CAP has taken the radical step of publishing its core data to allow its customers to see how it arrives at its valuations.

In a bold, industry-first, move, the firm is to allow certain leasing customers of used values publication Black Book free access to thousands of current prices it has collated from across the industry.

The firm claims that allowing unprecedented access to its database of 80,000 monthly transactions will let its customers understand better how it arrives at its values, fostering closer working relationships in the industry.

Called CAP Validate, the raw data can be viewed by age, derivative, model, manufacturer, week and month, although the processes and calculations CAP then applies to come up with the published figures are still a closely-guarded secret.

Speaking at the launch of Validate, CAP managing director Rupert Keane said: ‘To a certain extent it could be said to be a risky move, publishing this data for all our customers to see, but we believe that such transparency and trust is essential to the relationship with our customers. By doing this, we believe we will foster stronger relationships with our customers, as they will see the huge amount of quality data we are analysing every month.’