HPI Ltd

HPI Ltd
Industry Software
Founded 1938
Headquarters Salisbury
Key people
 Neil Hodson, Managing Director
Number of employees
 422
Parent Solera
Website hpi.co.uk

HPI is a British vehicle history checking company founded in 1938.[1]

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, a leading global provider of claims solutions.[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 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

  1. 1 2 Administrator, mirror (11 May 2010). "How to avoid the pitfalls of buying a car".
  2. ↑ Fagelson, Ian (1 January 1977). "Wrongful Sale of Hire-Purchase Cars". The Modern Law Review. 40 (1): 64–67. doi:10.2307/1095439 (inactive 2016-08-24). JSTOR 1095439.
  3. ↑ ActionFraud (8 November 2013). "Beware of 'virtual car seller' scam".
  4. ↑ "The logbook loan second-hand car trap: One in four has outstanding finance and YOU can be liable".
  5. ↑ "Q&A: Buying a used car". 18 March 2010 – via bbc.co.uk.
  6. ↑ . Devon County Council- Safer vehicles Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Planet, Lonely. "UK & Ireland FAQ thread".
  8. ↑ "Buying a used car - Citizens Advice".
  9. ↑ Phillips, Tricia (18 April 2013). "Hidden loan hell: Don't get caught out when buying a second hand car".
  10. ↑ "Caravans 'most annoying'".
  11. ↑ "Aviva sells HPI to Solera Holdings Inc - Aviva plc".
  12. ↑ www.ipo.gov.uk
  13. ↑ "Library C - The Crime Prevention Website".
  14. ↑ "MILEAGE REGISTER WILL 'WIPE OUT CLOCKING' - Motor Trader". Motor Trader Magazine - Motor Industry: News - Jobs - Awards.
  15. ↑ "Norwich Union acquires HPI Group Holdings".
  16. ↑ "Aviva sells HPI to Solera".

General References

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