Aston Barclay has partnered with the AA and VMS Group to provide its used car buyers with vehicle checks and a buyer guarantee before making their next stock purchase.

As part of the agreement, AA Assured vehicles will have a detailed review carried out by qualified AA Technician which covers 13 additional inspection points compared with the current offering.

In addition to giving customers more guidance when making a purchase, vehicle buyers will also have access to an independent buyer guarantee, supplied by WMS Group.

Car retailers returned to auctions in February after January experienced “price sensitive” trading as they stocked forecourts with sub-£12,000 price vehicles, according to Aston Barclay.

The partnership will support electric vehicle (EV) stock - AA Assured covers EVS and hybrids, providing additional checks to cover elements of the electrical and charging systems.

Justin Lane, COO at Aston Barclay, said: ““We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a well-respected industry brands such as the AA and WMS Group to provide our customers with that extra assurance and confidence when it comes to purchasing through our service.

“In the new normal that we’re currently operating under, more people are purchasing vehicles in the digital space, so having a high level of trust that the vehicle has been assessed by an expert is more important than ever.

“Therefore, it’s extremely important to us that our customers have complete confidence in our service and with support from the AA, we are able to do just that.”

In February, the Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) appointed Aston Barclay as its new auction partner.

Simon Benson, managing director of Prestige Services at the AA, said: “Alongside Aston Barclay, customer service is at the centre of everything we do, so we are very proud to be supporting them through our expertise.

“As a trusted voice within the automotive industry, this partnership means we can provide our award-winning services to a wider network and give Aston Barclay’s customers complete disclosure into the vehicle they are purchasing.”

Craig Grant, commercial director at WMS Group, said: “With a long-standing relationship with the AA in providing bespoke and trusted vehicle protection solutions, we’re proud to be supporting Aston Barclay and the AA with our market-leading buyer guarantee.

“We have no doubt it will give customers the added confidence they deserve.”