Key takeaway: An HPI check and an MOT history check cover completely different things. The HPI check tells you about the car's legal status (stolen, finance, write-off). The MOT history tells you about the car's mechanical condition. For making a smart purchase, the MOT analysis is arguably more useful. CarCostCheck gives you both: a deep MOT analysis for free, plus legal status checks for £4.99.
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What an HPI Check Tells You
A traditional car history check at £19.99 answers these questions:
- Has the car been reported stolen?
- Is there outstanding finance on the car?
- Has the car been declared a write-off by an insurer?
- How many previous keepers has it had?
- Does the mileage look consistent? (basic check)
These are yes/no answers. They are important, especially the finance check, but they tell you nothing about the condition of the car.
What MOT History Tells You
The MOT history is a goldmine of information that most buyers overlook. Every year, MOT testers record:
- Pass or fail result: Has the car failed an MOT? How many times?
- Failure reasons: What specifically caused it to fail? Brakes, emissions, suspension, lights?
- Advisories: Items noted as approaching the failure threshold. These are future repair bills.
- Mileage readings: The odometer reading at each test, creating a mileage timeline over years.
- Dangerous defects: Severe safety issues found during testing.
Analysed properly, MOT history reveals whether a car has been well maintained, whether it has recurring problems, whether the mileage has been tampered with, and what repairs are likely needed in the next 12 months.
The Problem: Raw MOT Data Is Hard to Read
The government's free MOT checker at check-mot.service.gov.uk shows the raw data, but it is not user-friendly. Advisory descriptions use technical language like "Nearside front lower suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement" which means very little to most buyers.
This is where CarCostCheck makes a real difference. It takes the same official data and:
- Translates every advisory and failure into plain English
- Estimates the repair cost for each item
- Detects mileage clocking by analysing readings year by year
- Calculates a reliability score from 0 to 100
- Predicts annual running costs based on the car's actual history
- Flags red warnings for neglect, structural damage, and safety issues
All of this is free. No sign-up, no payment, instant results.
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Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | CarCostCheck Free | CarCostCheck Premium £4.99 | Typical Paid Service £19.99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full MOT history (every test since 2005) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| MOT advisories in plain English | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Estimated repair costs per advisory | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mileage verification / clocking detection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reliability score (0-100) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Annual running costs breakdown | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fuel cost calculator | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Insurance group estimation | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Red flag alerts | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Common faults for make/model | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Stolen check (PNC) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outstanding finance check | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Write-off check (Cat A/B/N/S) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Previous keeper count | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VIN verification | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colour change history | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free | £4.99 | £19.99 |
Which Should You Use?
The answer is both. They cover different aspects of the car:
| Question | Answered by MOT Analysis | Answered by Stolen/Finance Check |
|---|---|---|
| Is the car well maintained? | ✓ | ✗ |
| What repairs will it need soon? | ✓ | ✗ |
| Has the mileage been clocked? | ✓ | Basic only |
| How reliable is this car? | ✓ | ✗ |
| What will it cost to run? | ✓ | ✗ |
| Is it stolen? | ✗ | ✓ |
| Does it have outstanding finance? | ✗ | ✓ |
| Has it been written off? | ✗ | ✓ |
With CarCostCheck, you do not have to choose. The free check gives you comprehensive MOT analysis, and the £4.99 premium adds the legal status checks. Total cost: £4.99 for everything. That is 75% less than a service that only covers the right-hand column.
Our Recommendation
Start with the free CarCostCheck report. If the car has serious issues in the MOT history, you have saved yourself a trip and you have not spent anything. If the car looks good mechanically, add the £4.99 premium to confirm it is legally clean before you go to view it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an HPI check better than a free MOT check?
They check different things. HPI covers legal status. MOT history covers mechanical condition. CarCostCheck provides both: deep MOT analysis for free, plus legal checks for £4.99.
Can I just check MOT history instead of paying for HPI?
For browsing and shortlisting, the free MOT analysis is enough. Before buying, add the £4.99 premium check for stolen, finance, and write-off verification.
Where do I check MOT history for free?
The government site shows raw results. CarCostCheck takes the same data and adds explanations, cost estimates, reliability scoring, and running cost analysis, all for free.
Ready to Check a Car?
12 checks included. Free MOT analysis, mileage verification, running costs, and more. Premium stolen, finance, and write-off checks for just £4.99.
Related reading: HPI Check Free: Can You Really Check a Car for Free? | Car Mileage Check Free: How to Spot a Clocked Car | Full Feature Comparison