Autotrader UK
The UK's largest online car marketplace for new and used vehicles.
Autotrader UK at a glance
Autotrader UK is an automotive website and one of the most visited sites in United Kingdom, currently ranked #142 in the country. It was founded in 1977 by John Madejski, Trader Media and is headquartered in Manchester, UK. Today Autotrader UK is owned by Auto Trader Group plc. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 130 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through retailer subscriptions, advertising, consumer services. Its closest rivals include motors.co.uk, cargurus.co.uk, gumtree.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 122 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 126 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 130 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 138 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct44%
- Organic search38%
- Paid search10%
- Referral5%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men68%
- Women32%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4427%
- Age 45-5421%
The audience is concentrated in United Kingdom, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United Kingdom86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 39 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United Kingdom
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| autotrader uk | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| used cars | Top 10 | High | — |
| car prices | Top 10 | High | — |
| car reviews | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United Kingdom web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 70% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading automotive apps in United Kingdom
Company information
- Website
- autotrader.co.uk
- Sector
- Automotive
- Owner
- Auto Trader Group plc
- Owner type
- Public company
- Founders
- John Madejski, Trader Media
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Manchester, UK
- Employees
- 1,000+
- Ownership
- Auto Trader Group plc controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $750 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $750 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Autotrader UK operates an automotive marketplace focused on United Kingdom. The UK's largest online car marketplace for new and used vehicles. Revenue comes mainly from retailer subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Retailer subscriptions
- Advertising
- Consumer services
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United Kingdom
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United Kingdom)
- #142 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading automotive site in United Kingdom
- Global rank
- 650
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| motors.co.uk | ≈ 78 million / month | #143 class competitor | — |
| cargurus.co.uk | ≈ 58.5 million / month | #144 class competitor | — |
| gumtree.com | ≈ 39 million / month | #145 class competitor | — |
What is Autotrader UK?
Autotrader UK (autotrader.co.uk) is an automotive marketplace serving users in United Kingdom. The UK's largest online car marketplace for new and used vehicles. It ranks #142 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the automotive category.
Who owns Autotrader UK?
The site is operated by Auto Trader Group plc, founded by John Madejski, Trader Media. The company was established in 1977 and is headquartered in Manchester, UK. It employs around 1,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Autotrader UK at roughly 130 million visits per month, about 4.3 million per day. Around 70% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 8.1 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How Autotrader UK makes money
Revenue comes primarily from retailer subscriptions, alongside advertising, consumer services.
Competitors in United Kingdom
Its closest rivals include motors.co.uk, cargurus.co.uk, gumtree.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1977
Autotrader UK is founded in Manchester, UK.
- Growth phase
Expands its automotive offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #142 among the most visited websites in United Kingdom.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Deepest local vehicle inventory
- Detailed specification and price comparison tools
- Dealer and private listings side by side
- Financing and insurance partners integrated
Cons
- Dealer listing costs are high
- Price data can lag the real market
- Vehicle history checks are a paid add-on
- Regional coverage uneven outside big cities
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Autotrader UK?
Autotrader UK is operated by Auto Trader Group plc. Public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Autotrader UK headquartered?
Autotrader UK is headquartered in Manchester, UK.
When was Autotrader UK founded?
Autotrader UK was founded in 1977 by John Madejski, Trader Media.
How many employees does Autotrader UK have?
Autotrader UK employs approximately 1,000+ people.
What is Autotrader UK's revenue?
Autotrader UK's revenue: ≈ $750 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Autotrader UK's competitors?
Main competitors in United Kingdom include motors.co.uk, cargurus.co.uk, gumtree.com.
How does Autotrader UK make money?
Mainly retailer subscriptions, advertising, consumer services.
Is Autotrader UK publicly traded?
Autotrader UK's ownership: Public company.
How many visitors does Autotrader UK get?
Third-party estimates place Autotrader UK at roughly 130 million visits per month, mostly from United Kingdom, with 70% mobile traffic.
Is Autotrader UK safe?
Autotrader UK is an established automotive site founded in 1977 and ranked #142 in United Kingdom; use the official domain autotrader.co.uk and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsautotrader.co.uk
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited Kingdom and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos