What is an HPI Check?
When buying a used car in the UK, you will often hear people say "make sure you get an HPI check." But what exactly does that mean?
What does "HPI" mean?
"HPI" originally stood for Hire Purchase Information. HPI Limited was the first company to offer this service, but today, "HPI check" is often used as a generic term by motorists to describe a comprehensive vehicle history check, much like how "Hoover" is used for vacuum cleaners.
What does a vehicle history check actually do?
A standard MOT or logbook provides different information from a history report. A Full Vehicle History Check is an independent provider-data service that may report available provenance markers, including:
- Outstanding Finance: If the car still has finance owing, the finance company owns it. If you buy it, they can legally repossess it.
- Insurance Write-offs: Reveals if the car was previously written off (e.g., Cat S or Cat N).
- Stolen Markers: Reports available stolen-vehicle markers returned by its data sources. This is not a live police confirmation.
- Mileage Discrepancies: Checks for "clocking" by comparing recorded mileages over time.
- Scrappage Markers: May report scrappage information returned by its available data sources; it is not a direct confirmation from the DVLA.
Is a free check enough?
The information included in a free or paid check varies by service and data source. AI Reg Check's Full Vehicle History Check is a separate paid report; it may return available finance and other provenance markers. No report is a guarantee, so verify important findings and inspect the vehicle before deciding whether to buy.