Auto Trader cars

Skip to contentSkip to footer
Feature

Responsible buying and selling with Auto Trader

We’ve implemented advert features to help you buy and sell responsibly during the coronavirus outbreak. Learn more about home delivery, live video viewings and COVID-19 safety measures on Auto Trader.

Auto Trader

Words by: Auto Trader

Andrew Woodhouse

Additional words by: Andrew Woodhouse

Last updated on 29 December 2021 | 0 min read

UK car dealerships can remain open. Under the latest Government guidelines, issued in November 2021, masks are required in retail settings. Further measures have been introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Please confirm the rules and any exemptions to mask wearing with your local authority before visiting a dealership. To make an appointment, simply contact the dealership via the Auto Trader advert. You now have a number of options when buying your next car. These can include arranging a visit to a dealership (where they are open) or buying a car online. You could also arrange home delivery or collection, providing the dealerships have the infrastructure to support the transaction safely and responsibly. Where dealerships are open, social distancing and sanitisation measures will be in place. Please check local guidance for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Contact-free options for responsible buying and selling
To help you do more of your research and car buying from your own home, we’ve introduced several features to Auto Trader adverts.
These features highlight the ways dealers have adapted to help keep you safe, observe social distancing, and keep car buying easy during the lockdown.
COVID-19 safety measures
As dealerships that have social distancing and sanitisation measures in place are permitted to operate, we’re helping them show, via their adverts on Auto Trader, the measures they’re taking to make it easier for customers to visit showrooms and forecourts.
Dealers across the UK are determined to keep you safe throughout the car buying process, so this dedicated space in each advert will highlight the measures they’ve adopted. Such measures may include: • Subject to local restrictions operating by appointment only (you can make an appointment on Auto Trader, just use the email, call or chat buttons on the ad). • Click and collect services, allowing you to stay safe while picking up your car yourself. • Adhering to two metres social distancing on forecourts. • Complete sanitisation of vehicles. • Using staff personal protection equipment (PPE), sneeze screens and other health and safety measures. • Making PPE and hand sanitisers available to customers. Wearing masks, as per the Government’s legislation announced on 22nd September 2020. Look out for the COVID-19 safety measures icon, to see what they are doing for you.
Home delivery
This feature will show you if a dealer is providing home delivery to your location.
Collection and delivery services from and to a customer’s address are currently permitted in some regions in the government guidelines, for both vehicle sales and aftersales. Look out for the home delivery icon on the car advert, to see if the dealership can offer you this service. You can contact them through the advert to find out how it will adhere to government guidelines on social distancing, hygiene and sanitisation.
Live video viewing
With some dealerships, you can book a video viewing and vehicle walk-around to replace a forecourt visit.
If you want one, you can arrange a live video viewing directly with the dealer. They’ll virtually walk you around the vehicles and give you time to ask any questions, just like they would in person. Look out for the live video viewing icon on the car advert, to see if they can offer you this service.
We’ve introduced these feature across Auto Trader – including bikes, vans, motorhomes and caravans – to make sure you can stay confident throughout the site.
How you can stay safe
We encourage everyone to follow NHS advice and Government guidelines. These include:
• Stay at least two metres (six feet) away from others, or one metre if you’re wearing a face covering • Wash your hands regularly • Wear a face covering when in enclosed spaces
Finding your next car
If you’re looking for your next car, you’re heading into a ready market. There’s a great choice of new and used cars on our marketplace, including makes and models from throughout the years.
If you’re just starting to look, try our best-ofs for recommendations based on your lifestyle. If you’re looking at a few makes and models, our expert reviews should help you find the one that’s right for you. If you haven’t already, check out the Auto Trader app – it’s a great way to see what’s on the market near you and shortlist your favourites by saving them.
This article represents Auto Trader’s opinions and interpretation of the current situation and does not necessarily reflect the latest government guidance and advice. Please always consult the latest government guidance and advice before taking any decision based on this article.