Free Car Check vs Paid HPI Checks: Which Should You Choose?

Vehicle history checks are essential, but should you use a free car check or pay £10-£30 for a full car check? Here's everything you need to know to make the right choice.

A free car check gives you basic vehicle information like MOT history and specifications. Paid services provide comprehensive reports covering finance, write-offs, and stolen status. Both have their place - the key is knowing when to use each.

What Free Checks Reveal

DVLA Vehicle Enquiry (100% Free)

Website: gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

This free car check requires only the vehicle registration number and shows:

What It Shows:

• Make and model
• Year of manufacture
• Engine size
• Fuel type
• Color
• MOT expiry date
• Current tax status
• When V5C logbook issued
• CO2 emissions
• Export marker (if vehicle exported)

What It DOESN'T Show:

• Outstanding finance ❌
• Stolen status ❌
• Write-off history ❌
• Mileage history ❌
• Number plate changes ❌
• Previous owners ❌

Best For:

• Verifying basic vehicle details
• Checking tax/MOT status
• Confirming registration details match

Limitations:

• No hidden history revealed
• No financial information
• No safety concerns flagged
• Misses most deal-breakers

MOT History Check (100% Free)

Website: gov.uk/check-mot-history

This essential free vehicle check reveals mileage history and test records:

What It Shows:

• All MOT test results (pass/fail)
• Test dates
• Recorded mileage at each test
• MOT expiry dates
• Failure reasons
• Advisory items
• Dangerous/major/minor defects

What It DOESN'T Show:

• Stolen status ❌
• Outstanding finance ❌
• Write-offs ❌
• Accidents ❌
• Number plate changes ❌

Best For:

• Checking mileage progression (spot clocking)
• Identifying recurring issues
• Seeing maintenance quality
• Understanding vehicle condition history

How to Use It:

• Check mileage goes UP consistently
• Look for patterns (same issue multiple years)
• Note advisory items becoming failures
• Identify neglect or poor maintenance

Example Red Flag:

• 2020: 45,000 miles
• 2021: 52,000 miles
• 2022: 38,000 miles ⚠️ CLOCKED
• 2023: 41,000 miles

Car Sorted Free Car Check

Website: getcarsorted.com/free-car-check

What It Shows:

• Basic vehicle details
• Quick verification
• Easy upgrade path to full car check

What It DOESN'T Show:

• Full history
• Finance status
• Stolen records
• Write-off database

Best For:

• Initial quick check
• Easy upgrade path to full check (includes £10,000-£50,000 data accuracy guarantee)
• Trustworthy entry point

Manufacturer Recall Check (100% Free)

Website: gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall

What It Shows:

• Outstanding safety recalls
• Manufacturer recall campaigns
• Whether remedial work completed

Critical Check:

• Some recalls serious (airbags, fires, brakes)
• Must be rectified before buying
• Dealer should do free
• Walk away if seller refuses

What Paid Checks Reveal

Comprehensive Paid Car History Checks (£10-£30)

A full car check covers everything free services miss. Here's what they reveal:

What They Check:

Outstanding Finance ✅

• Active HP, PCP, lease agreements
• Finance company details
• Legal ownership status
• Amount outstanding (sometimes)

Stolen Vehicle Database ✅

• Police national database
• Insurance theft claims
• International stolen records
• Recovery markers

Write-Off History ✅

• Category A, B, S, N (and old Cat C, D)
• Date of write-off
• Type of incident
• Insurance company involved
• Salvage records

Mileage Verification ✅

• Cross-reference multiple databases
• National Mileage Register
• Finance and insurance records
• Discrepancy detection
• Previous accident records

Number Plate Changes ✅

• Registration transfers
• Previous registrations
• Date of changes
• Potential cloning indicators

Scrapped/Exported Status ✅

• DVLA scrap markers
• Export records
• Should-not-exist flags

V5C Changes ✅

• Multiple keeper changes
• Rapid ownership changes
• V5C issued dates
• Previous owner information

