HPI check
Also known as: HPI checks, vehicle history check, car history check
An HPI check is a UK vehicle history report that confirms whether a car is stolen, has outstanding finance, has been written off, has mileage discrepancy, or has had its plate, colour or keeper details changed.
The term "HPI check" comes from Hire Purchase Information, the company that first provided finance and provenance lookups to UK motor traders in the 1930s. Today, the term is used generically to refer to any UK vehicle provenance check, regardless of provider.
A modern HPI check queries four core UK national databases: the Police National Computer (PNC) for stolen vehicles, the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) for insurance write-offs, finance company registers for outstanding hire purchase or PCP agreements, and DVLA records for keeper, plate, colour and tax history. Most modern HPI checks also include the vehicle's full MOT history from the DVSA API.
On DealerPricing, an HPI check costs £2.50 for subscribers and £3.99 for one-off non-members. This is significantly cheaper than the traditional HPI Group check at around £19.99, while querying the same source databases.
You should run an HPI check before buying any used vehicle in the UK. Even on a vehicle that visually looks fine, the check is the only way to confirm there's no outstanding finance attached, the vehicle isn't reported stolen, and the mileage and keeper records are consistent.
Related terms
- Vehicle provenanceVehicle provenance is the verified history of a UK vehicle's ownership, status and incidents — covering stolen markers, finance, write-offs, mileage, plate changes, and keeper history.
- Category S write-offCategory S means a UK vehicle has been written off due to structural damage but has been (or can be) repaired and legally returned to the road.
- Outstanding financeOutstanding finance means a UK vehicle has an active hire purchase, PCP or other finance agreement registered against it — and the finance company has the legal right to repossess the vehicle even after sale.
- Mileage discrepancyA mileage discrepancy occurs when a UK vehicle's recorded mileage decreases between MOT tests or other records — the leading indicator that the odometer has been illegally tampered with.