HPI Ltd

HPI Ltd
Industry Software
Founded 1938
Headquarters Salisbury
Key people
 Neil Hodson, Managing Director
Number of employees
 422
Parent Solera
Slogan For Smarter Automotive Decisions
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.[13]

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[14] (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.[15]

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[16]

2008: HPI are acquired by Solera Ltd.[17]

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. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/how-to-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-buying-a-car-220543 Mirror online - Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1095439?uid=3738032&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21106087652021 . Wrongful Sale of Hire-Purchase Cars, Ian Fagelson The Modern Law Review Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan., 1977), pp. 64-67
  3. ↑ http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/beware-of-virtual-car-seller-scam-nov13 Actionfraud - Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-2111066/Logbook-loan-second-hand-car-trap-One-outstanding-finance-YOU-liable.html Thisismoney- Retrieved 11 June 2015
  5. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8574668.stm . BBC Q&A: Buying a used car BBC NEWS Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.devon.gov.uk/print/index/transportroads/roads/road_safety/rs-general/safer_vehicles.htm . Devon County Council- Safer vehicles Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ↑ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-uk-ireland/topics/uk-ireland-faq-thread Lonely Planet - UK & Ireland FAQ thread Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. ↑ https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/cars-and-other-vehicles/buying-a-car/buying-a-used-car/what-to-watch-out-for-when-buying-a-used-car/how-to-check-a-car-s-history/ "How to check a car’s history". adviceguide.org.uk. Citizens Advice. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  9. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/logbook-loans-check-second-hand-1836065 Mirror online - Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  10. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/11011399/Caravans-most-annoying.html Telegraph- Morotoring: News- Caravans 'most annoying' Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.aviva.com/media/news/item/aviva-sells-hpi-to-solera-holdings-inc-4667/ "Aviva". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  12. ↑ https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00002387858?legacySearch=False
  13. ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/how-to-avoid-the-pitfalls-of-buying-a-car-220543 Mirror online - Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. ↑ http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/the-library-and-links/647/library-c--d/
  15. ↑ http://www.motortrader.com/general-news/mileage-register-will-wipe-out-clocking/ "MILEAGE REGISTER WILL 'WIPE OUT CLOCKING' - Motor Trader". Motor Trader Magazine - Motor Industry: News - Jobs - Awards.
  16. ↑ http://www.am-online.com/news/2004/8/17/norwich-union-acquires-hpi-group-holdings/6672/ "Norwich Union acquires HPI Group Holdings". am-online.com. AM Online Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  17. ↑ http://m.insurancetimes.co.uk/news-old/aviva-sells-hpi-to-solera/1376060.article "Aviva sells HPI to Solera". insurancetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2015.

General References

http://www2.peterborough.gov.uk/news/latest_news/2013/november/new_campaign_urges_used_car.aspx

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

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