CarVeto HPI Check
Trusted Vehicle History Reports in the UK
Enter the registration number of the vehicle
For example, WD19 VSO
Why CarVeto is the Best Choice for a Vehicle HPI Check
When you run a CarVeto check, we search live data from the DVLA, police systems, Experian, and insurance databases so you see what a seller might leave out.
Each report is built on real-time records from the DVLA, Police National Computer, Experian, RMI, BVRLA, and MIAFTR.
This data confirms:
- Outstanding finance and logbook loans
- Stolen vehicle alerts
- Insurance write-off classifications (e.g., Cat N, Cat S)
- Mileage anomalies and rollback indicators
- MOT status, tax compliance, and ownership history
The free report includes MOT history, registration details, ownership changes, and tax records, enough to confirm identity and legality.
Upgrading to Platinum unlocks over 50 additional checks, covering theft records, loan status, write-offs, valuation data, and emissions history.
CarVeto reports use a pass, warning, or fail outcome format to flag risks clearly, covering finance, safety, and legal checks.
CarVeto is trusted by private buyers, dealers, and local authorities. Its verified data, clear structure, and free entry-level reports make it a leading choice in the UK used car market.
What Data Is Included in CarVeto’s Free and Platinum (Full) HPI Checks?
A CarVeto HPI report shows whether a used vehicle has hidden problems, such as finance, insurance write-offs, or mileage fraud.
There are two levels: Free and Platinum.
Both pull verified data from official UK databases, including the DVLA and national insurer networks.
CarVeto Free HPI Check
The free check covers identity, MOT, tax, and insurance status. It includes:
- Vehicle Identity
Make, model, colour, engine size, fuel type, body style, year of manufacture, and vehicle type. - Registration Details
Plate number, V5C issue date, and first registration date - Tax and Emissions
Road tax band, CO₂ emissions, Euro emissions standard, and SORN status - MOT History
MOT expiry date, past test results, advisories, and mileage - Road Status
askMID insurance check
Export status indicator - Additional
Vehicle age and image (if available)
It’s enough to confirm the car’s identity and road status. It excludes key theft checks, finance records, or keeper history.
CarVeto Platinum HPI Check
The full car check includes everything in the free check, plus over 50 additional checks across finance, theft, identity, mileage, and compliance.
Outstanding Finance Checks
- Outstanding finance status (Experian Asset Register)
- Logbook loan detection
Theft and Police Records
- Stolen vehicle check (Police National Computer)
- Active theft alerts from the PNC database
Accident and Salvage History
- Insurance write-off classifications: Cat A, B, S, N (MIAFTR)
- Salvage and total loss records
Vehicle Identity Verification
- VIN check (last 4 digits)
- Full engine number
- Number plate change history
- Private plate transfer records with dates
Ownership History
- Total number of previous owners
- Dates of all keeper transfers
Ownership record table - DVLA region of first registration
Mileage Verification
- MOT mileage entries (DVLA)
- Lease mileage logs (BVRLA)
- Service history mileage (RMI)
- Odometer rollback detection
Structural and Emissions Compliance
- Scrappage status
- VIC inspection flag
- Q plate indicator
- Euro emissions rating
- Road tax band and CO₂ output
Common Vehicle Risks in the UK
Used cars can carry hidden risks that aren’t obvious during a test drive. Clocked mileage, outstanding loans, and insurance write-offs are still widespread.
Admiral estimates up to 2.6 million vehicles in the UK may have altered mileage. Churchill reported 384,000 insurance write-offs in the last year. In 2024, over 72,000 cars were reported stolen between January and September alone.
The CarVeto Platinum HPI check reveals if the vehicle you’re looking at is linked to any of these problems. It cross-checks updated records from DVLA, police databases, and insurer networks so you can buy with confidence.
Free vs. Platinum Reports – What’s the Difference?
CarVeto offers two vehicle history reports: a Free HPI Check and a Platinum HPI Check.
Both use updated details from trusted UK sources, but the scope and level of detail differ.
The Free Check confirms legal road status, MOT history, tax class, and insurance visibility.
It’s suitable for early-stage checks, proving that the car exists, is MOT-compliant, and matches its registration.
The Platinum Check adds over 50 extra data points. These include ownership history, stolen vehicle alerts, finance checks, mileage verification, and write-off classification.
It’s built for buyers who want complete confidence before paying a deposit, financing a car, or dealing with a private seller.
The table compares the two.
What’s Included in CarVeto’s Free vs. Platinum Reports
Data Category | Free Car Check | Platinum HPI Check |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle Identity | Make, model, engine size, fuel type, body style, colour, vehicle type, year. | ✔ Included |
Registration Details | First registration date, plate number, V5C issue date. | ✔ Plus plate change history & private plate records from the first registration |
MOT History | Expiry date, results, advisories, mileage. | ✔ Plus lease mileage (BVRLA), service mileage (RMI), and anomaly detection |
Road Tax & Emissions | Tax band, CO₂ emissions, Euro class, SORN. | ✔ Plus tax band confirmation ULEZ etc |
Insurance Status (askMID) | ✔ Included | ✔ Included |
Export Marker | ✔ Included | ✔ Included |
Ownership History | ❌ Not included | ✔ Number of previous owners, transfer dates, DVLA office |
Finance Checks | ❌ Not included | ✔ Outstanding finance (Experian) and logbook loan detection) with the lender, agreement details and contact information |
Stolen Vehicle Alerts | ❌ Not included | ✔ PNC check, and insurance register to claim payout |
Insurance Write-Offs | ❌ Not included | ✔ Write-off categories (Cat A, B, S, N) and salvage status |
VIN, Engine & Chassis Number | ❌ Not included | ✔ VIN suffix and full engine & chassis number |
Structural Flags | ❌ Not included | ✔ Q plate flag and VIC inspection check |
Scrappage/Unscrappage Check | ❌ Not included | ✔ Included |
Report Format | ❌ Not scored | ✔ Each check rated: Pass, Warning, or Fail |
Use the HPI Check free report to confirm legal status, MOT, and tax details.
