Highly Rated Awards 2026 winners announced
Autotrader’s Highly Rated Retailers for 2026 have been announced – here’s how they help you find a car retailer you can trust.
Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Published on 9 July 2025 | 0 min read
Whether you’re shopping with a nationwide retailer or a local dealership, you’re going to be handing over a significant amount of money – so you want to know you’re getting value, that you’re in good hands, and that you’re receiving the right support and advice every step of the way.
That’swhy, every year, we recognise the retailers who demonstrate consistently high customer satisfaction with the Highly Rated awards.
Highly Rated retailers have received consistently highly rated customer reviews, buildinga strong reputationbased on trust and transparency with their customers.
To win a Highly Rated award, retailers need to consistently meet our core criteria:
- a high volume of reviews relative to their sales
- an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher
- a minimum of 10 reviews
- replying to at least 95% of negative reviews
These criteria are measured over a full 12-month period to ensure our winners have consistently delivered this standard throughout the year. Ifthey’vewon an award, it reflects their ongoing commitment to customer feedback and service.
If you see the Highly Rated logo on an Autotrader advert or at a dealership, it means the retailer has met these criteria based on verified customer reviews and activity on our platform.
How are Highly Rated retailers chosen?
To be considered for a Highly Rated award, retailers need a number ofgenuine reviews that is proportionate to the size of their forecourt, with a minimum of 10 reviews overall.
Retailersmustmaintainan average rating of 4.5 stars or higher on Autotrader’s marketplace.It’sa high bar, reflecting a consistently strong level of customer service.Andif a retailer receives a one- or two-star review, they’re expected to respond to at least 95% of negative feedback. This shows a willingness to engage with customers and resolve any issues that may arise.
We check all the data before handing out the awardsto help make sure Highly Rated remains a high watermark for customer service.
By prioritising customer satisfaction, these retailers stand out in a highly competitive marketand givecar buyers greater confidence as they search for their next vehicle.
Find a Highly Rated retailer on Autotrader and start your search for your next car on the right foot.
We are committed to ensuring that reviews on our platform are genuine and not misleading. See our Review Policy for further details.