History

Here are the significant dates in Lex Autolease's history over the last 50 years.

The 1950's
1958
  • North West Securities Ltd is bought by Bank of Scotland for £700,000 allowing the bank to enter the vehicle finance market.
1959
  • Lex Service acquired British Colonial Motors to enter the contract hire business.
  • Autolease Limited founded, owned by Britax International who owned Bristol Street Motors.
The 1960's
1969
  • Lex Service acquired Controlled Cost Motoring.
  • North West Securities Ltd acquires Capital Finance Company Ltd.
The 1970's
1972
  • Lex Service became known as Lex Vehicle Leasing.
1975
  • North West Securities Ltd signs JV with Renault Credit International to form what becomes Renault Financial Services.
The 1980's
1983
  • Lex Vehicle Leasing sets up Lombard Contract Hire.
1984
  • Capital Vehicle Contracts a JV between North West Securities Ltd and Highway Vehicle Finance is formed.
1988
  • Lex Vehicle leasing acquires Public Sector leasing Company Fleetdrive.
1989
  • North West Securities Ltd is granted a Banking Licence and becomes NWS Bank plc.
The 1990's
1992
  • Godfrey Davis Contract Hire is bought by NWS Bank plc.
1994
  • Capital Vehicle Contracts becomes NWS Contract Hire.
1996
  • NWS Bank plc takes over management of First Mutual Contracts from Bank of Wales.
1997
  • NWS Bank plc changes it's name to Capital Bank plc.
  • NWS Contract Hire becomes Capital Bank Vehicle Management.
1998
  • Autolease limited acquired by ACL (Automotive Contract Leasing).
  • ACL rebrands as ACL Autolease and ACL Motorentt.
  • Halifax plc and RAC sign a 50/50 ownership agreement for Lex Vehicle Leasing.
1999
  • Lombard Contract Hire changes it's name to Lex Vehicle Partners.
The 2000's
2000
  • ACL Autolease acquired by Lloyds TSB Asset Finance division in 2000.
  • Godfrey Davis Contract Hire and First Mutual Contracts merge to trade as Godfrey Davis Contract Hire.
2001
  • ACL Autolease is rebranded Lloyds TSB Autolease.
  • Black Horse Vehicle Management, created to support Lloyds TSB and UDT joint venture business is fully integrated into Lloyds TSB Autolease.
2002
  • Godfrey Davis and Capital Bank Vehicle Management merge to create Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance.
  • First National Vehicle Contracts acquired by Lloyds TSB Asset Finance.
2003
  • First National Vehicle Contracts fully integrated into Lloyds TSB Autolease.
2006
  • Full ownership of Lex Vehicle Leasing passed to HBOS from Aviva.
2007
  • Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance merged with Lex Vehicle Leasing and rebranded to Lex.
2009
  • Lloyds TSB Group plc was renamed Lloyds Banking Group plc, following the acquisition of HBOS plc.
  • Lloyds TSB Autolease and Lex are merged to become Lex Autolease.

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0800 389 3690