What "vehicle provenance" actually means
Provenance is the verified history of a UK vehicle — every recorded event on the vehicle's national record. A clean provenance check tells you the vehicle is legally clear to buy: not stolen, no outstanding finance, no concealed write-off, no mileage discrepancy.
Every check, every database
Each check queries the four core UK national databases plus the DVSA MOT API.
- PNC — Police National Computer, for stolen vehicles
- MIAFTR — Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register, for write-offs (Cat A / B / S / N)
- Finance company registers — hire purchase, PCP, conditional sale
- DVLA — keeper, colour, plate and registration history
- DVSA MOT API — full MOT record with mileage at every test
Provenance vs HPI vs vehicle check
These terms overlap. "HPI check" is a specific brand name that became generic. "Provenance check" is the broader category. "Vehicle check" can mean anything from a free MOT lookup to a full provenance report.
DealerPricing's paid check covers the full provenance — every register, every marker. The free check (at /free-vehicle-check) covers only the public DVLA / DVSA data.