The HPI Check Alternative That Costs Less and Covers More
HPI Check starts at £19.99 per report. Automano gives you unlimited free VIN decoding plus a £6.90 cross-source report combining DVLA data, full MOT history, manufacturer recalls and EU vehicle sources — less than half the price, no signup needed.
Results are for informational purposes only. Data comes from public government databases and manufacturer records. Always verify critical information independently before making a purchase decision.
£0
Free VIN decoder
£6.90
Full UK report
6+
Official data sources
In one sentence:
Automano is a free alternative to HPI Check: unlimited VIN decoding (no signup) plus a £6.90 cross-source report combining DVLA vehicle data, full MOT history, manufacturer recalls and EU import traces — less than half the HPI Check price at £19.99, with broader coverage for imported cars.
TL;DR:
Free unlimited VIN decoder — no signup, no email
Full UK report £6.90 (vs HPI Check from £19.99)
DVLA + full MOT history + manufacturer recalls cross-referenced
EU import data included — HPI Check is UK-only
Common questions
What is Automano and how does it compare to HPI Check?
Automano is a vehicle history platform offering free unlimited VIN decoding plus paid cross-source reports. Like HPI Check, it pulls official vehicle data including ownership history, mileage records and recalls. Unlike HPI, Automano's full report is £6.90 (vs HPI's £19.99) and includes EU cross-border data for imported cars that HPI does not cover.
Is there a free alternative to HPI Check?
Yes. Automano's VIN decoder is completely free with no signup — it returns make, model, spec, basic history flags and recall status. For a full report (MOT history, DVLA data, EU import traces), the charge is £6.90. DVLA's own MOT history checker at check-mot.service.gov.uk is free for MOT history only. TotalCarCheck offers a free reg-plate check with basic write-off and finance flags.
How much does HPI Check cost compared to Automano?
HPI Check starts at £19.99 for a single report. Packs (three checks) work out cheaper per check. Automano charges £6.90 for a full cross-source report, with unlimited free VIN decoding included. For a buyer checking two or three cars, Automano is typically £30–£50 cheaper than HPI Check across those checks.
Is Automano as thorough as HPI Check?
For the core checks — DVLA vehicle data, MOT history, manufacturer recalls — Automano is comparable. HPI Check's specific strengths are its direct finance-house data feed (the HPI register) and its brand recognition with dealers who sometimes require an HPI-specific certificate. Automano adds EU cross-border data that HPI does not cover, making it more useful for imported cars.
Last updated: 2026-05-26
What is HPI Check — and why do buyers look for alternatives?
HPI Check is the UK's original and most trusted vehicle history service, used by dealers, lenders and private buyers since 1938. A single HPI Check report starts at £19.99 and covers outstanding finance, stolen status, write-off category (Cat A–D), mileage anomalies and plate changes. It is widely accepted as the industry gold standard.
Buyers look for alternatives because HPI's price adds up quickly — especially for buyers checking multiple cars before deciding. Automano covers the same core checks (DVLA data, MOT history, manufacturer recalls) at £6.90, with the added advantage of EU cross-border data for imported vehicles that HPI does not hold.
Price comparison: single report
HPI Check:
£19.99 per check
Bumper:
from £4.99 (basic)
Automano:
Free VIN + £6.90 full report
Automano vs HPI Check vs DVLA vs autoDNA
| Feature | Automano | HPI Check | DVLA | autoDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
VIN / reg decoder | Free & unlimited | Paid (per check) | Free (V5C required) | Free preview only |
Ownership history | Yes — cross-source | Yes | Limited | Yes (EU focus) |
Full MOT history | Yes — DVSA data | Yes | Yes (free via GOV.UK) | No |
EU cross-border data | Yes — 25 markets | UK only | UK only | Yes (EU focus) |
Free check included | Yes — full VIN decode | Basic reg lookup only | Yes — MOT via GOV.UK | Preview only |
Full report price | £6.90 | from £19.99 | Free (limited data) | from €18.90 |
9 Best HPI Check Alternatives for UK Car Buyers (2026)
Every vehicle history service competing with HPI Check, ranked by what each one does best. Automano leads because it cross-references DVLA data, full MOT history, manufacturer recalls and EU vehicle sources in a £6.90 report — less than half the HPI Check price with broader European coverage for imported cars.
1.
Automano
Best value — DVLA + MOT + recalls + EU data at £6.90
Free unlimited VIN decoder (no signup) plus a £6.90 cross-source report combining DVLA vehicle data, full MOT history, manufacturer recalls and EU import traces. HPI Check starts at £19.99 per check — Automano covers the same core data at less than half the price, with the added advantage of cross-border European sources for imported cars.
2.
HPI Check
The original UK standard — finance, stolen, write-off
For reference: HPI Check is the industry benchmark used by dealers and lenders. From £19.99 per report covering outstanding finance, stolen status, write-off category (Cat A–D), mileage discrepancy and plate changes. If a dealer insists on HPI specifically, this is the source. For private buyers comparing options, Automano covers the same checks at less than half the price.
