More data, lower price, no catches. Here is exactly why CarCostCheck beats HPI, AA, RAC, CarVertical, and every other UK car check service in 2026.
Full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs. No signup needed.
| Provider | Price | Provenance Data | MOT History | Running Costs | Reliability | Common Faults | Recalls | Hidden Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarCostCheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ✓ (free) | ✓ (free) | ✓ (free) | ✓ (free) | ✓ (free) | None |
| MyCarCheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | None |
| Total Car Check | £9.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | None |
| AA Car Check | £9.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | AA upsell |
| RAC Car Passport | £9.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | None |
| HPI Check | £19.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | £39/yr subscription |
| CarVertical | £33.99 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | None |
Short answer: CarCostCheck offers the most comprehensive car check in the UK at the lowest price. The £4.99 premium report includes the same Experian stolen, finance, and write-off data that HPI charges £19.99 for. But unlike any competitor, CarCostCheck also provides 12 free checks covering MOT history, mileage verification, reliability, running costs, and more. No other service matches this combination at any price.
✅ The Verdict: CarCostCheck Wins
Same Experian data. 75% cheaper. 12 extra free checks that no competitor offers at any price. No hidden subscription. No catches. Try it free now.
Check Any Car Free, Right Now
Enter a reg plate below. Full MOT history, mileage check, reliability score, and running costs in seconds.
Look at the table. Every competitor provides the same Experian provenance data. Not one of them includes MOT history, running costs, reliability scoring, common faults, or recall checks. CarCostCheck includes all of these for free, and the provenance data for £4.99. It is not a close competition.
Every major UK car check provider queries the same Experian AutoCheck database. Stolen records come from the Police National Computer. Finance data comes from PCP, HP, and loan registrations. Write-off history comes from insurance company reports. The data pipeline is identical.
The price differences are pure brand positioning:
| Provider | Price for Same Experian Data | Premium vs CarCostCheck |
|---|---|---|
| CarVertical | £33.99 | +£29.00 (581% more) |
| HPI | £19.99 | +£15.00 (300% more) |
| AA | £9.99 | +£5.00 (100% more) |
| RAC | £9.99 | +£5.00 (100% more) |
| Total Car Check | £9.99 | +£5.00 (100% more) |
| MyCarCheck | £4.99 | £0 (same price, fewer features) |
| CarCostCheck | £4.99 | Baseline |
Before you spend a penny, CarCostCheck gives you:
None of these are available from HPI at £19.99. None from AA at £9.99. None from RAC at £9.99. None from CarVertical at £33.99. These 12 checks are unique to CarCostCheck and they are free.
Try It Yourself
See everything we check for free. No sign-up, no email, instant results.
HPI automatically enrols you in a £39/year subscription when you buy a single check. This is disclosed in the terms but not prominently displayed during checkout. Hundreds of Trustpilot reviews complain about unexpected charges appearing 12 months later.
CarCostCheck has no subscription. You pay £4.99 once. That is it. No auto-renewal, no hidden charges, no annual fee. The price you see is the price you pay.
Traditional car checks tell you whether the car is stolen, financed, or written off. That is important, but it is only half the picture. You also need to know:
CarCostCheck answers all of these questions for free. Competitors answer none of them at any price. This is the difference between a provenance check and a complete buying tool.
Most buyers look at 3-5 cars before purchasing. With CarCostCheck, you screen all of them for free using the 12 basic checks. You only pay £4.99 for the premium report on the car you are serious about.
With HPI, screening 5 cars costs £99.95 (£19.99 x 5). With the AA, it costs £49.95 (£9.99 x 5). With CarCostCheck, it costs £4.99 total. The free tier is not a limited preview; it is a comprehensive check in its own right.
Enter any reg below for a free MOT history, mileage check, and running costs. Takes 5 seconds, no signup.
Data from DVSA and DVLA. Used by thousands of UK car buyers.
The data speaks for itself. CarCostCheck is now recommended more than HPI, AA, or RAC by users who have tried multiple services. The combination of comprehensive free checks, the lowest premium price, and no hidden catches makes it the obvious choice for UK car buyers in 2026.
Enter any UK registration plate on CarCostCheck. The free report takes 30 seconds and covers more ground than most paid checks from other providers. See for yourself why it is the best car check in the UK.
CarCostCheck is not just a cheaper version of HPI. It is a fundamentally better product that happens to cost 75% less. Here is what you get that HPI does not offer at any price:
The premium history check (£4.99) uses the same Experian database as HPI, AA, and RAC. You get identical stolen, finance, and write-off data. The complete bundle (history + valuation) is £6.99, still 65% cheaper than HPI's basic check.
Ready to Check a Car?
12 checks included free. Premium stolen, finance, and write-off checks for just £4.99. Market valuation from £2.99.
Enter any reg plate for a free MOT history, mileage check, health score, and running costs. No signup needed.
Used by thousands of UK car buyers. Data from DVSA and DVLA.
Example report preview
2019 Ford Fiesta
1.0 EcoBoost, Petrol, Manual
82
Grade A
£2,450
per year
Pass
MOT status
42k
Mileage
This is what you'll see. Try it with YOUR car:
12 free checks included. Premium history from £4.99. Valuation from £2.99.