Auto Trader offers consumer sourced stock to support retailers

Auto Trader is providing retailers with new access to a stock of more than 30,000 vehicles sourced directly from consumers, it said.

In addition to private stock advertised on its marketplace, vehicles acquired from part-exchanges made through its Guaranteed Part-Exchange product and from private sales made through its consumer facing Instant Cash Offer will be listed on the Dealer Auction platform.

The new service will provide participating customers with subscription-free access to the newly available stock on the Dealer Auction platform, Auto Trader said.

Both the Guaranteed Part-Exchange product and Instant Cash Offer service are powered by Auto Trader’s valuations and are underwritten by Manheim Auction Services, a part of Cox Automotive UK.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, commercial product director at Auto Trader, said: “We designed Guaranteed Part-Exchange in response to changing consumer demands, and to provide our retailer partners with a profitable new channel for sourcing vital new stock.

“At a time when circa half a million vehicles are being taken out of the market each year by car buying services, we saw an opportunity to make the part-exchange process work even harder for retailers.

“We have partnered with Cox Automotive to unlock new sources of stock, which will ultimately put vehicles back into the hands of retailers and onto their forecourts.”

Along with the circa 31,000 private consumer listings available on Auto Trader, over 700 vehicles are directed to Dealer Auction each month through Guaranteed Part-Exchange service, Auto Trader said.

Auto Trader said it is launching a new marketing campaign to help raise aware of selling a car via Instant Cash Offer.

Edwards-Smajda, said: “Whilst the current supply is relatively small, it’s growing fast each month and we’re confident our new marketing campaign will open up a considerable and untapped supply of vehicles.

"With sourcing at such a premium, we hope this service will help our retailer partners take full advantage of the huge levels of consumer demand in the market.”

Following a successful beta trial, Guaranteed Part-Exchange is available to all Auto Trader’s retailer partners, it said.