What is a car history check and why it is important?

A car is often the second biggest purchase a person makes after a home and as a result, you want to know it’s right.

While you can check a used car’s condition, what’s harder to find out is its history, and if there’s anything that’s been hidden about a vehicle’s past. This is where a vehicle history check can come in, but what is it, what does it tell you and why is it important? Let’s take a look.

What is a car history check?

Free online checks are available to tell you about a used car’s MOT history and basic specification details, but if you want to know the full ins and outs of a secondhand vehicle’s past, you’ll want a car history check.

These go into details that you’d never otherwise know about a car, including whether there’s any outstanding finance owed on the vehicle, if it’s been reported as stolen and even if it’s been previously written off.

It’s a simple process too; all you need is the vehicle’s registration number to be able to access more than 75 different pieces of information about a vehicle.

Why do I need to get a car history check?

While a car might look good on the surface, it could have an unclear past. In fact, of the HPI checks made each day, one in three cars has a hidden history, usually relating to finance being outstanding*.

Each day more than 1,800 cars checked also have a mileage discrepancy, while more than 2,000 are uncovered as insurance write-offs*. Without having a car history check carried out, you could unknowingly buy a vehicle that has one of these glaring issues.

Interested in booking a car history check? Click here to look at the products we have available that will prevent you from buying a car with a hidden past.

Statistics based on cars checked by HPI® Ltd. A Solera Company.