AA completes VCARS purchase

The AA has completed the purchase of used car portal VCARS in further efforts to create a one-stop shop for car dealers and customers alike.

The purchase comes four years since the AA and VCARS kicked off a commercial partnership under the banner of AA Cars. This purchase is the culmination of that partnership and will see dealers gaining more immediate access to the AA’s 13 million customers as it officially moves onto the www.theaa.com web domain.

Dealers will also benefit from the increased visibility offered by visits to the AA’s website, including the eight million who use the AA Route Planner on a monthly basis.

The sale will allow the AA to grow its dealer proposition by further 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.

AA Cars will be chaired by Martin Clarke, AA chief finance officer.

Simon Benson of AA Cars, 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.

‘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.’

Paul Davis, former CEO of VCARS who will continue to work with AA Cars, added, ‘We have had a fruitful partnership with the AA over the last few years. Our association with the AA has been a significant endorsement of the work that we’ve put into the development of the business.

‘But now is the right time for the business to be fully integrated into the AA and I am happy to help them on this journey. The future looks bright for our growing dealer network and customers.’