Creation of database to help detect vehicle theft

To help insurers and other organizations detect vehicle theft, CGI Group, Locator Technologies LLC and National Vehicle Service have announced the creation of a shared database of automobile information for cars in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

The new service would identify potentially stolen or unsafe vehicles that have been transported over the border.

Further information that will be available in the database:

* Lien verification

* Online vehicle auction information

* Impounded U.S. and Canadian vehicle identification

* Vehicles exported from the U.S.

* Canadian insurance claims

* U.S. total vehicle loss

* U.S., Canadian and Mexican theft verification

“The addition of this verification process to timely data sources from across North America to CGI’s AutoPlus suite of products will allow our clients to make informed decisions based on the true status of the vehicle from an insurability point of view,” Wayne Beck, vice president, consulting services, CGI, said in a release. “We are committed to addressing the changing flow of vehicles between Canada and the United States by adding additional sources of information to the verification process to insure our clients are aware of the true identity of each vehicle which will enhance the overall value proposition of our services.”

The database will be available by the end of 2007.