A HPI check is a check that can be carried out on a vehicle. It is often also known as a Hire Purchase Inspection. Some companies offer a free report that will give you very basic information on the vehicle but most companies charge a fee for the service. The HPI report is designed to give you vital information on a vehicle allowing you to study it before proceeding with a sale. It will show you if the car has any outstanding finance, the number of owners it has had, if the car has been written off or scrapped at any time, the car credentials such as VIN and engine number and sometimes service / mileage history. It can also show you if the car has had a number plate change and what the previous plate or plates were.
Every car dealer should do a HPI check on a vehicle before putting it up for sale or at least prior to completing on a sale with the new owner. If you are buying one privately then you should definitely pay to have this done as this can save you a lot of time and unnecessary stress later on down the line. If you notice anything on the HPI check that is a little odd you can call the company that does the checks and ask them to look in to or explain it a little further. If the car is reported as stolen then you can ring the police.