Verdari vs HPI Check: which should you use?
If you're buying a used car in the UK, you've probably been told to "run an HPI check." HPI is the name everyone knows — but it isn't the only way to check a car, and for most buyers it's no longer the smartest. Here's an honest comparison.
They read the same official data
This is the part most people don't realise: a car check is only as good as its sources, and the core sources are shared across the whole industry. Both HPI and Verdari draw on the same official records — DVLA, DVSA MOT history, and finance/write-off/stolen records from the same industry providers (Experian, Cap HPI, MIAFTR).
In other words, nobody has secret data the others can't see. What actually differs is the price, and what each service does with the data.
Where Verdari is different
HPI hands you a report on one car. Verdari adds three things on top of the same data:
- An AI risk score (0–10) and a clear verdict. Instead of a wall of records, you get a plain-English read: is this a good buy, or one to walk away from?
- Side-by-side comparison of up to 3 cars. When you're choosing between a few, Verdari ranks them and tells you which to buy — the "AI Pick." No other major check does this.
- A price that fits a single purchase. A full Verdari report is £6.99; a 3-car comparison with AI Pick is £2.99. (HPI's single full check is around £19.99 at the time of writing.)
No subscription traps
One thing to always check with any provider: does a one-off check quietly turn into a recurring subscription? Verdari never does. You pay once, get your report, and can re-access it for 90 days — no card stored for "renewals," no surprise charges.
Which should you pick?
- Choose HPI if you want the long-established brand name and you're only ever checking one car.
- Choose Verdari if you want the same official data, an AI score and verdict you can act on, the ability to compare a shortlist, and to pay a fraction of the price.
Try it free
Run your first check on Verdari free — no signup — and see the score and full MOT history before you pay anything.
Prices correct at the time of writing. Verdari is independent and not affiliated with HPI, DVLA, DVSA or Cap HPI.