2026 comparison · UK buyers
CarVouch vs HPI check: which is better?
Why pay around £19.99 for a standard HPI-style check when you can get Experian provenance data, full MOT analysis, and AI risk scoring for £9.99 with CarVouch Full Vehicle Check?
CarVouch
£9.99
Full Vehicle Check
HPI full check*
£19.99
Typical retail price
Feature-by-feature comparison
CarVouch Full Vehicle Check vs a typical HPI full vehicle history check. HPI® is a registered trademark; we compare products descriptively for buyers researching options.
| Feature | CarVouch Full Vehicle Check | HPI full check* |
|---|---|---|
| MOT history (every test since ~2005) | ✓ | — |
| MOT advisories in plain English | ✓ | — |
| AI reliability / risk score (0–100) | ✓ | — |
| Advert red-flag scan | ✓ | — |
| Mileage verification (MOT timeline) | ✓ | Limited |
| Estimated running costs / fuel | ✓ | — |
| Common faults by make & model | ✓ | — |
| Stolen check (Police National Computer) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outstanding finance check | ✓ | ✓ |
| Insurance write-off (Cat A/B/N/S) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keeper / previous owner history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number plate change history | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIN verification | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colour change history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Import / export / scrapped markers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Salvage auction history | Included | — |
| Market valuation | Coming soon | Limited |
| Data guarantee | £20,000 (Experian) | £30,000 (HPI) |
| Full check price | £9.99 | £19.99 |
* HPI pricing and features based on publicly advertised HPI full check information; verify on hpi.co.uk before purchase. CarVouch is not affiliated with HPI Ltd or Solera.
Where CarVouch wins
Around half the price
Full Vehicle Check at £9.99 vs approximately £19.99 for HPI's full check — with Experian-backed provenance included.
Full MOT analysis
Every MOT test since 2005 with failures and advisories from DVSA — interpreted by AI. HPI does not offer deep MOT pattern analysis.
AI risk score
A single 0–100 score combining MOT trends, mileage consistency, and advert signals — built for buyers before they view the car.
Advert red flags
Paste the seller's listing and we scan for high-pressure phrases, vague history claims, and warning patterns.
Reliability & running costs
Maintenance patterns, common faults for the make/model, and estimated annual running costs from official data.
Salvage history
Our Experian AutoCheck bundle includes salvage data to help spot write-offs that never reached MIAFTR — a gap some checks miss.
Where HPI still has an edge
Brand recognition. HPI has been a household name since 1938. If you are selling a car, some buyers expect to see an “HPI check” by name. CarVouch is a newer brand offering a full vehicle history check — not an HPI product.
Consumer guarantee amount. HPI advertises up to £30,000 on their full consumer check. CarVouch Full Vehicle Check includes Experian’s £20,000 Data Guarantee (12 months) on covered provenance errors — see our data guarantee page and Experian’s official terms.
For most private buyers who want comprehensive data before a deposit, CarVouch offers stronger pre-viewing analysis at a lower price. Many buyers run a free CarVouch scan first, then add the Full Vehicle Check before paying any money to a seller.
What is an HPI-style check?
“HPI check” is often used generically in the UK to mean a vehicle history check that searches finance registers, stolen vehicle records, and insurance write-off databases, alongside DVLA keeper data. HPI Ltd owns the HPI® trademark; other providers (including CarVouch) offer similar checks under their own branding using licensed industry data.
Before paying any deposit on a used car, you should confirm: no outstanding finance, not stolen, not written off (or accept the category), consistent mileage, and that the VIN on the car matches the V5C logbook. CarVouch’s free tier helps with MOT and mileage; the Full Vehicle Check adds Experian provenance in one report.
Learn more about our product on the Full Vehicle Check page or read how we source data in our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. CarVouch Full Vehicle Check is designed to cover the same core provenance data as a standard HPI-style check — outstanding finance, stolen status (Police National Computer), insurance write-offs (MIAFTR), keeper and plate history, VIN verification, and import/export/scrapped markers — using Experian data via our API partner. We also include full DVSA MOT history, AI risk scoring, and advert red-flag analysis that a typical HPI check does not offer.
HPI has been established for decades and prices in brand recognition. CarVouch is built with modern infrastructure and combines government MOT data with Experian provenance in one report. Our Full Vehicle Check is £9.99 compared to around £19.99 for HPI's full check — the underlying industry data costs are similar; we pass efficiency on to buyers.
For provenance checks, CarVouch Full Vehicle Check uses Experian AutoCheck data (the same industry source many UK vehicle check providers use). HPI is a separate brand with its own product packaging. We do not claim to be HPI or affiliated with HPI Ltd / Solera.
The free scan uses official DVLA and DVSA data plus AI analysis of MOT patterns and advert wording. It does not access finance, stolen, or insurance write-off databases. The Full Vehicle Check (£9.99) adds Experian provenance data and a £20,000 Experian Data Guarantee on eligible claims.
Our Full Vehicle Check includes a 12-month Experian AutoCheck Data Guarantee with a £20,000 financial limit on covered data issues (such as undisclosed finance or stolen markers), subject to Experian's terms and conditions. HPI's full consumer check advertises up to £30,000 under their own guarantee. See our data guarantee page for a plain-English summary.
Buyers get the most value from a history check before paying a deposit. Sellers can share a CarVouch report to demonstrate transparency. CarVouch is not a substitute for a professional inspection or legal advice.
"HPI clear" is marketing language often used by sellers. CarVouch does not use the HPI trademark. Our report shows pass/warning/fail per category so you can see exactly what was checked. Always verify VIN and V5C in person before buying.
Run a free scan on any UK registration, then purchase a check from our pricing page — single checks from £9.99 or multi-check packs. View our sample report to see the full layout before you buy.
Start with a free check today
Enter any UK registration. Get MOT history, mileage analysis, and AI risk signals in seconds — then upgrade to a Full Vehicle Check from £9.99.