Last updated 1 November 2026.
What does HPI check mean?
Strictly, an HPI check is the check sold by HPI Ltd, and "hpi check" is its registered trade mark. In everyday speech, people use the name for any used car history check: a search of databases for outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen records, mileage problems and number plate changes, using the car's registration. HPI, short for Hire Purchase Information, was founded in 1938 and made these checks well known. Today many other providers sell the same kind of check under their own names.
What does an HPI check show?
A full car history check usually covers:
- Outstanding finance: whether money is still owed on the car. If it is, the lender can take the car back, even after you've paid the seller.
- Insurance write-off: whether the car was written off (Cat A, B, S or N). See the write-off check guide.
- Stolen: whether the car is recorded as stolen.
- Mileage: readings that don't add up, which can mean the car has been clocked.
- Plate and keeper changes: private plate transfers and how many keepers the car has had.
- Scrapped, imported or exported: status flags that can explain gaps in the car's history.
What's included varies by provider and by price, so check the list before you buy.
How much does an HPI check cost?
A full history check with finance, write-off and stolen records cost between £3.99 and £19.99 at the nine UK providers we compared on 26 October 2026. HPI Check itself was £19.99. The extra money at the higher end mostly pays for a data guarantee, usually up to £30,000. The full table, with sources, is on the car check prices page.
HPI check vs other car history checks
| HPI Check | Car Control Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Price for one full check | £19.99 | £6.99 |
| Outstanding finance, write-off, stolen | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage check | Yes | Yes, from every MOT reading |
| Plate changes and number of keepers | Yes | Yes |
| Data guarantee | Up to £30,000 | None |
HPI prices from hpicheck.com, checked 26 October 2026. HPI and HPI Check are trade marks of HPI Ltd. Car Control isn't affiliated with HPI Ltd.
Is an HPI check worth it?
Yes, if you're buying from a private seller or a small trader. Outstanding finance, write-offs and stolen records aren't public, so a history check is the only way to see them before you pay. A cheaper check covers the same kinds of records. A check with a data guarantee costs more, and can be worth it for an expensive car.
Can I do an HPI check for free?
Not a full one. MOT history and the mileage recorded at each test are free on GOV.UK, and Car Control's free preview confirms the car and shows how many tests and mileage readings we hold. Finance, write-off and stolen records always need a paid check.