Key takeaway: The data from a car history check is valuable. Paying £20 for it is not. You can get the same stolen, finance, and write-off checks for £4.99 with CarCostCheck, and the free check includes 10 additional data points that £20 services do not offer.
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What a Typical £20 Car Check Includes
When you pay £19.99 for a car history check from one of the established providers, you typically receive:
- Stolen vehicle check: Checks the Police National Computer to see if the car has been reported stolen.
- Outstanding finance check: Looks for active hire purchase, conditional sale, or personal contract purchase agreements.
- Write-off check: Searches insurance industry databases for Category A, B, N, or S write-off records.
- Mileage discrepancy flag: A basic comparison of recorded mileage readings.
- Keeper count: How many previous registered keepers the car has had.
That is five checks. All of them are binary (yes/no or a count). They tell you whether the car has specific problems, but nothing about the car's actual condition, maintenance history, or what it will cost to own.
What a £20 Check Does Not Include
This is the more interesting list. A typical £20 car check does not tell you:
- What came up in every MOT test since 2005
- What each MOT advisory actually means in plain English
- How much each advisory will cost to repair
- Whether the car's mileage pattern suggests clocking (beyond a basic flag)
- The car's overall reliability score based on its history
- Predicted annual running costs (fuel, tax, repairs, MOT)
- The insurance group and likely premium range
- Common faults for the specific make and model
- Red flags for neglect, structural damage, or safety concerns
These are arguably more important than the stolen/finance check for most buyers. A car that is not stolen and has no finance can still be a terrible purchase if it has £2,000 of upcoming repairs, a history of structural advisories, or clocked mileage.
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The Better Alternative: More Data, Lower Price
CarCostCheck was built to fill exactly this gap. The free check covers everything in the "missing" list above. The premium check at £4.99 adds stolen, finance, write-off, keeper, VIN, and colour change checks. Together, you get significantly more data than a £20 service, for a quarter of the price.
| 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 |
A Real Example
Consider a 2017 Ford Focus you have found online for £7,500. Here is what each service tells you:
Typical £20 service: Not stolen. No finance. Not written off. 3 keepers. Mileage looks consistent. That is the entire report.
CarCostCheck free check: The car has had 5 MOT tests. It passed each time, but the last two had advisories for corroded brake pipes, worn tyres, and a slightly worn driveshaft boot. In plain English, the brake pipes need attention soon (estimated £150-250), the tyres need replacing (estimated £200-300), and the driveshaft boot will need doing within 6 months (estimated £120-180). The reliability score is 71/100, which is below average for a Focus of this age. Estimated annual running costs are £3,200. The car's mileage pattern is consistent.
CarCostCheck premium (£4.99): All of the above, plus confirmation that the car is not stolen, has no finance, and has not been written off. 3 keepers. VIN matches.
Which report helps you make a better decision? The £4.99 report tells you to negotiate the price down by at least £500 to cover the upcoming repairs. The £20 report tells you nothing useful about what the car actually needs.
When Is £20 Worth It?
Honestly, it is hard to justify £20 when the same data costs £4.99 elsewhere. The only scenario where it makes sense is if you specifically want a guarantee or warranty from the check provider (some offer a "data guarantee" that covers you if their report is wrong). Check the terms carefully, though. These guarantees often have significant exclusions.
For the vast majority of buyers, the £4.99 premium check from CarCostCheck provides better value. You get the same underlying data (from the same sources), plus 10 additional checks that expensive services do not include.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a £20 HPI check worth it?
The data is useful, but £20 is overpriced. CarCostCheck provides the same checks plus 10 additional checks for £4.99 total.
What does an HPI check not include?
Most £20 services do not include MOT analysis, advisory interpretation, repair cost estimates, reliability scoring, running cost breakdowns, or common fault detection. CarCostCheck includes all of these for free.
Can I get the same data cheaper?
Yes. CarCostCheck offers stolen, finance, and write-off checks for £4.99, along with 10+ free checks that no other service includes.
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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: Best HPI Check Alternative UK 2026 | Cheapest Car History Check UK 2026 | Full Feature Comparison