Proposed Increase in Cost of Missouri Motor Vehicle Records Harmful to Consumers, Businesses

Proposed Increase in Cost of Missouri Motor Vehicle Records Harmful to Consumers, Businesses

Experian Automotive working against the State of Missouri’s action to raise the cost of public motor vehicle records many times greater than the price of the rest of the country's records combined

Schaumburg, Ill., June 16, 2008 — Experian Automotive, a part of global information services company Experian®, today announced that it is actively working alongside other automotive industry companies to reverse a cost-prohibitive proposal by the Missouri Department of Revenue to increase the cost of individual motor vehicle records by more than 3,000 times the current price. The increase would have the result of harming both consumers and businesses by preventing these records from being included in Experian’s automotive database and powering a number of socially beneficial uses by consumers, law enforcement agencies and state and national businesses.

Based on recent testimony from Experian Automotive and other automotive industry businesses, a temporary injunction was granted on May 30, 2008, halting the price increase until a final ruling can be made. The injunction helps to ensure that consumers and businesses will continue to benefit from the inclusion of Missouri’s motor vehicle records in services such as vehicle history reports, recalls by auto manufacturers, vehicle fraud investigations by law enforcement, and market analyses for Missouri businesses.

“Experian Automotive has actively sought to reverse the proposed price increase on vehicle records and we are pleased with the decision to place a temporary stay on this action,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. “Such an exorbitant price increase would prevent Experian from including Missouri date in its automotive database and have a direct and negative impact on Missouri’s citizens, municipalities and businesses. We will continue to work hard to ensure this information will be available to those that need it most.”

Experian Automotive incorporates motor vehicle records into several services that provide consumers, businesses, and state and national law enforcement agencies with important information about vehicle histories and registrations. The proposed vehicle record cost increase would mean information on Missouri vehicles would not be available in the following ways:

• Experian Automotive’s vehicle history report service provides used car buyers with crucial vehicle information such as salvage, junk or flood brands. Without Missouri motor vehicle records, any consumer buying a used vehicle titled in Missouri at any point in time would not have access to these important events in a vehicle’s history.
• Experian Automotive provides motor vehicle records to Missouri and national law enforcement for investigations into title fraud. Without updated Missouri title records, law enforcement will have one less tool of investigation. 
• Without the current registration information provided by these motor vehicle records, Experian will be unable to work with auto manufacturers to notify Missouri residents of vehicle safety recalls.

Earlier this year, Experian joined a lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Revenue protesting the price increase on motor vehicle records. Experian will continue to be actively involved in actions opposing the increase as hearings and reviews continue.

News facts

• Experian Automotive is working alongside other automotive industry interests to reverse a proposal by the Missouri Department of Revenue to increase the cost of individual motor vehicle records.
• Experian Automotive directly opposes the increase to the cost of motor vehicle records due to the negative impact this will have on Missouri citizens, businesses, and state and national law enforcement agencies.
• The Missouri Department of Revenue has issued an increase in the cost of individual motor vehicle records to $7 per record per record, without regard to the number of records ordered or the method of delivery of those records. This translates to an increase of more than 3,000 times the original cost – an amount many times greater than the acquisition cost of vehicle records from all other U.S. states combined. 
• By increasing costs by this exorbitant amount, the Missouri Department of Revenue is keeping these records from being included in a number of socially beneficial uses like vehicle history reports, recalls by auto manufacturers, and market analyses for Missouri businesses.
• With this pricing change in place, Missouri would effectively become the only state in the country to prohibit its data from being used for such important purposes.
• Experian has joined a lawsuit and provided testimony against the increase and notified the Missouri Department of Revenue, Attorney General and Governor of its position on this important issue.
• Experian supports the temporary injunction halting the price increase on Missouri motor vehicle records and will continue to be actively involved in actions opposing the increase as hearings and reviews continue.

About Experian Automotive
Experian Automotive, a part of Experian, delivers information services to manufacturers, dealers, finance and insurance companies, and consumers. Experian® helps automotive clients increase customer loyalty, target and win new business, and make better lending and vehicle purchase decisions. Its National Vehicle Database, housing more than 500 million vehicles, along with Experian’s credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry’s growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian’s advanced decision support services help clients turn this information into improved business results. Experian technology supports several top automotive Web sites, including eBay Motors, CarsDirect.com, CarMax.com and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Web site at www.experianautomotive.com.

Contact:
Christopher Fielder
Experian Public Relations
1 224 698 8628 Telephone
christopher.fielder@experian.com Email