HPI Check covers stolen, finance, and write-off checks. UKDataAPI covers MOT history and mileage verification — free DVSA data, API-native, 99% cheaper.
HPI Check (owned by Cap HPI / Solera) is the UK's best-known vehicle history checking service. For £9.99-19.99 per check, it reveals whether a vehicle has outstanding finance, has been stolen, written off, or has a mileage discrepancy. HPI's unique value is its proprietary databases — finance records from lenders, stolen vehicle data from police, and insurance write-off records. UKDataAPI's Vehicle endpoint covers the publicly available part: full MOT history from DVSA, mileage readings at each test, advisory notices, and a proprietary Vehicle Health Score. It does not include HPI's finance, stolen, or write-off data. But for developers building used car platforms, fleet management tools, or vehicle inspection workflows, UKDataAPI provides MOT intelligence at scale via API — something HPI charges enterprise rates for.
| Feature | UKDataAPI | HPI Check |
|---|---|---|
| MOT history (all tests) | Full DVSA history with results and advisories | MOT history included |
| Mileage verification | Mileage readings at each MOT | Mileage check with discrepancy alerts |
| Vehicle Health Score | ✓0-100 score based on MOT patterns and advisories | No composite scoring |
| Outstanding finance check | Not included | ✓Checks against lender databases |
| Stolen vehicle check | Not included | ✓Police National Computer check |
| Insurance write-off check | Not included | ✓MIAFTR database check |
| V5C logbook verification | Not included | ✓Plate and VIN changes |
| MOT failure patterns | ✓Full failure and advisory history for trend analysis | Basic pass/fail history |
| Output format | ✓Structured JSON API | Web report + PDF |
| Batch processing | ✓Up to 500 req/min for fleet analysis | One vehicle at a time (consumer), enterprise API available |
| Real-time API access | ✓< 1 second response | Consumer web tool, trade API available |
| AI agent access (MCP/x402) | ✓Native support | Not available |
UKDataAPI
Flat rate: 6 credits (£0.012) per call. Pay-as-you-go. Free tier: 200 credits/month.
HPI Check
Consumer: £9.99-19.99 per check. Trade: volume pricing by negotiation. Dealer packages from ~£500/year.
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ "https://www.ukdatapi.com/api/v1/vehicle/AB12CDE?depth=standard" # Returns: MOT history, mileage readings, failure patterns, # advisory trends, Vehicle Health Score (0-100) # Cost: 6 credits (£0.012)
200 free credits. No contract. No credit card.
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