Aston Barclay has launched a new Virtual Auction platform which allows used vehicles to be sold from any location through an online auction.

Dealers can bid on stock from a variety of vendors in the same sale, with cars located anywhere in the country.

The new product allows stock to be sold from remote locations, such as de-fleet or refurbishment centres, with no need for a physical auction site.

An OEM recently used Virtual Auction to sell stock from three separate physical sites directly to its existing buyer base online.

Aston Barclay can also craft bespoke sales by make, model and grade, or seasonally such as dedicated 4x4 or convertible sales, from a mix of vendors or through exclusive vendor sales.

A live auctioneer hosts each Virtual Auction with buyers accessing stock via the Aston Barclay website, or via their Buyer’s App.

Buyers carry out their pre-sale homework online, supported by images, inspection grading and a 360-degree walk round of the car’s interior and exterior courtesy of Spin Car.

“Virtual Auction enables vendors to hold special one-off sales and closed sales literally anywhere without the need to incur transport costs,” said Aston Barclay’s chief executive Neil Hodson.

“Selling the cars online offers them out to a wider geographic buyer base which adds a different dynamic to a normal physical sale. Future platform development will enable vendors to offer stock just to selected or invited buyers."

Aston Barclay says Virtual Auction has been piloted with dealers, OEM and fleet vendors, and buyers over the past three months with a positive response from all involved.