When looking or inspecting a car you are interested in you will check all the interior and exterior condition but you might also be aware that you need an HPI check.

There are a number providers who provide an HPI. HPI check also known as vehicle history check reveal the car’s history

HPI is information provided by the Police, DVLA and other regulated companies, which shows data about a cars history. This data includes

• Car finance
• Written off
• Scrapped
• Colour change
• Number of keepers
• Car Mot

And much more…

What does an HPI check reveal? What doesn’t show up on an HPI check? What does an HPI check reveal?

Outstanding finance

Nearly 25% of vehicles that have had HPI check have outstanding finance. The downside of this is you will be buying someone else’s debt. If you do happen to buy a car with outstanding finance, the car will be taken off you from the finance company

Stolen

Approx. 30 cars are identified as stolen and added to the Police National Computer. If your vehicle is one of them, the police can seize the car

Written-off

4% of vehicles that undergo an HPI check have been written off as a result of damage or theft. So when buying a car make sure the repair work carried out is appropriate and the car is roadworthy.

Number plate and VIN/chassis numbers

A car check will tell you whether the VRM and VIN correspond to DVLA records. If they don’t, there could be a number of problems with the vehicle.

These are only a small fraction of things included in a HPI check, but we do advise people to carry out a check to save them from buying a car which can lead them to losing their money

What doesn’t show up on an HPI check?

There are some things that an HPI check doesn’t disclose.

• Who the owner is
• Address where the car is