Specifications Verification ✅

• Engine size matches
• Fuel type correct
• Colour correct
• VIN verification
• Engine capacity verification

Free vs Paid: The Reality

What Free Checks Miss (The Deal Breakers)

Outstanding Finance:

• Risk: Finance company legally owns car, can repossess
• Frequency: 1 in 3 used cars has outstanding finance
• Your Loss: Entire purchase amount + car seized
• Free checks show: Nothing ❌

Stolen Vehicles:

• Risk: Police seize car, no compensation
• Frequency: 20,000+ stolen cars sold annually
• Your Loss: Entire purchase amount + potential legal issues
• Free checks show: Nothing ❌

Write-Offs:

• Risk: Unsafe vehicle, insurance refusal, massive value loss
• Frequency: 1 in 5 used cars has some write-off history
• Your Loss: 30-70% of value + safety risk
• Free checks show: Nothing ❌

Clocked Mileage:

• Risk: Overpay, hidden wear, safety concerns
• Frequency: 1 in 14 cars has altered mileage
• Your Loss: £1,000-£5,000 overpayment
• Free checks show: Only MOT mileage (helps, but incomplete)

The Bottom Line: Free car checks are useful for initial screening, but they miss the critical information that protects your money.

The Mathematics

Free Checks:

• Cost: £0
• Info revealed: 20% of critical data
• Protection: Minimal
• Risk: Everything

Paid Check (£20):

• Cost: £20
• Info revealed: 95% of critical data
• Protection: Comprehensive + guarantee
• Risk: Minimal

Potential Loss Without Paid Check:

• Finance repossession: £10,000+
• Stolen vehicle seizure: £10,000+
• Undisclosed write-off: £3,000-£7,000
• Clocked mileage: £1,000-£5,000

Risk/Reward Ratio:

• Risk: Losing £1,000s-£10,000s
• Saving: £20
• Sensible? No.

Best Paid Services Compared

1. Car Sorted ⭐ RECOMMENDED

Price: Check website for current pricing

What's Included:

• Comprehensive vehicle history
• Outstanding finance check
• Stolen vehicle check
• Write-off history (Cat A, B, S, N)
• Mileage verification
• £10,000-£50,000 GUARANTEE included
• Expert UK-based support
• Quick online check

Guarantee Covers:

• Financial loss if missed issue
• Up to £50,000 protection
• Peace of mind

Best For:

• Maximum protection
• Comprehensive guarantee
• Reputable, trustworthy service
• Quick turnaround

Get Your Check: getcarsorted.com/full-car-check

2. HPI Check (hpicheck.com)

Price: £19.99-£29.99

What's Included:

• All standard checks
• Access to 50+ databases
• £30,000 guarantee
• DataDot registration (theft deterrent)

Best For:

• Original, established brand
• Most comprehensive database access
• Long-standing reputation

3. Experian AutoCheck

Price: £9.99-£19.99

What's Included:

• Full history report
• Mileage anomaly detection
• Write-off and stolen checks
• Insurance write-off categories

Best For:

• Budget-conscious buyers
• Good value
• Reliable data

4. AA / RAC Vehicle Checks

Price: £14.99-£19.99

What's Included:

• Comprehensive history
• Trusted brand backing
• Standard protections
• Clear reporting

Best For:

• Trust in AA/RAC brands
• Mid-range pricing
• Clear, understandable reports

When to Use Free vs Paid

Use FREE Checks For:

Initial Research:

• Browsing multiple cars online
• Pre-screening before viewing
• Checking seller's claims
• Verifying MOT/tax status
• Spotting obvious clocking

Process:

1. Browse AutoTrader, eBay, Facebook
2. Shortlist interesting cars
3. Free DVLA check (details match advert?)
4. Free MOT check (mileage consistent?)
5. Obvious red flags = don't view
6. Promising cars = proceed to paid check

When Free Alone is NEVER Enough:

• Before buying ANY car
• Even from friends/family
• Even from reputable dealers
• Even if "guaranteed clean"

Use PAID Checks For:

Before Every Purchase:

• After viewing, before committing
• When serious about specific car
• Before transferring any money
• Before collecting vehicle

Essential For:

• All private sales (highest risk)
• Unknown dealers
• "Too good to be true" deals
• High-value purchases
• Suspicions about vehicle
• Any car you're buying (no exceptions)

Pre-Purchase Inspection: The Physical Check

A vehicle history check tells you about the car's past. A pre-purchase inspection tells you about its present condition.

