Buying
HPI check vs MOT history — which checks do you actually need before buying a used car?
A free MOT history check and a paid vehicle history (HPI-style) check answer different questions. Here is what each one covers, what neither covers, and when to spend the money.
"HPI check" has become the generic name for a paid vehicle history check, in the same way "Hoover" means vacuum cleaner. Several companies sell them. The free MOT history is a different thing entirely. You usually want both.
What the free MOT history covers
- Every MOT test result since 2005
- Recorded mileage at each test
- Failure items and advisories
- Current MOT expiry date
It is run by the DVSA, it is free on GOV.UK, and Motofly shows it on every listing. Read our guide to reading MOT history.
What a paid vehicle history check covers
Providers differ, but a full check normally reports:
- Outstanding finance. If a previous owner still owes money on the car, the finance company can repossess it from you.
- Insurance write-off status (Cat A, B, S, N and the older C and D).
- Stolen vehicle markers from the Police National Computer.
- Number plate changes and previous registrations.
- Number of previous keepers and dates of ownership changes.
- Mileage discrepancies cross-checked against multiple sources, not just MOT records.
- Import and export markers.
- Scrapped markers.
- Some include a valuation and a guarantee if the data proves wrong.
A single check usually costs somewhere between £5 and £25 depending on the level of detail. Multi-check bundles are cheaper per car if you are viewing several.
What neither check covers
- Mechanical condition. Only an inspection and a test drive tell you that.
- Service history. Ask the seller for the book and invoices.
- Accident damage that was never claimed on insurance. A car repaired privately after a crash will not appear as a write-off.
- Whether the seller owns the car. Match the V5C to their ID and address.
When to pay for the full check
Always, for any car you are seriously about to buy. The cost is trivial against the risk. Outstanding finance alone is one of the most common ways buyers lose a car and the money they paid for it.
If you are viewing several cars, run the free MOT history on all of them first to rule out the obvious problems, then pay for the full check on the one or two you are ready to buy.
Order of operations
- Free MOT history and tax status — before you travel.
- Paid vehicle history check — before you agree a price.
- Physical inspection and test drive — before you pay. Use the buying checklist.
- Paperwork match (V5C, VIN, ID) — at the point of sale.
Find your next car on Motofly with the MOT history and tax status already on the listing page.