If you’re buying a secondhand vehicle, HPI Check can help ensure you don’t end up with an old banger
HPI is a company that’s best known for its vehicle checks, and HPI Check is its official app. All you need to run a check is a full registration number. The app is extremely simple to use because it doesn’t need to be complicated. Once you download and open the app there’s just one screen – this is where you enter the car reg and request a check. There’s also a menu bar that has a number of options including history and settings.
The beauty of this app is that if you’re out looking at cars, you can do a quick on the spot check in a matter of seconds – as long as you have a data connection, of course. So how much does it cost and what do you get? Although the app is free, an individual vehicle check costs £16.99, which you confi rm after being given details such as make, model and year. That might sound like a lot, but if you’re going to be spending hundreds or thousands of pounds on a car, then it’s a small price to pay to make sure that you’re not being taken for a ride. It’s a few pounds cheaper than doing it on the website, too, although you don’t get a valuation for the vehicle and there’s no option to buy multiple checks for a lower price.
Once you’ve purchased a check, the app quickly presents you with information on the car; for example, whether it’s reported stolen or has had the number plates changed. There’s plenty of other information, too, such as outstanding fi nance, number of former keepers, and whether the vehicle is marked as scrapped or imported. A particularly handy section tells you the running costs, such as how much road tax will cost and miles per gallon. It’s an extremely thorough check if you can a ord the cost. You can get checks cheaper elsewhere, such as the Auto Trader app, but the information is much more limited.
HPI uses various sources for its reports including the police, the DVLA, insurance companies, finance houses, industry bodies and garages. Verdict The HPI Check is a simple and easy to use app for those looking at buying a used car. The information is comprehensive and presented well making sure you avoid getting conned.
