Chris Wright managing director of automotive data and technology company cap hpi, awoke early one morning recently to find his property burgled, the keys to his Jaguar XF gone, and the car no longer on the drive.  After reporting the car stolen to West Yorkshire Police, Chris remembered an app he was trialling on his mobile.

He said: “Along with a handful of colleagues across the world, I’m currently part of the beta testing group for an innovative new app we are working on called Digital Garage. The app is designed for car owners to have instant access to all their data relating to their vehicles and that includes location data and works by tapping into the car’s in built OBD (on board diagnostics) system.”

The app gives users access to a wealth of data on their vehicle from the current value to exact specification and total cost of ownership. It also tracks any outstanding finance, vehicle history and warns of recorded mileage discrepancy. The app is designed to give motorists the lowdown on any car at the touch of a button.

Building on many years of trust in the hpi brand, harnessing the OBD via the new app technology will link seamlessly to existing tools such as the market leading HPI Check.

Added Chris: “We already have a proven track record of providing customers with all the information they need and the tools to ensure they can thoroughly check everything they need to know when buying a used car.”

“We have nearly 80 years of history providing HPI Checks and more than 30 years of experience supplying valuations to the motoring trade. The data used to compile our history checks and valuations is built on reliable market information generated by genuine market experts with all valuations entirely independent of dealers or manufacturer influence.  Consumers have easy access to a reliable and credible data resource combined with valuations accuracy, providing complete peace of mind and reassurance when buying or selling a car, checking out its history or looking for safety issues via the recall service.”

On the morning of the theft of his car, Chris recalls: “I remembered I was part of the beta testing group and thought I would just check where the app had tracked my car. I could see the exact time the car was taken from my property and where it had been taken to and parked. It also tracked the route the thieves had taken and what speeds they were going.  The data even informed me that at 2.44am the top speed reached was 92mph and that £1.08 worth of fuel had been used!”

Chris soon shared the information generated by the app with the investigating police officers.

Chris continued: “I was informed that mine was one of many cars to have been taken as part of a recent spate of thefts in the Aireborough and Wharfedale district. The police were amazed when I could give them the level of detail that the app had provided and even offering useful data such as routes and unusual locations where the car was dumped, obviously as a test by the thieves to see if the car was tracked.”

West Yorkshire police used the information and despatched officers to recover the car from the exact location identified by the app.  

He added: “Lots of cars have trackers in them which can assist the police in their fight against car crime which is not unusual, but the level of detailed information the Digital Garage app can provide will help the police to close the net on organised gangs of car thieves.

“The majority of cars built after 2005 have an in-built diagnostic device that has the potential to provide vehicle tracking.  Many motorists are unaware that their cars may even have this capability. Our app links to the vehicle’s diagnostic computer and allows the car owner to access lots of valuable information.  Accessing the app also meant that I was constantly up to date with the location of the vehicle and could advise the police if it moved in real-time. This is a very exciting piece of consumer technology that fits in well with our existing suite of trusted services which is already successfully helping millions of consumers in mitigating the risks of buying a stolen car, and even at this experimental stage, our new app has recovered one already!

“Thanks to the information I was able to present to the police quickly and easily, the car was recovered and returned without any damage.”