A surge in people selling second hand cars or switching to more economical models has helped Auto Trader defy the advertising downturn, reported The Daily Telegraph.

The car classifieds magazine and website has seen private car sales up 6% in the year to September.

4x4s feature highly on Auto Trader’s sale list, with nearly 11,000 Land Rovers currently for sale on the website.

Trader Media, part owner of Auto Trader said the trend in private advertising sales was expected to continue.

“People switching to models that are cheaper to run and the sale of second cars are likely factors in the increase of private adverts,” said a spokesman.