AutoTrader South Africa
Car marketplace connecting dealers and private sellers.
AutoTrader South Africa at a glance
AutoTrader South Africa is an automotive website and one of the most visited sites in South Africa, currently ranked #8 in the country. It was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Today AutoTrader South Africa is owned by AutoTrader South Africa. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 8 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through dealer subscriptions, private seller listings, display advertising. Its closest rivals include cars.co.za, gumtree.co.za.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 7.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 7.8 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 8 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 8.5 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 South Africa, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- South Africa86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 2.4 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
- South Africa
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| autotrader south africa | 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 South Africa 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 South Africa
Company information
- Website
- autotrader.co.za
- Sector
- Automotive
- Owner
- AutoTrader South Africa
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founded
- 1994
- Headquarters
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Ownership
- AutoTrader South Africa controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- Not publicly disclosed
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
AutoTrader South Africa operates an automotive marketplace focused on South Africa. Car marketplace connecting dealers and private sellers. Revenue comes mainly from dealer subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Dealer subscriptions
- Private seller listings
- Display advertising
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- South Africa
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (South Africa)
- #8 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading automotive site in South Africa
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| cars.co.za | ≈ 4.8 million / month | #9 class competitor | — |
| gumtree.co.za | ≈ 3.6 million / month | #10 class competitor | — |
What is AutoTrader South Africa?
AutoTrader South Africa (autotrader.co.za) is an automotive marketplace serving users in South Africa. Car marketplace connecting dealers and private sellers. It ranks #8 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the automotive category.
Who owns AutoTrader South Africa?
The site is operated by AutoTrader South Africa. The company was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place AutoTrader South Africa at roughly 8 million visits per month, about 0.3 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 South Africa makes money
Revenue comes primarily from dealer subscriptions, alongside private seller listings, display advertising.
Competitors in South Africa
Its closest rivals include cars.co.za, gumtree.co.za.
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
- 1994
AutoTrader South Africa is founded in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Growth phase
Expands its automotive offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #8 among the most visited websites in South Africa.
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 South Africa?
AutoTrader South Africa is operated by AutoTrader South Africa. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is AutoTrader South Africa headquartered?
AutoTrader South Africa is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
When was AutoTrader South Africa founded?
AutoTrader South Africa was founded in 1994.
What is AutoTrader South Africa's revenue?
AutoTrader South Africa does not publish standalone revenue; income comes from dealer subscriptions, private seller listings, display advertising.
Who are AutoTrader South Africa's competitors?
Main competitors in South Africa include cars.co.za, gumtree.co.za.
How does AutoTrader South Africa make money?
Mainly dealer subscriptions, private seller listings, display advertising.
Is AutoTrader South Africa publicly traded?
No — AutoTrader South Africa is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by AutoTrader South Africa.
How many visitors does AutoTrader South Africa get?
Third-party estimates place AutoTrader South Africa at roughly 8 million visits per month, mostly from South Africa, with 70% mobile traffic.
Is AutoTrader South Africa safe?
AutoTrader South Africa is an established automotive site founded in 1994 and ranked #8 in South Africa; use the official domain autotrader.co.za and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsautotrader.co.za
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageSouth Africa 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