Auto Trader has partnered with global reviews and customer analytics company, Feefo, to provide online car reviews for dealerships.

Dealers advertising with the online listings specialist will be able to use Feefo to collect and display reviews and ratings from verified customers as part of the new relationship.

Feedback will be used to provide a credible rating of service, boost trust and ultimately to improve the customer experience.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, Auto Trader’s retailer and consumer product director, said: “Having access to dealer reviews is a key purchase influencer for consumers when making the decision about who to buy a car from.

“Reviews influence over two million car purchases a year, which is why we launched the review platform in 2015.

“It is an extremely effective channel for dealers to build an immediate level of trust with potential customers, and as a result we already have over 3,600 dealers with over 224,000 reviews on our marketplace.

“Partnering with Feefo is an important step for us in expanding this service, and allows us to further help retailers convert site visits into forecourt visits.”

Matt Eames, of Feefo said: “We are delighted to be working with Auto Trader – we both share a common ambition to improve customer service standards and build trust across the sector.

“The partnership marks a significant step for the automotive industry and we remain committed to providing genuine customer feedback, enabling people to make better decisions.”

Car buyers are invited by Feefo to leave a review, accompanied by a star rating, after they have made a purchase.

Dealerships can then use the Feefo reporting toolkit to analyse and understand their feedback, potentially gaining valuable insights into customer experience.

Car dealers can choose to display their independent Feefo reviews and replies on Auto Trader by speaking with their Feefo representative.