What History Checks DON'T Show:

• Current mechanical condition
• Hidden damage or repairs
• Actual wear vs documented mileage
• Whether MOT advisories have been addressed
• Quality of previous repairs

What a Mechanic's Inspection Reveals:

• Engine, transmission, brake condition
• Suspension and steering issues
• Body damage or poor repairs
• Evidence of accidents (even if not recorded)
• Whether the car matches its documentation

The Smart Strategy:

Before the Inspection:

1. Run your full car check (£20)
2. Review the vehicle history report
3. Check MOT history for recurring issues
4. Note any advisories or previous failures

During the Inspection: Have the mechanic cross-reference:

• Mileage vs wear (do worn pedals match claimed 30,000 miles?)
• Service history vs actual condition
• MOT advisories vs current state
• Any discrepancies in the vehicle check report

Cost vs Value:

• Pre-purchase inspection: £100-£150
• Typical finds: £500-£3,000+ in hidden issues
• Peace of mind: Priceless

When to Walk Away: If the inspection finds issues that weren't disclosed or contradict the vehicle history check - walk away. The seller knew and hid it.

Combined Protection: Vehicle history check (£20) + Pre-purchase inspection (£100-£150) = Complete peace of mind for £120-£170. On a £10,000 car, that's 1.2-1.7% insurance against disaster.

Worth it? Absolutely.

Recommended Strategy

The Smart Approach

Step 1: Initial Screening (Free Car Checks)

• DVLA check: Basic details match
• MOT history: Mileage progression logical
• Recall check: Any outstanding safety issues

Cost: £0 Time: 10 minutes Purpose: Eliminate obvious problems

Step 2: Viewing Decision

• If free checks look good: Arrange viewing
• If red flags: Move on

Step 3: After Viewing (Full Car Check)

• Car looks good in person?
• Ready to potentially buy?
• Run comprehensive paid vehicle check

Cost: £20 Time: 5 minutes Purpose: Verify no hidden deal-breakers

Step 4: Review Paid Report

• Clean report: Proceed with confidence
• Issues found: Discuss with seller or walk away

Step 5: Final Checks

• Re-check on day of collection (if gap since first check)
• Verify VIN on car matches report
• Check V5C details align

Total Investment

Free car checks: £0 Full car check: £20 Time investment: 30 minutes total Potential savings: £1,000s-£10,000s Peace of mind: Priceless

Common Questions

"Can I Trust a Dealer's HPI Check?"

Short Answer: Get your own anyway.

Why:

• Dealer checks can be outdated
• Doesn't protect you legally (their check, not yours)
• Some dealers provide fake certificates
• £20 insurance policy worth it
• Independent verification

Exception:

• Approved used from main dealer (lower risk, but still worth checking)

"What if Seller Provides HPI Certificate?"

Never Trust Seller's Certificate:

• Could be faked
• Could be for different car
• Could be out of date
• Seller controls what you see

Always:

• Run your own check
• Use registration from V5C
• Verify VIN on car itself

"Private Seller Says 'No Finance, I Paid Cash'"

Still Check:

• Seller might be lying
• Seller might not know (bought with finance, thinks it's cleared, but isn't)
• Previous owner's finance might still be active
• Seller could have secured loan against it

Reality:

• 1 in 3 cars has finance
• Many sellers genuinely don't know
• Your money, your risk
• £20 verification essential

"Car is Expensive, Should I Pay for Premium Check?"

For Cars Over £15,000:

• Consider premium service (£25-£30)
• Higher guarantee limits
• More comprehensive databases
• Potentially more detailed reports

For All Cars:

• Basic paid check (£10-£20) still essential
• Covers all major risks
• Guarantee typically sufficient

"How Often Should I Check?"

