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 plus a €7.90 vehicle history report cross-referenced against DVLA, full MOT history, manufacturer recalls and EU vehicle data — the HPI Check equivalent for European-sourced cars at a fraction of the price.
TL;DR:
Free unlimited VIN decoder, no signup required
Full cross-source report at €7.90 (vs HPI Check from £19.99)
DVLA + full MOT history + manufacturer recalls + EU sources
Best choice for European-sourced vehicles
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 Free HPI Check Alternatives for US Car Buyers (2026)
HPI Check is the UK's gold standard for vehicle history reports. In the US, CARFAX and AutoCheck play the same role. Automano gives you a free unlimited VIN decoder plus a €7.90 cross-source report — less than half the HPI or CARFAX price — with broader European data for imported vehicles.
1.
Automano
Best value — free VIN decoder + cross-source report
Free unlimited VIN decoder (no signup) plus a €7.90 cross-source report combining DVLA, MOT history, KBA, NHTSA and manufacturer recalls. Comparable to HPI Check in scope for European vehicles at less than half the price.
2.
HPI Check
UK gold standard — the original VHR service
HPI Check is the UK's longest-established vehicle history service, used by dealers and lenders. From £19.99 per report covering finance, stolen, write-off and mileage checks. Essential for UK-sourced cars; less relevant for domestic US vehicles.
3.
CARFAX
US equivalent of HPI — the domestic gold standard
CARFAX is the US equivalent of HPI Check: the most widely accepted vehicle history report for domestically titled cars. From $44.99 for a single report or $99.99 for a 60-day unlimited package.
4.
AutoCheck
CARFAX rival from Experian — cheaper single reports
AutoCheck by Experian is typically $30–$40 for a single report and includes an Experian AutoCheck Score for comparing similar vehicles. Good alternative to CARFAX for US-titled vehicles.
5.
CARFAX Europe
28 billion EU + US records — free VIN search
Free VIN quick-search covering 20+ European countries plus the US and Canada. Best for cross-border vehicles — data that neither HPI nor CARFAX holds for European-sourced cars.
6.
VehicleHistory.com
Free basic US VHR — good starting point
Free basic vehicle history report for US-titled cars covering accident records, title records and odometer readings. Less comprehensive than CARFAX or HPI but zero cost for the first check.
7.
iSeeCars
Free price analysis + basic history
iSeeCars combines free vehicle history flags with a price analysis tool — useful for checking whether the asking price is fair alongside the basic history check.
8.
TotalCarCheck
Best free UK-style check for imported British cars
If the vehicle was sourced from the UK, TotalCarCheck provides a free reg-plate check covering MOT history, road tax status and basic write-off flags — the closest free equivalent to HPI for UK-origin cars.
9.
CarVertical
Largest EU cross-border database
For European-sourced imports: CarVertical aggregates billions of records across 28+ countries. Paid reports, but the most comprehensive European data set available outside of HPI Check.
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.
26
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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