stolen | Police National Computer | A stolen car is returned to its owner. You lose the car and the money. |
| Mileage discrepancy | National Mileage Register, MOT records, previous checks | A mileage lower than an earlier record is evidence of clocking, which is still common on cars under £5,000. |
| Plate changes | DVLA | Plate transfers are legal, but a car with several changes can be hiding a write-off or a previous identity. |
| Imported / exported / scrapped | DVLA | An imported car may have no UK history; a car marked scrapped shouldn't be on the road at all. |
| Keeper and colour changes | DVLA | Should match the V5C in front of you. A mismatch means more questions. |
| Valuation and spec | Provider's own data | A guide, not gospel, but a useful sanity check on the asking price. |
Write-off categories, explained in a sentence each
- Cat A: scrap only; nothing can be reused. Should never be on the road.
- Cat B: body shell must be crushed; parts can be salvaged. Should never be on the road.
- Cat S (structural): structural damage, repairable. Legal to sell once repaired, but needs to be described as Cat S and priced well below a clean car.
- Cat N (non-structural): damage to non-structural parts (panels, electrics, interior). Legal to sell once repaired; same rule on description and price.
- Cat C / Cat D: the pre-October-2017 equivalents of S and N. You'll still see them on older cars.
We don't buy written-off cars for the forecourt. That's a choice, not a legal requirement, and it's one of the ways we keep the stock simple to trust.
What an HPI check can't tell you
A history check is a search of records. It can only find what's been recorded, and plenty of things never are:
- Accident damage that wasn't claimed on insurance. A car repaired privately after a crash has no write-off marker. The only way to find it is to look: panel gaps, paint texture, overspray, replaced bolts.
- Mechanical condition. The check knows nothing about the clutch, the gearbox, the turbo or the timing chain. That's what a service history, a test drive and (if you want one) an independent inspection are for.
- Whether the service history is genuine. Stamps can be faked. Receipts with a garage's name and the car's registration are harder to fake.
- Very recent events. Finance agreements and write-offs can take days or weeks to reach the registers. A check from last month doesn't cover last week; that's why a dealer's certificate should be dated close to the sale.
- Private debts. If the previous owner borrowed against the car informally, there's no record to find.
Which is why we'd never say an HPI check is enough on its own. It's the first of five checks, alongside the MOT history, the V5C, the service history and a proper test drive.
How to run your own check
- Free first: the GOV.UK vehicle enquiry service (tax and MOT status) and the GOV.UK MOT history service give you mileage at every test, advisories and the car's basic details for nothing. If the make, colour or engine size don't match the car in front of you, stop there.
- Then a paid check: a full check from HPI, Experian, the AA or the RAC costs roughly £10 to £20 for one car, with cheaper multi-car bundles if you're looking at several. Type in the registration; you'll get the result in a couple of minutes.
- Read the whole report, not just the green tick. Look at the number of keepers, the dates of any plate changes, and whether the mileage record is continuous.
- Match the VIN. The report's VIN should match the V5C and the plate at the base of the windscreen and under the bonnet. Three matches, or walk away.
- Keep the certificate. It's your evidence of what was known on the day you bought.
If the check shows outstanding finance
It's more common than you'd think, especially on cars under £5,000 sold privately, and it isn't always sinister: a lot of owners simply forget the agreement is still running. What matters is that it's settled before you pay. If you're buying from a dealer, the dealer settles it as part of buying the car in, and the certificate you're given should show the car clear. If you're buying privately, the seller needs a settlement letter from the finance company and the money needs to go to the finance company first, with written confirmation. If the seller won't do that, don't buy the car.
When we buy cars from people in Blackwood and the surrounding area we handle this routinely: we settle the finance directly and pay the seller the difference, and the car doesn't go on sale until the register shows it clear.
Your questions answered
What does an HPI check show?
Whether the car has outstanding finance, has been recorded as an insurance write-off (and which category), is reported stolen, has a mileage discrepancy, has changed registration plates, has been imported or exported, and whether its recorded details match the V5C.
How much does an HPI check cost?
Around £10 to £20 for a single car from HPI, Experian, the AA or the RAC, with multi-car bundles cheaper per check. The GOV.UK tax, MOT status and MOT history checks are free and worth running first.
Is an HPI check free?
The full check isn't, but GOV.UK offers free checks of a car's tax and MOT status and its complete MOT history, which cover mileage and basic details. Every car sold by DriveSure includes a full HPI certificate at no extra cost.
Can I buy a car with outstanding finance?
Not safely until it's settled. The finance company owns the car until the agreement is paid off and can repossess it from you. Buy from a dealer who settles it as part of buying the car in, or make sure a private seller settles it with written confirmation before you pay.
Is a Cat S or Cat N car worth buying?
It can be if it's been properly repaired, described honestly and priced well below a clean car, but it will always be worth less and some insurers charge more. DriveSure doesn't sell written-off cars.
What can't an HPI check tell me?
Mechanical condition, accident damage repaired without an insurance claim, whether the service history is genuine, and very recent events that haven't reached the registers yet. Pair it with the MOT history, the V5C, the service history and a test drive.
In short
- An HPI check searches finance, insurance, police and DVLA records for outstanding finance, write-offs, theft, mileage and plate changes.
- Cat S and N cars are legal to sell but must be described as such; DriveSure doesn't sell write-offs at all.
- The check can't see mechanical condition or unclaimed accident repairs; use it with the MOT history, V5C, service history and a test drive.
- Run the free GOV.UK checks first, then a £10–£20 full check, and match the VIN in three places.
- Outstanding finance must be settled before you pay; a dealer does this when buying the car in.
