Solera Cap HPI is calling on the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate vehicle history websites that it claims are misleading used car buyers.
The vehicle data company warned that some providers were using poor-quality information, hidden subscription charges and misleading marketing to attract motorists searching for an HPI check.
It said consumers could believe they were buying a genuine HPI check when the report was instead supplied by an unrelated operator with different data sources and payment terms.
Solera Cap HPI owns the HPI Check brand and has written to the CMA to raise concerns about practices it believes are undermining trust in the vehicle provenance market.
Copycat checks raise concerns
The company said the HPI Check name had become so widely recognised that motorists frequently used it as a generic description for any vehicle history report.
Solera Cap HPI argues that this had created an opportunity for copycat websites to mimic the brand while selling different products.
Its concerns include recurring subscription traps, drip pricing and a lack of clarity about the provenance information included in reports.
Chris Wright, regional vice president at Solera Cap HPI, said: “Consumers rely on vehicle history checks to protect themselves when making one of the biggest purchases they’ll ever make. Instead, too many are finding themselves caught by hidden subscription charges, unclear pricing and reports built on data that simply doesn’t match the quality or depth buyers expect.
“We have alerted the CMA to what we believe are rogue operators in this market because consumers deserve transparency. If you’re buying a vehicle history report, you should know exactly what data sits behind it, what you’re paying for and whether the provider stands behind its information.”
Solera Cap HPI is advising motorists to check whether a vehicle history service used police, DVLA, insurance and motor finance records and whether the information was backed by a guarantee.
The company said its HPI Check covered more than 35 million live vehicles, worked with all 45 British police forces and included a £30,000 data guarantee. It said the service identified around 975 insurance write-offs and 726 mileage discrepancies every day.
Used car confidence at risk
Solera Cap HPI said poor-quality vehicle information could expose consumers to additional risks and damage confidence in dealers, lenders and the wider used car market.
Wright added: “The vehicle history sector exists to reduce risk, not create more of it. Good provenance data protects consumers, dealers and lenders alike. Poor data and misleading sales practices erode confidence across the entire used car market. We believe it’s time for stronger action to ensure buyers know exactly what they’re getting before they part with their money.”
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