According to a statement released by Motors.co.uk, the results, which were released as the website celebrates its third birthday, follow a year of continued partnership with Northcliffe Media as well as new strategic partnerships with four regional media groups and leading consumer brand parkers.co.uk.
The latest figures, compiled by online measurement firm ComScore, show the motors.co.uk network – which includes motors.co.uk and affiliate websites - now has a 21.4 per cent share of online used car searches, securing the company’s position as the second biggest online used car network and overtaking eBay Motors UK. (ComScore Monthly Reach of UK Online Used Car Searchers Sept 08 – Sept 09.)
The motors.co.uk network receives 3.3 million visitors a month and grew by 35 per cent in 2009 *. With more than 3,500 registered car dealers and around 150,000 used and 15,500 new cars featured, motors.co.uk is now the leading alternative to Auto Trader.
The company's rapid growth follows a number of strategic alliances in the past year between motors.co.uk and regional media groups Northcliffe Media, Iliffe Media, Berkshire Media Group, Baylis Media and Midland News Association. As part of the deal, the groups now feature motors.co.uk's used car search on their local websites and in the motoring supplements of their print titles.
As a result of the past year's growth, motors.co.uk is now featured in another 60 local newspapers, and some 30 websites, which equates to almost one-fifth of UK newspaper coverage.
Additional partnerships with consumer brand parkers.co.uk as well as initiatives with the Office of Fair Trading and VSTAG (Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group), have helped to promote the company as one of the safest and most trust-worthy online used car searches available.
Motors.co.uk is the only used car website to offer free history checks and has spearheaded a number of industry-wide campaigns to tackle car fraud including the 'Real or Rogue' campaign with the Metropolitan Police and motoring authority Quentin Willson.
Garry Hobson, CEO at motors.co.uk said: "These latest figures from ComScore confirm our status as the second biggest used car network and a very real alternative to Auto Trader. Our growth and development is based on offering a great deal to buyers and dealers alike and the fact that we continue to add new partners is evidence of the site's appeal.
"Visitors to motors.co.uk can not only access more than 150,000 cars for sale, but they can also make use of a wide range of additional services from free history checks, to advice and guidance covering every stage of the car buying process."
As part of its ongoing development and service enhancement drive, motors.co.uk will be expanding its Abingdon-based head office to create new positions in telesales, account management, website development and production.
The expansion, which includes the centralisation of some of its Nottingham and Harrogate operations, will deliver a better, faster, first class service to dealers and consumers alike.
Commenting on the move, CEO Garry Hobson said: "This is an exciting time for motors.co.uk and we believe centralising our operations will improve the service we offer dealers including our media provision – motors.co.uk – in addition to our software services, website and photography business."
The ComScore figures for 'Reach of UK Online Used Car Searchers' is based on the comparison between AutoTrader, motors.co.uk, eBay Motors UK, MSN Autos UK, WhatCar.com and Exchange & Mart.
