What this check is for
Use this page when you are close to buying a used car and you need records that are not on the MOT or the tax record. VehicleScore is not an HPI check, and this page does not call Hidden History the best or the cheapest history check.
The free car check shows MOT history, Tax or SORN status, MOT mileage timeline, Vehicle details, VehicleScore® /999. The car check is the walkthrough for comparing that free report with the car and the advert. Hidden History is the paid report, at £13.95. Consumer packs are 2 for £16.95, 3 for £19.95, 5 for £25.95. Dealer service records are a separate check at £8.95.
A blank section means no matching record was returned. The report does not inspect the car. Open the sample Hidden History report to see the layout, and pricing for the current UK prices.
What to check before you pay
| Check | On VehicleScore | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Identity, MOT, tax and mileage | Free registration check | Does not show finance, write-off, stolen or salvage records |
| Finance, write-off, stolen and salvage | Hidden History, £13.95 | A blank section means no matching record was returned |
| Dealer service records | Service history, £8.95 | Not a guarantee that every garage visit is listed |
| Physical condition | Not offered | VehicleScore does not inspect the car |
What Hidden History can show
One report is £13.95. Where the provider returns a record, it can show:
- Outstanding finance
- Insurance write-off category
- Stolen markers
- Salvage auction records and images where held
- VIN confirmation
- Colour and plate changes
- Previous keeper count
- Import and export flags
- Market valuation
The report includes £10,000 Experian data cover. Guarantee covers the specific verified data points included in the VehicleScore® Guarantee programme, including theft, write-off, salvage, outstanding finance and selected title/history records. Terms, eligibility requirements and claim limits apply. It does not inspect the car, book an MOT, take a tax payment, check whether the car is insured, or list manufacturer recalls. It does not name previous keepers. Dealer service records stay on the service history check.
Free report and Hidden History
| Check | Free report | Hidden History |
|---|---|---|
| VehicleScore out of 999 | Yes | Yes, with a fuller score breakdown |
| MOT, tax and mileage | Yes | Yes |
| Outstanding finance | Not shown | Yes, when a finance record exists |
| Stolen marker | Not shown | Yes, when a stolen record exists |
| Insurance write-off | Not shown | Yes, including category when recorded |
| Salvage auction and images | Not shown | Yes, where auction records or images exist |
| Keepers, import, export and VIN | Limited identity data only | Keeper count, import and export flags, VIN confirmation |
Outstanding finance
If a car is still on hire purchase, PCP or another finance agreement, the lender usually remains the legal owner until that agreement is settled. Paying the seller does not always clear the debt. The report can name the agreement type and the finance company when those fields are returned. It does not show the remaining balance. Read the outstanding finance check.
Stolen markers
A stolen marker means the vehicle has been recorded as stolen on the industry data we receive. It is not a live police terminal, and it does not prove who is entitled to sell the car. See what a stolen marker means and what to do if one appears.
Insurance write-off history
Insurers use categories A, B, S and N when a car is written off. That is a different record from a salvage auction sighting. A car can have one, both, or neither. Understand Cat A, B, S and N before you buy a repaired write-off.
Salvage history and auction images
Salvage records come from auction and salvage-yard sightings. Where we hold them, the report can include the lot date, location, damage description, recorded mileage and images. Salvage history is not the same as a write-off.
Other records on the paid report
Hidden History can show how many previous keepers are recorded and the date of the last keeper change. It does not list names or addresses. A high keeper count is a reason to ask more questions, not proof the car is a problem.
It can also flag an import or an export, confirm the VIN, and list colour changes and previous number plates when those records are returned. It does not list customs duty or taxes paid. The free dashboard already plots MOT odometer readings. A drop between tests is a discrepancy in that record, not proof the odometer was altered. How MOT mileage is read.
An eight-point market valuation can be included when one is returned. A free estimate from similar cars is on the car valuation. Factory equipment is a separate factory spec check, and it is not a substitute for finance, write-off or stolen records. Buying an electric car raises the same history questions, plus range and charging, which sit on the EV check.
If you were looking for an HPI check
HPI is another company’s vehicle history product. VehicleScore is not HPI, is not an HPI check, and is not affiliated with that brand.
People searching for that kind of check usually want finance, stolen markers, write-offs and related history. Hidden History covers those categories when the provider returns them, and adds the VehicleScore, the MOT mileage timeline, and salvage images where we hold them. We do not claim to be the same service, or to be more accurate. The HPI Check alternative page compares published product facts. The same style of comparison is on the CarVertical, Motorscan, VCheck and Total Car Check pages. Those pages do not rank a best or cheapest UK history check.
What to do when a problem is found
- Do not transfer money until you understand the record.
- Ask the seller for written evidence: a finance settlement letter, repair invoices, or proof a stolen record has been closed.
- For write-off or salvage history, get an independent inspection before you commit.
- If a current stolen marker appears, stop the purchase and contact the police. Do not confront a seller in person.
- Walk away if the paperwork does not match the report.
Checking more than one car
If you are comparing a shortlist, or you need checks for stock, you can buy Hidden History packs and use the credits within 12 months. See Hidden History packs for buyer and dealer pricing. The buying guide explains which records to read before you pay, without ranking providers.
Enter a registration to open the free report. Buy Hidden History from the dashboard if you need finance, write-off, stolen or salvage records.