HPI vs CarVertical: Which Is Better for UK Buyers?
HPI Full is £19.99 and CarVertical lists at £39.99. Carpeep covers the key UK checks in one clear £15 report, with no tiers and no upsells.
Your £15 Full History Report includes:
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off history
- Stolen markers
- Mileage & MOT history
- Previous keepers
- Report Guarantee
Choosing between HPI and CarVertical? Both do the job, but they differ on price, report style, and how easy they are to actually understand. This guide compares HPI vs CarVertical for UK buyers, and shows where Carpeep fits if you'd rather use a clear, no-nonsense car history check that tells you what you need without making you work for it.
How much is a carVertical check?
£39.99 for one report, or £62.97 for three. A Full HPI Check is £19.99. Carpeep is £15, or £35 for three.
- HPI is the best-known name. Its £19.99 Full Check covers finance, write-offs, theft and mileage from UK sources; the £9.99 Basic Check leaves out write-off details and mileage checks.
- carVertical is built around overseas records from before a car entered the UK, which matter mainly for an import. It has no data guarantee.
Prices last updated October 2026.
Our top choice: Carpeep
- One report, nothing held back. Finance, write-off, stolen, mileage, MOT and keeper checks in one £15 report, with no cheaper tier to pick by mistake.
- Problems first. Your report opens with a plain-English summary of anything that needs attention, then the detail behind it.
- No account to create. Pay once by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Every report comes with our Report Guarantee.
What HPI Is Best For
HPI is the name most people know in UK vehicle history checks.
They were first, and that built trust.
A Full check is £19.99. It uses DVLA, police, finance and insurance write-off data. Dealers, lenders and insurers know the brand.
HPI also sells a £9.99 Basic Check, which leaves out write-off details and mileage checks, so the Full Check is the one to compare. Carpeep covers the key UK checks in one £15 report.
What CarVertical Is Best For
CarVertical may be useful when you specifically need wider international records from before a vehicle entered the UK. For UK-recorded risks, Carpeep checks the key areas buyers usually care about, including finance, write-off history, stolen markers, mileage, MOT, keeper history and import/export markers where available.
The list price is £39.99 for one report, with lower per-report prices in its 2- and 3-report bundles.
For a UK-only car, £39.99 is expensive for data you often do not need.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HPI | CarVertical | Carpeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance (UK) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Write-offs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Theft | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Imported vehicle markers | Yes | Yes | Checked where recorded in UK data |
| Detailed overseas pre-UK history | No | Stronger focus | UK records |
| Guarantee | £30,000 data guarantee, Full Check only | Report return guarantee | Report Guarantee (refund if we can’t deliver your report) |
| Pricing model | Tiered (Basic/Full) | List price, plus 2- and 3-report bundles | Flat, no upsells |
| Price | £19.99 | £39.99 | £15 |
| Overall verdict | Well-known brand, £19.99 for the Full Check | Wider overseas data, higher price | Our top choice for UK cars |
Why UK Buyers Choose Carpeep
Carpeep gives you finance, write-off history, stolen markers, mileage and MOT history, keeper history, import/export markers where available and vehicle identity, plus safety recalls for the model and a market valuation where available, in one clear £15 Full History Report.
No tiers, no account or subscription, and one fixed price.
You get everything that matters in one clear, modern report, backed by our Report Guarantee.
That is £15 versus £19.99 for HPI Full and £39.99 for CarVertical.
Run the check before you commit. If something is wrong, you find out before you pay.
Compare with our car check alternatives page, or see our dedicated CarVertical alternative page.
Which Service Should You Choose?
A car history check should flag finance, write-offs, theft, mileage issues and ownership.
All three cover the basics. The real difference is price, focus and how clearly the report gets to the point.
- HPI if you want the well-known name. £19.99.
- CarVertical if you specifically need wider overseas history from before the vehicle entered the UK. £39.99.
- Carpeep if you want everything in one clear report. £15.
If you specifically need detailed overseas records from before the vehicle entered the UK, consider using a provider with wider international coverage as well.
For most UK buyers, Carpeep is the clear choice: a clear, modern report for £15.
For more comparisons, see our compare hub or our review of the best HPI check websites in the UK.
For a free starting point, use our MOT history check.
For finance, theft and write-offs, you still need a full check.
What Actually Matters Before You Buy
Three things matter: finance, write-offs, mileage.
If any of those are missing, the check is not doing its job.
Paying more does not mean a better check.
It especially does not help if you are paying for data you will not use.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a carVertical check?
carVertical is £39.99 for one report, or £62.97 for three. A Full HPI Check is £19.99. Carpeep is £15 for one full report, or £35 for three.
Is HPI or CarVertical better for UK cars?
For a UK car, HPI's £19.99 Full Check covers the UK records most buyers need, while carVertical's £39.99 report is built around overseas records that matter mainly for an import. Our pick for UK cars is Carpeep: the key UK checks in one clear £15 report.
Does CarVertical work for UK cars?
Yes. It covers UK cars for finance, write-offs and mileage. Its wider international data mainly helps if you need detailed overseas records from before a vehicle entered the UK. The list price is £39.99 for one report, with bundle discounts when you check two or three cars.
What is the main difference between HPI and Carpeep?
HPI Full is £19.99 and Carpeep is £15. HPI is the best-known name, but Carpeep gives you the key UK checks in one clear report at one fixed price.
Which check includes finance and write-off for one price?
Carpeep at £15. HPI Full is £19.99. CarVertical lists at £39.99 for a single report.
How does Carpeep compare with HPI for a UK car check?
Carpeep focuses on the key UK checks a buyer needs, including finance, write-offs and mileage, using DVLA and related sources. The difference is that Carpeep presents them in a clearer report at a fixed price.
Can I use a free MOT history check instead?
Our free MOT history check is a good starting point. It shows mileage and past test results. It does not show finance, theft or write-offs. Add a full check before you buy.
Get the Full History Report for £15.
Before you pay for a used car, check finance, write-offs, theft and mileage in one clear report.
- Instant results
- No account required
- Report Guarantee