Outstanding finance

HPI relies on the UK’s most precise finance agreement database, which contains over 7 million current records. HPI checks reveal that 24 out of every 100 vehicles have unsettled car finance. If you acquire a car with an outstanding loan, you risk losing either the vehicle or the remaining loan amount if it is not paid off during the transaction.

Stolen vehicles

Every day, HPI Check identifies almost 30 vehicles as stolen. Through the use of the Police National Computer, the HPI Check can determine whether the vehicle you are considering purchasing is currently listed as stolen.

However, the HPI Check will not disclose information about vehicles that were previously reported stolen but have since been recovered undamaged. In the event that the vehicle has been retrieved but declared a write-off by an insurance company as a result of the theft, this information will be transferred from the stolen registry to the write-off/condition alert registry.

Written-off

Out of every 100 vehicles examined by HPI, 4 have been written off due to damage or theft. While some can be safely repaired and put back on the road, others are only suitable for scrapping. Since 1997, the HPI Check has employed the Association of British Insurers’ coding system to determine the extent of damage sustained, aiding in distinguishing between the two.

Vehicles that fall within categories A, B, or C of write-offs will have a ‘VIC marker’ placed on them by the DVLA. The VIC, or Vehicle Identity Check, is a program intended to prevent stolen vehicles from being passed off as repaired accident-damaged vehicles, also known as ‘ringing.’ Unless the vehicle has passed a VIC test, the DVLA will not issue a V5 for any vehicle with a VIC marker. Any vehicle that has passed or requires a VIC test will have this noted on the V5. The VIC test does not assess the vehicle’s repair or roadworthiness. In some situations (such as self-insured vehicles), a VIC marker may be applied to a vehicle without an insurance company officially declaring the vehicle a write-off. The HPI Check will reveal the findings of any VIC test that the vehicle has undergone.

Inspection report

conducting an HPI car history check, you can determine whether a vehicle that was once declared a total loss has now passed an independent structural examination and is deemed roadworthy. In the event that the seller is unable to provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, HPI can provide copies of most inspections at an additional cost.

Mileage Problems

Using the National Mileage Register database, the HPI Check scans approximately 125 million records. This database is the most reliable source for preventing mileage tampering and can assist you in determining whether a car displaying a mileage of 32,000 may have actually traveled 132,000 miles.

Vehicle Identity

With the aid of over 60 million entries obtained from the DVLA and DVA (Northern Ireland), the HPI Check can verify whether the GTi that has piqued your interest is truly a GTi and not a disguised CL model. The HPI Check verifies the make, model, derivative, where possible, (i.e. different types of a particular model such as special and luxury editions), door plan, vehicle’s current colour & prior colour, transmission, and engine size, as well as how many times it has changed hands. You will also be informed about the year the car was manufactured and the date it was first registered.

Stolen V5 Document Check

Verify whether the V5 document is part of a batch that has been reported as stolen. If the V5 document is stolen, it is improbable that the vehicle is legitimate.

Plate transfer

HPI has found that 20 out of every 100 cars checked have undergone at least one plate change. Typically, there is no need for concern; however, a plate change can be used to conceal a car’s past. By analysing almost 4 million records dating back over a decade – farther than any other database – the HPI Check identifies plate changes and uncovers potential issues, such as whether the vehicle was previously declared a write-off.

Number Plate and VIN/Chassis number match

HPI provides information on whether the VRM and VIN match the records of DVLA and DVA (Northern Ireland). If they do not match, there is a possibility that the vehicle is a ringer. It is essential to confirm that the identification numbers engraved into the car’s bodywork, on the chassis plate, and behind the windscreen match the documentation and appear genuine.

Security Watch

HPI’s Security Watch service is utilised by numerous organisations, including car rental companies, to register vehicles that should not be sold. The HPI Check identifies whether the vehicle you are interested in purchasing is one of 120,000 cars that may be illegally up for sale.

CO2 Rating

We utilise information from DVLA to inform you about the CO2 rating of the car you are contemplating purchasing. By offering this information, we aim to assist you in making an environmentally conscious decision for your next vehicle purchase. The CO2 bandings serve as a reference for the emissions of the examined vehicle and correspond to the current Vehicle Excise Duty bandings.