THE UK’s largest automotive organisation, the Automobile Association (AA), has bought a used-car classified website that will give dealerships direct access to the AA’s 13 million-plus members including the eight million Britons who use the organisation’s route planner service each month.

The AA said it wanted to grow its dealer proposition by investing in the site and promoting unique initiatives such as AA Breakdown cover on every car; thousands of AA member car reviews; car buying advice; AA Approved Dealers; AA Dealer Promise; AA Car loans; and a history check on every listed car.

Founded in June 1905, the AA is similar to the Australian Automobile Association member states and offers automotive and home insurance, breakdown and roadside assistance services, a travel bureau and personal and mortgage financial services.

It has bought the used-car classified website VCARS, four years after it formed a partnership which led to the creation of AA Cars.

In a statement, the AA said the acquisition was the next step to the partnership.

For the dealers, it will give increased visibility through the visits to the AA’s website, including the eight million who use the AA Route Planner on a monthly basis.

AA Cars spokesman Simon Benson said: “After more than four rewarding years of working closely with VCARS, we’re delighted to be bringing AA Cars fully into the fold.

“This not only gives our dealers the opportunity to benefit from the AA’s unparalleled online visibility but also a chance to build on the unique initiatives that only dealers using our site currently benefit from – such as free breakdown cover for the first 12 months, pre-sale vehicle inspections and a history check on every listed car,” he said.

“More of the customer’s car-buying journey takes place online. We think it’s a very exciting time to be offering a complete toolkit for dealers looking to take advantage of this shift in purchasing habits.”

By Neil Dowling