There’s no such thing as a Free HPI Check so be extremely cautious of any services that claim to provide an HPI Check Free. A ‘Free HPI Check’ is not genuine and will not provide you with the information needed to keep you protected from car scams and motor fraud.

An HPI Check is a vehicle check provided by HPI Ltd that scrutinises the history of any motorised vehicle registered in the UK including cars, vans and motorbikes. The HPI Check is probably the most important check you will do before buying a used car and should be your first line of defence against vehicle fraud.

Whenever you purchase a new or used car or van, you will need to have insurance cover in place before you drive away from the dealer’s forecourt. Driveaway insurance is an extremely convenient way of removing the hassle of having to arrange a motor insurance policy before collecting your vehicle. …

Drive away insurance is a form of temporary car insurance – one that provides you with enough cover to get behind the wheel and take your new purchase home before you’ve had chance to get an annual policy in place. It is ideal for drivers looking to cover their new vehicles temporarily.

You can get a free VIN check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), VehicleHistory.com or iSeeCars.com/VIN. Just pop in your car’s digits and these sites will do the VIN lookup and give you information on the vehicle.

Unfortunately, you cannot verify the car category for free, unlike MOT history and other details which you can get from the DVLA without paying any charges. So, forget about the DVLA cat D check or cat c check.

Previous damage For vehicles written-off since January 1997, the HPI Check provides an insurer damage classification, A to D, ranging from those vehicles which should never go back on the road, to those which can be be safely repaired.

Will an HPI Check always show if the vehicle has been in an accident? Not always. A vehicle check will only verify if the car has been in a recorded insurance claim and has been “written off”. Most drivers will contact their insurers and report the incident, and the vehicle will then be repaired (if needed).

What does drive away insurance mean? Drive away insurance means you don’t have to sort out your annual insurance policy before taking your new car home. It’s a temporary insurance option that enables you to pick up your new car easily and with confidence.

Ford Insure contracts are arranged, administered and provided by EUI. EUI Limited (Reg No: 02686904) is a subsidiary of Admiral Group plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference number: 309378).

If you’re a hundred percent sure about the car and its price, yes, you can drive your new car home the same day, and a successful sale can be as quick as 2-3 hours.