Timeline:

• Initial interest: Free checks
• After viewing: Paid comprehensive check
• Before collection: Re-check if 2+ weeks since first check
• On collection day: Visual VIN verification

Why Re-Check:

• Finance could be added after your check
• Stolen status could change
• Some services offer 30-day updates (use them)

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Finance Catch

Situation:

• £8,000 Ford Focus
• Seller claimed "paid cash, no finance"
• Free checks looked fine
• Buyer trusted seller, didn't pay for HPI

Result:

• 6 months later, finance company contacted
• £4,500 still owed from 2019 agreement
• Finance company repossessed
• Buyer lost £8,000
• No legal recourse

Cost of HPI: £20 Cost of skipping: £8,000

Example 2: Written-Off Car

Situation:

• £12,000 BMW 3 Series
• Looked perfect
• Full service history
• Dealer sale (small independent)

Buyer's Action:

• Paid £20 for HPI despite dealer's check
• Report revealed Category S write-off (structural)
• Dealer's check was 2 years old (pre-dated accident)

Result:

• Confronted dealer
• Walked away
• Found similar car without write-off
• Saved £3,000-£5,000 in hidden value loss

Cost of HPI: £20 Value of knowing: £3,000-£5,000

Example 3: Clocked Mileage

Situation:

• £15,000 Mercedes C-Class
• Advertised 45,000 miles
• Looked great condition
• Private sale

Free MOT Check Showed:

• 2019: 78,000 miles
• 2020: 95,000 miles
• 2021: 103,000 miles
• 2022: 42,000 miles (NEW V5C ISSUED)

Paid Check Showed:

• Finance records showed 95,000 miles in 2021
• National Mileage Register confirmed clocking
• True mileage 110,000+

Result:

• Buyer walked away
• Would have overpaid by £4,000+
• Saved massive maintenance costs (worn engine, clutch, etc.)

Cost of checks: £0 (free MOT) + £20 (paid check) = £20 Savings: £4,000+ plus future repair costs

The Guarantee Factor

Why Guarantees Matter

Most Paid Services Offer:

• £10,000-£50,000 guarantee
• Covers missed information
• Protects against errors in their data
• Provides legal recourse

Free Services:

• No guarantee
• No liability
• No protection
• No recourse if information wrong

Example:

• Car Sorted finds no finance on record
• You buy car
• Finance company appears (they weren't in database)
• Car Sorted's guarantee covers your loss (up to £50k)

With Free Check:

• Same situation
• You have zero protection
• Loss is entirely yours

Summary

Free Checks Are:

✅ Good for initial screening ✅ Useful for verifying basic info ✅ Helpful for spotting obvious issues ✅ Free (obviously)

❌ Not comprehensive ❌ Miss critical hidden issues ❌ Provide no guarantee ❌ Offer no protection

Paid Checks Are:

✅ Comprehensive coverage ✅ Include guarantees (£10k-£50k) ✅ Check all major databases ✅ Protect your investment ✅ Provide legal recourse ✅ Give peace of mind

❌ Cost £10-£30 (minimal compared to risk)

The Verdict

Use Free Car Checks: For initial screening of multiple vehicles

Use Full Car Checks: Before buying ANY vehicle, no exceptions

Best Value: Car Sorted full car check with comprehensive guarantee - maximum protection for your investment

The £20 Question: Is £20 worth avoiding:

• £10,000+ finance repossession risk?
• £10,000+ stolen vehicle seizure?
• £3,000-£7,000 write-off value loss?
• £1,000-£5,000 clocking overpayment?

Answer: Obviously yes.

Final Advice: Free car checks are a useful screening tool, not a replacement for a full car check. Use free checks to filter, use paid checks to protect. £20 is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.

Never skip the paid check. Ever. Even if:

• Buying from a friend
• Dealer provides their check
• Seller seems honest
• Car looks perfect
• You're in a hurry

£20. Always. No exceptions. Your financial protection depends on it.