Use the Platinum report to uncover hidden risks that don't appear in seller listings, including finance, theft, and ownership history—it is suggested if you are nearing buying.
How to Get a Free CarVeto HPI Check
The CarVeto Free HPI Car Check gives you instant access to a vehicle’s tax, MOT, insurance, and identity records without creating an account or paying a fee.
It’s designed for early-stage checks when you want to verify the basics before arranging a viewing.
Step 1
Enter Vehicle Reg Number
Use our CarVeto Free HPI Vehicle Check page and enter the car’s registration (number plate).
CarVeto verifies data in real time from DVLA, including registration status and tax class:
- DVLA – registration status, tax class, SORN flag
- MOT database – test history and recorded mileage
- askMID – insurance status
- UK emissions database – CO₂ and Euro rating
Step 2
Review the free report
Your free report will show:
- Make, model, fuel type, and engine size
- MOT history and mileage readings
- Tax band, CO₂ output, and emissions class
- askMID insurance status
- SORN and export flags
- Vehicle age and image (when available)
These checks confirm road legality and registration accuracy before you contact the seller.
Step 3
Full Check Upgrade
If everything looks good, upgrade to the Platinum report for:
- Outstanding finance
- Theft and police alerts
- Insurance write-offs (Cat A–N)
- Ownership records and transfer dates
- Mileage verification across DVLA, RMI, and BVRLA
Use this before placing a deposit or buying from a private seller.
The CarVeto Free HPI Check is fast, accurate, and powered by government and insurer data. Checking a car takes less than 30 seconds and can save wasted hours.
How CarVeto Compares to Other Providers
Several well-known companies in the UK offer car history checks, including Experian, RAC, AA, and AutoTrader.
CarVeto delivers the same official data as these providers but focuses on faster delivery, clearer reports, and lower pricing.
Unlike services that split key checks into paid tiers, CarVeto’s Platinum report includes full finance, write-off, theft, mileage, and ownership data in one result, with no upsells or hidden fees.
Provider | Free Report | Finance Check | Write-Off Records | Mileage Validation | Ownership History | Full Report Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CarVeto | ✔ Full (MOT, tax, insurance) | ✔ Experian Asset Register | ✔ Cat A–N via MIAFTR | ✔ DVLA + RMI + BVRLA | ✔ DVLA keeper transfers | £12.90 |
RAC | ❌ Not offered | ✔ Included | ✔ Included | ✔ MOT-based only | ❌ Number of previous keepers only | £14.99 |
AA | ❌ Not offered | ✔ Included | ✔ Included | ✔ MOT-based only | ❌ Number of previous keepers only | £14.99 |
Who Offers the Best Value and Data Accuracy?
CarVeto matches AA and RAC's core data but delivers it at a lower cost, with no feature gating.
Each report connects directly to DVLA, MIAFTR, askMID, PNC, and auto-industry networks.
- Finance check included with Platinum
- Theft alerts and insurance write-offs are included
- Mileage fraud checks use three data sources, not one
- Ownership history and transfer timing are always visible
CarVeto provides a complete vehicle check at the lowest verified cost for used car buyers, especially in private sales, without compromising data coverage or speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
An HPI Check® is a type of car history report that shows whether a vehicle has been stolen, under finance, written off, or clocked. It pulls real-time data from the DVLA, police, lenders, and insurers.
Whether you call it a car history check, vehicle background report, or used car lookup, the goal is to uncover hidden risks before you buy.
The HPI check is the earliest Car Checking Service in the UK, established in 1930.
A car marked as “HPI clear” has no active finance, theft alerts, mileage fraud, or write-off classification. If a car is “HPI flagged,” it means one or more of these risks are present.
Yes, the CarVeto HPI check is free. It includes MOT history, tax band, insurance status (askMID), CO₂ emissions, and DVLA registration checks, with no login or payment.
CarVeto’s Platinum HPI Check costs £12.90. It includes over 50 checks, covering finance, theft, write-offs (Cat A–N), mileage rollback, and previous owners.
Conduct a CarVeto Car Check.
CarVeto gets its vehicle history data from official sources: DVLA, PNC, MIAFTR, Experian, BVRLA, RMI, and askMID Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), the same used by dealers and insurers.
No, vehicle ownership and registration records are not considered public records. CarVeto provides keeper record changes from the first registration and the local DVLA office of registration.
Please read our guide on the Date of Change of Ownership.
Yes, CarVeto sells trade HPI checks. Trade accounts get access to bulk lookups, Experian-powered data, and dealer-sourcing tools via the CarVeto Trade platform.
CAP HPI is a valuation and vehicle data provider used mainly by traders and fleet operators. CarVeto uses a different data pipeline powered by Experian and DVLA-linked sources.
CarVeto adds finance, theft, and write-off data to what DVLA and MOT tools show. Government checks cover tax and MOT only, rather than legal or financial risks.
There’s no official “Gov HPI Check.” Government sites like the DVLA provide a Make and Model Check, MOT, tax, and registration data. They omit finance, theft, or insurance write-off data.