Vehicle history checks

What is a vehicle provenance check and what does it include?

Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing

A vehicle provenance check confirms that a car is what the seller says it is and that nobody else has a claim on it. It searches the Police National Computer, the insurers’ MIAFTR register, finance company records and DVLA and DVSA data, and reports stolen, finance, write-off, import, export, scrapped, keeper, plate and mileage findings. Many people search for this as an “HPI check”, which is CAP HPI’s branded version of the same check.

What you getFree checkHistory check £3.99
Make, colour, fuel, engine, CO2, first registered✓✓
Tax status and due date✓✓
MOT status, expiry and full MOT history✓✓
Mileage at every MOT✓✓ with discrepancy alert
Stolen (Police National Computer + MIAFTR)–✓
Outstanding finance with lender details–✓
Write-off category, insurer and loss date–✓
Imported, exported and scrapped markers–✓
Previous keepers, plate and colour changes–✓
Outstanding safety recall–✓
Full specification (10 sections)–✓
PDF report, stored 6 months–✓
Subscribers pay £2.50 per history check.Free check →History check →

Step by step

  1. Confirm the identity

    The report’s Vehicle Identification section lists the VIN, engine number, make, model, variant, colour and first registration date. Check them against the car and the V5C.

  2. Check for claims on the car

    Stolen (PNC and MIAFTR), outstanding finance and scrapped markers tell you whether someone else legally owns the car or whether it should exist at all.

    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

  3. Check its condition history

    Write-off category, outstanding safety recalls, mileage consistency, MOT history and colour changes show what has happened to the car physically.

  4. Check its paper trail

    Keeper count and change dates, plate changes and cherished transfers, and the date the V5C was last issued show whether the ownership story adds up.

What you’ll see

  • Twelve markers: PNC stolen, MIAFTR stolen, finance, write-off, recall, exported, imported, scrapped, cherished transfer, colour changes, mileage, plate changes
  • Keeper history and plate change history with dates
  • Full specification across ten sections, from engine and dimensions to Euro NCAP and road tax
  • DVLA tax and MOT status plus every MOT test
  • A PDF report kept for six months

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

Is a provenance check the same as an HPI check?

They search the same police, insurance, finance and DVLA sources. “HPI check” is CAP HPI’s trade name for its own product; provenance check, or vehicle history check, is the generic term the motor trade uses, and it is what DealerPricing offers.

What is the difference between a free check and a provenance check?

A free check shows DVLA and MOT data: make, colour, tax, MOT and mileage history. A provenance check adds the private databases that hold theft, finance, write-off, import and keeper records, which is where the real risks sit.

When should I run a provenance check?

Before paying for any used car, ideally on the day you buy. Dealers run one on every car they take in part exchange or buy at auction, because a marker found later is their problem to unwind.

Why does DealerPricing charge £2.50 when others charge £10 to £30?

The platform is built for motor traders who run checks every day, so it buys data at trade volume and charges close to cost. One-off users pay £3.99 for the identical report.

Sources