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What is an HPI check?

"HPI check" is the common name people use for a vehicle history check, named after HPI Ltd, one of the original UK companies to offer this kind of check. Today it's used generically, the same way "hoover" means any vacuum cleaner.

What it actually checks

• Outstanding finance — whether the current owner still owes money on the car. If they do and don't pay it off, the finance company can legally repossess the car from you, even after you've bought it.
• Stolen status — whether the vehicle is recorded as stolen with the police.
• Write-off / insurance category — whether an insurer has previously declared the car a total loss after an accident, and how severe the damage was (see our guide to Category S and Category N).
• Keeper and plate history — how many previous keepers the car has had, and whether the number plate has ever been changed.

What it doesn't check

An HPI-style check doesn't replace a physical inspection. It won't tell you if the engine sounds right, if the tyres are worn, or if the seller is being honest about the mileage in person — that's what our free 47-point inspection checklist is for.

Do I need one?

If you're buying from a private seller (rather than an established dealer with their own guarantees), it's genuinely one of the highest-value checks you can do — the cost is small compared to the risk of unknowingly buying a car that's stolen, on finance, or a write-off.