When you are considering purchasing a used vehicle such as a car, van, or motorbike in the UK, it’s important to run a car history check. This will ensure vehicle doesn’t have hidden problems that could cause issues in the future. A hpi check verifies if the vehicle has been stolen, has outstanding finance associated with it, has ever been written off, has switched registration plates and much more. It gathers the information held against the vehicle by finance and insurance companies, the DVLA, the Police and other industry bodies.
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What does HPI Stand for?
Hire Purchase Inspection; looking into ownership and MOT history and other things that the seller may have failed to mention.
What is Included in a HPI Check?
Some of the important checks include:
Stolen Check
If the vehicle is flagged on the Police National Computer or insurance as stolen the vehicle will be flagged on a HPI report.
Insurance write-off
If a vehicle has been too badly damaged to be repaired the insurance company may declare it a total loss. A used car can be written off if it has been involved in any accident, and therefore written off by the DVLA.
Outstanding Finance
Most finance agreements grant the lender ownership of the vehicle until the debt has been paid. The debt stays with the vehicle not the borrower. A car history check will reveal if the car has a finance agreement.
Recorded as Scrapped
If a vehicle has been marked as scrapped by the DVLA it will flag up on the history report.
VIN/Chassis Check
Car history check will reveal the last 4 of VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and complete engine number to ensure it matches with the V5C/Logbook.
Logbook Check
Checks the logbook belongs to the vehicle you’re looking at and is the most recent issue.
How Much Does a HPI Check Cost?
A HPI check will typically cost around £20, but you can purchase an alternative check from Full Car Checks for only £8.99.
Full Car Checks is not affiliated with HPI Limited.