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Buying a car is expensive. Between finance, dealership fees, road tax, maintenance, and insurance, choosing a new vehicle can be a costly decision.
With the price of new cars on the rise, it makes sense that more people are opting to buy used cars each year. Over 7.8 million used cars were bought in the UK in 2025, up 2.15% from the previous year and this is only projected to rise.
And while investing in a second hand car can save you thousands of pounds, it can also come with stratospheric hidden costs if you don’t properly investigate its past.
With the cost of new cars constantly fluctuating, and electronic vehicles being introduced into the market, it can be difficult to know whether you’re getting a fair deal on a used car.
As well as figuring out the fair price of a car, there is also its safety to consider.
Dishonest dealers can disguise themselves as private sellers to avoid having to be responsible for faulty cars, or those that have been written off by insurance.
If we learnt anything from Roald Dahl’s Mr Wormwood, it’s that there is also a risk that the mileage displayed on a car isn’t genuine.
In fact, one in 11 cars checked by HPI Check has a discrepancy with its mileage. This can not only reduce a car’s safety, but can lead to costly repairs further down the road.
And, we know what you’re thinking: it’s unlikely you’ll fall for a scam. But one in three cars run through HPI check has something to hide.
So to avoid being hit with unwanted bills and legal disputes down the line, using a car history check service can give you peace of mind.
To make sure you’re not gambling on whether the seller has been truthful about the history of your car, HPI check investigates everything you need to be aware of when buying a used car.
The HPI check covers:
- If the car is reported as stolen
- If the car is an insurance write-off
- Whether there’s an outstanding loan or finance agreement on the car
- The number of its previous owners
- If the DVLA has marked the car as scrapped
- If the logbook is legitimate
- Mileage discrepancies
- How many number plate changes the car has had.
This will reveal whether or not you’ll be the rightful owner of your new car, and uncover if it has a dangerous past you need to be aware of.
The HPI check will also help you investigate if the car you want to buy is roadworthy, which will help you learn the true market value of the car and negotiate a fair deal with the seller.
According to one HPI check reviewer, the service saved him money and a long journey. “I saw the car I wanted, checked it through the HPI check website, and how relieved I was that I did check its history,” he said.
“It was an insurance write-off and the mileage was incorrect. It saved me from a very bad situation and having a conman making my life a misery. Money well spent.”
But it’s not just money you could save: using HPI check could also give you the confidence to navigate buying a used car in future, and save you the stress of dealing with a faulty one.
Another reviewer said: “We used HPI check because we trusted their information on a used car that we wanted to purchase. In the world of used cars this proved to be invaluable advice, we would recommend anyone thinking of buying a quality used car to use this service.”
