Full HPI check: write-off, finance and stolen

An HPI check is the industry shorthand for a full vehicle history report: the checks that sit behind licensed databases rather than public ones. Our full report reads the MIAFTR insurance write-off register, the finance registers, the Police National Computer stolen marker and the National Mileage Register, then puts them alongside the DVLA registration history and every MOT test the car has ever taken.

What the full report covers

• Insurance write-off category (Cat A, B, S or N) with the loss type, damage areas and the insurer
• Outstanding finance, with the finance house, agreement type and a number to call
• Police National Computer stolen marker
• National Mileage Register readings, which fill the gaps between annual MOT tests
• Plate transfers, colour changes, keeper count and V5C logbook issues
• Import, export, scrapped and Certificate of Destruction markers
• Road tax rates, factory specification and Euro NCAP safety scores
• Every MOT test with advisories, plus salvage auction appearances from our own database

Why the write-off category is the one that matters

A car written off by an insurer and put back on the road is worth substantially less than the same car with a clean record, and a private seller is not always forthcoming about it. The category tells you what kind of damage it was: Cat S means structural damage was recorded, Cat N means non-structural, and Cat A and Cat B cars should never be back on the road at all.

Outstanding finance is the one that costs you the car

If an agreement is still running, the finance company may still legally own the vehicle, which means it can be repossessed from you after you have paid the seller. Ask for a settlement letter before any money changes hands.

Start free if you only need the basics

Not every car needs a paid report. The free vehicle history check covers MOT history, the mileage timeline and clocking detection, tax and MOT status at no cost. Free-filter several cars first, then run the full report on the one you actually want. You can also check the mileage, decode the VIN (or read how to read one first) and see MOT pass rates for the model for free.

Comparing providers? See how we stack up against HPI Check, against carVertical and against Experian AutoCheck.