We’re partnered with HPI Check to help you get the best car check.

A car check will confirm the following details:

1. Vehicle Description – a car check will confirm the car description registered with the DVLA. This will include the year of manufacture and date of first registration in the UK as well as the number of previous keepers registered and the date of last keeper change
2. Plate changes – Where the car has undergone one or more registration plate changes, you will be advised of each previous registration plate and the date it was applied to the vehicle. Each previous plate will be checked for any current title interests as described above
3. Outstanding finance – If there’s an active loan or finance agreement on the car. A car history check also provides details on finance type, date of agreement, finance company and contact details
4. Recorded stolen – If the car is currently recorded as stolen with the police
5. Insurance write-off – If the car has been too badly damaged to be repaired safely or economically. Has the insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss?
6. MOT History – Where available a car reg check will provide information directly from the DVLA from every MOT test, including mileage, advisory notes and the final pass/fail status
7. VIN/Chassis check* – A car history check will check for issues recorded against the registration number and the vehicles identification number. *VIN required
8. Imported/Exported – Has the car been imported or exported? It can be difficult to find out information on the history of the imported vehicle prior to its registration in the UK. It can be difficult to buy replacement parts for an import and the cost of insurance for an imported car is significantly higher. An exported vehicle should not be in the country which could raise questions about the identity of the vehicle. You would also not be able to insure a car that has been marked exported by the DVLA.

Information provided in the car check comes from a variety of data sources. These include: the DVLA, Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), the Police, The Association of British Insurers, and numerous finance companies.

The report is delivered on screen to you immediately after you purchase the car history check. You will also get an email. You should save this email for future reference as you will require the reference number to update your car check.

A car check does not provide the names of or information pertaining to a car’s previous or current owner(s).

A car check will not provide information on every accident a car has been in. Accident damage is only identified where an insurance company has registered the vehicle as a write-off.

A car check will not provide any details on the service history of a car.

A car check will not assess the mechanical condition of a car. 

A car check will not provide any details if the car has been stolen and recovered unless there are outstanding interests or the vehicle was subject to being written off as a total loss by the insurer.

Where an interest is recorded on the car history check you will be advised as to the type of interest as well as an explanation as to what the interest means. If you are unsure what to do next please contact the seller and seek an explanation. If you are still unsure about the car purchase, do not go ahead with the transaction.

You of course want to protect your new pride and joy and ensure your investment is as exactly as it should be.

From 1954 manufacturers started using serial numbers to identify vehicles. There was no standard for vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and manufacturers all used their own individual coding system. This meant that a number of vehicles and other items could carry the same number. In 1981 a worldwide standard was developed for VINs and therefore every vehicle became unique and could be tracked back to its place of origin.

If your vehicle is pre 1981 then it’s possible for its non-unique serial number to be attributed to another vehicle or even vehicles. If this happens to you then HPI Check would be happy to provide you with a letter of authenticity after they have thoroughly investigated its history for you. There is no extra charge for this service.