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Back in the 1930s, there was a growing demand for motor cars - and a growing problem with fraudulent re-financing. So in 1938, the six leading lenders of the day started to pool data on their hire purchase agreements, so that people couldn't use the same asset as security for multiple loans and HPI was born.
Since then, the range of data HPI carries has grown significantly. An agreement with the police to provide stolen vehicle information was reached in 1947, and by the mid-1980s, leading insurers were providing data on seriously damaged vehicles, as well as using the HPI database to ensure claims were being paid to the right party.
During the 1990s, HPI was sold by its finance house founders, and owned by two leading credit referencing organisations - first Infolink, then Equifax. The range of services was expanded, with the biggest change being the launch of the National Mileage Register jointly with fellow specialists IMVA (Independent Mileage Verification Association) in 1997.
At the end of 2000, IMVA and HPI merged to create a new independent information company dedicated solely to the needs of the motor industry and the motoring consumer.
HPI has always protected the interests of the motorist by ensuring that the vehicles bought and sold through dealers carry "good title" - in other words, that they really will belong to people who pay good money for them. For many years, leading manufacturers and dealer groups have recognised the benefit of reassuring their customers that the necessary checks have been performed, which is why HPI Certificates are an increasingly common sight.
In 1992, HPI information was first made available to the general public though a trial in the north-east. The service became nationally available in 1993, and became a guaranteed service in 1995. Then in 1999, HPI launched its first online web check, making it available through wap telephony within 12 months in partnership with the Orange network.
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