Vehicle history checks

Looking for an HPI check? How to check a car’s history for £3.99

Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing

“HPI check” is the trade name of CAP HPI’s vehicle history check. DealerPricing does not sell HPI-branded checks; it offers its own vehicle history check, which searches the same police, insurer, finance and DVLA databases and costs £3.99 (£2.50 for subscribers). Enter the registration, pay, and the report with a PDF is ready in seconds.

£2.50 for subscribers. Stolen, finance, write-off, import/export, keepers, plates and mileage.

Step by step

  1. Open the vehicle history check

    Go to the DealerPricing vehicle history check. It searches the same national databases that branded checks such as HPI use: the Police National Computer, the insurers’ MIAFTR register, finance company records and the DVLA.

    Vehicle history check →

  2. Enter the registration and pay £3.99

    Type the number plate and click "Check History". One-off checks cost £3.99; subscribers pay £2.50 from their account balance. The report is ready in seconds.

    The vehicle history check form with the Check History button
    The vehicle history check form with the Check History button

  3. Read the markers

    The report opens with "Vehicle clear" or "Issues found", then lists each marker: PNC stolen, MIAFTR stolen, finance, write-off, recall, exported, imported, scrapped, colour changes, mileage consistency and plate changes.

    What is included in a DealerPricing history report: stolen, finance, write-off, export/import, scrapped, colour changes, keepers, plate changes, mileage, MOT history, vehicle details and PDF
    What is included in a DealerPricing history report: stolen, finance, write-off, export/import, scrapped, colour changes, keepers, plate changes, mileage, MOT history, vehicle details and PDF

  4. Download the PDF

    Click "Download PDF" to keep a copy. Reports stay in your account for six months, so you can re-open them free of charge.

What you’ll see

  • Stolen status from two sources: the Police National Computer and the insurers’ MIAFTR register
  • Outstanding finance with the lender, agreement type and date
  • Write-off category (A, B, S or N), insurer and loss date
  • Import, export and scrapped markers
  • Keeper count with change dates, plate changes and colour changes
  • Mileage consistency across every MOT reading, and full MOT history
  • Full specification and DVLA tax and MOT status

Ready to try it?

£2.50 for DealerPricing subscribers. Report stored for 6 months with a PDF.

Run a vehicle history check — £3.99 →

Frequently asked questions

What does HPI stand for?

HPI stands for Hire Purchase Information, the company (now CAP HPI) that first offered finance checks in 1938. “HPI check” is its trade name, which is why DealerPricing calls its own product a vehicle history or provenance check. Both search the same national databases.

Why is a DealerPricing check £3.99 when an HPI check costs £19.99?

DealerPricing buys the same data feeds at trade volume and adds no marketing mark-up. The databases searched (PNC, MIAFTR, finance registers, DVLA and DVSA) are the same ones the branded checks from HPI, Experian and the AA search.

Can I get a car history check for free?

No provider can give a genuinely free finance or write-off check because that data is held by private finance and insurance registers that charge per search. Free checks only show DVLA and MOT data. DealerPricing offers those for free and charges only for the provenance databases.

Does the check guarantee the car is clear?

It reports what the databases hold on the day. Very recent finance or theft may not be recorded yet, so always run the check on the day you buy and match the VIN on the report to the car and the V5C.

How long is the report valid for?

The data is a snapshot at the time of the check. DealerPricing stores the report for six months so you can download it again, but for a purchase run a fresh check within 24 hours of paying.

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