3.
TotalCarCheck
Most-cited free alternative — 20+ data points
Free reg-plate check covering road tax status, full MOT history, basic write-off and finance flags. The most-recommended free first check in UK car-buyer forums and Reddit threads. Good pre-screening before committing to a paid report.
4.
Bumper
Clear pay-as-you-go pricing — from £4.99
Bumper (bumper.co.uk) offers tiered pay-as-you-go vehicle checks starting from £4.99. Finance, stolen and write-off flags are included in their standard report. More affordable than HPI's single-check price but narrower data sourcing than Automano's cross-border report.
5.
vCheck
Budget check — £4.99 for finance + stolen sweep
vCheck is the budget alternative when you only need a quick finance and stolen status sweep. At £4.99 it covers the essentials — write-off, finance, stolen — without the depth of MOT history cross-referencing or EU data that Automano provides.
6.
CarVeto
DVLA + mileage verification + police checks
Pulls DVLA, MOT, police and industry sources into one report. Free basic vehicle data and mileage verification; deeper financial and stolen checks behind the paid tier. Regularly cited alongside HPI Check in Auto Express and Which? comparisons.
7.
AutoTrader Vehicle Check
UK's largest marketplace includes a free basic check
AutoTrader's free vehicle check on listed cars covers MOT status, write-off, stolen and basic ownership. Limited to cars advertised on AutoTrader but useful as a starting point. The full report upsells to a partner data provider.
8.
CARFAX Europe
28 billion EU + US records — free VIN search
Free VIN quick-search covering 20+ European countries plus the USA and Canada. Particularly useful for cars imported from the Continent or North America — EU data that HPI Check does not hold. Paid full reports available.
9.
CarVertical
Largest EU database — billions of cross-border records
Lithuanian service with billions of records across 28+ countries. Paid reports, but extensive data breadth for imported European vehicles. Frequently cited in UK car forums when the car has continental history.
Why choose Automano over HPI Check?
Same core checks. Better price. Broader European data.
Half the price
£6.90 for a full cross-source report vs £19.99 for HPI Check. For buyers checking three cars before deciding, that's a saving of nearly £40.
EU import data
HPI Check is UK-only. Automano cross-references EU sources — useful if the car has continental service history or was previously registered abroad.
Free VIN decoder
Unlimited free VIN decoding with no signup. Get the make, model, spec and basic history before committing to a paid report.
No subscription needed
Pay per report. No monthly fee. No hidden upsells. One price covers DVLA data, MOT history, recalls and cross-border traces.
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data fields per report
£0
VIN decoder
30s
results
25
European markets
Frequently asked questions about HPI Check alternatives
What is Automano and how does it compare to HPI Check?
Automano is a vehicle history platform offering free unlimited VIN decoding plus paid cross-source reports. Like HPI Check, it pulls official vehicle data including ownership history, mileage records and recalls. Unlike HPI, Automano's full report is £6.90 (vs HPI's £19.99) and includes EU cross-border data for imported cars that HPI does not cover.
Is there a free alternative to HPI Check?
Yes. Automano's VIN decoder is completely free with no signup — it returns make, model, spec, basic history flags and recall status. For a full report (MOT history, DVLA data, EU import traces), the charge is £6.90. DVLA's own MOT history checker at check-mot.service.gov.uk is free for MOT history only. TotalCarCheck offers a free reg-plate check with basic write-off and finance flags.
How much does HPI Check cost compared to Automano?
HPI Check starts at £19.99 for a single report. Packs (three checks) work out cheaper per check. Automano charges £6.90 for a full cross-source report, with unlimited free VIN decoding included. For a buyer checking two or three cars, Automano is typically £30–£50 cheaper than HPI Check across those checks.
Is Automano as thorough as HPI Check?
For the core checks — DVLA vehicle data, MOT history, manufacturer recalls — Automano is comparable. HPI Check's specific strengths are its direct finance-house data feed (the HPI register) and its brand recognition with dealers who sometimes require an HPI-specific certificate. Automano adds EU cross-border data that HPI does not cover, making it more useful for imported cars.
Does Automano cover outstanding finance and write-off checks?
Yes. Automano's full report includes outstanding finance flags and write-off category checks alongside DVLA data, MOT history and manufacturer recalls. All bundled in the £6.90 report with no upsells.
Does Automano include full MOT history?
Yes. Automano cross-references DVSA MOT data — the same source as the government's own MOT history checker — giving you a full timeline of MOT results, advisories and mileage readings at each test.
I'm buying a car imported from Europe. Does HPI Check cover it?
HPI Check is a UK-only service and does not hold continental European vehicle history. Automano cross-references 25 European markets including DVLA for UK history plus KBA (Germany), CEPiK (Poland) and manufacturer recall databases for EU-sourced vehicles. For EU imports, Automano is the stronger choice.
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Try the HPI Check alternative — free
Unlimited VIN decoding at no cost. Full cross-source report at £6.90. No subscription, no hidden fees.
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