HPI Ltd
HPI is a marketing-leading British vehicle history checking service founded in 1938 and part of UK automotive data business cap hpi [1]
Industry | Software |
---|---|
Founded | 1938 |
Headquarters | Leeds, England |
Key people | Christopher Wright (Managing Director) |
Number of employees | 422 |
Parent | cap hpi Solera |
Website | hpi |
The company was set up to prevent the wrongful sale of hire-purchase cars and were the first organisation of its kind.[2] HPI works alongside the Police,[3] DVLA, Finance houses and insurance companies to generate detailed vehicle history reports for consumers in the second-hand car market. The report, called HPI Check, informs consumers whether a vehicle has outstanding finance[4] been stolen, written off (Total loss), has a mileage discrepancy (clocked),[5] had a plate change, been cloned, has an outstanding logbook loan[6][7] and several others.[8][9] The HPI Check can be performed on any vehicle that is registered in the UK with the DVLA, including Caravans[10] and Quad bikes. In 2008, HPI were acquired by Solera.[11] HPI Headquarters are currently situated in Salisbury.
HPI Check, (an HPI product) is a term widely used to describe an actual vehicle history check throughout the motoring industry in the UK, although HPI are the only company to actually sell "HPI Checks".[12]
History
1938: HPI, formerly known as Hire Purchase Information, were founded in 1938 in response to the rise of fraudulent re-financing of vehicles. The company was formed by six leading finance companies to share information on vehicles they had let out on hire-purchase, to prevent them being refinanced. Each individual finance house would post a record of the model and registration, of the let out car to HPI. The data would then be accessible to other finance companies.[1]
1947: HPI begin working with the police and have access to stolen vehicle information.
1980s: HPI begin working with leading insurers to provide car accident history data.
1990s: HPI are sold to Infolink and Equifax(credit referencing organisations)
1992: HPI appointed to run CRiS[13] (Central Registration & Identification Scheme) on behalf of NCC
1993: HPI's second hand car information becomes accessible to the general public to purchase nationally in the United Kingdom.
1994: HPI electronically tag all new CRiS registered caravans with RFID tags.
1997: HPI and IMVA launch the National Mileage register to help abolish the practice of ‘clocking’ cars.[14]
1999: HPI launch their online data checking service
2000: HPI and IMVA merge to create a new independent information company dedicated solely to the needs of the motor industry and the motoring consumer.
2001: HPI Launch consumer website www.hpi.co.uk and Motorhome MINDER on behalf of SMMT
2002: HPI Launch online service to motor trade customers.
2004: HPI acquired by Norwich Union Insurance, the UK's largest insurer[15]
2008: HPI are acquired by Solera Holdings Ltd.[16]
2009: HPI CrushWatch launched so that Police Forces and Enforcement Agencies can check vehicles prior to disposal. Finance Gateway launched, allowing dealers to provide forecourt finance to their customers
2011: Department for Transport approved HPI as an authorised distributor of environmental impact information for used car buyers
2012: HPI launches mobile service for dealers delivering vehicle information on the move. HPI's National Mileage Register hits 150 million readings
2013: HPI in conjunction with Datatag and Construction & Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration Scheme (CESAR) launch an enhanced plant asset registration service.
References
- Administrator, mirror (11 May 2010). "How to avoid the pitfalls of buying a car".
- Fagelson, Ian (1 January 1977). "Wrongful Sale of Hire-Purchase Cars". The Modern Law Review. 40 (1): 64–67. JSTOR 1095439.
- ActionFraud (8 November 2013). "Beware of 'virtual car seller' scam".
- "The logbook loan second-hand car trap: One in four has outstanding finance and YOU can be liable". 30 March 2012.
- "Q&A: Buying a used car". 18 March 2010 – via bbc.co.uk.
- ". Devon County Council- Safer vehicles Retrieved 11 June 2015". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- Planet, Lonely. "UK & Ireland FAQ thread".
- "Buying a used car - Citizens Advice".
- Phillips, Tricia (18 April 2013). "Hidden loan hell: Don't get caught out when buying a second hand car".
- "Caravans 'most annoying'". 4 August 2014.
- "Aviva sells HPI to Solera Holdings Inc - Aviva plc". 19 October 2017.
- www.ipo.gov.uk
- "Library C - The Crime Prevention Website".
- "MILEAGE REGISTER WILL 'WIPE OUT CLOCKING' - Motor Trader". Motor Trader Magazine - Motor Industry: News - Jobs - Awards.
- "Norwich Union acquires HPI Group Holdings".
- "Aviva sells HPI to Solera".
General References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100452/http://www2.peterborough.gov.uk/news/latest_news/2013/november/new_campaign_urges_used_car.aspx
- https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223419/http://www.devon.gov.uk/safer_vehicles
- http://www.bedford.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/env_health__trading_standards/useful_website_links.aspx
- http://www.shetland.gov.uk/tradingstandards/Cars.asp
- http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7997814e-bd9e-11e4-8cf3-00144feab7de.html
- http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/how-to-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-buying-a-car-220543
- http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/buying-used-car-6-tips-4985991
- https://www.westmercia.police.uk/article/8678/Useful-vehicle-security-links
- https://www.leics.police.uk/contact-us/faq/Q570
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74
- http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-2572793/Sometimes-women-drivers-just-need-little-extra-help.html
- https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/8700/Useful-vehicle-security-links