Car Dealer Magazine

19/08/2026

Car dealers will be all too aware of how distrusted they are by some consumers – but we want to know about your real life experiences in showrooms.

Car Dealer has launched a special survey of the motor trade, in conjunction with Cazoo, to find out what the current state of trust is in the industry.

The short survey can be filled out online now via Surveymonkey and readers will also be asked questions in a series of polls in our Breaking News WhatsApp groups.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QF37PXP

17/08/2026

Government tells dealers Consumer Rights Act is working despite mounting criticism

The Government has defended its heavily-criticised Consumer Rights Act amid growing unrest from used car dealers. Retailers last week named the act as the

13/08/2026

Results day special: This dealer boss got Us at school but went on to build used car giant

Today is A-Level results day which can only mean one thing – Yes, Jeremy Clarkson has posted his results on X. We all know the shtick by now: 'Don’t worry

11/08/2026

Car dealers have their say: We want a US-style ‘lemon law’ to replace Consumer Rights Act

Car dealers have called for changes to the Consumer Rights Act, which has been dubbed 'not fit for purpose' for the motor trade. Car Dealer has approached

06/08/2026

AI Week Podcast: Car dealers give their practical tips for using AI right now

Savvy car dealers are increasingly using artificial intelligence across their businesses to help them buy more cars and deal with problem customers. In

30/07/2026

Family car dealership shares £170,000 bonus pot with every employee

Leeds-based dealer group Luscombe Motors has rewarded every member of staff with an equal share of a £170,000 bonus pot after delivering a record-breaking

30/07/2026

Smarter parts procurement is becoming a competitive advantage for dealers, says Warranty Solutions Group [sponsored]

Dealer profitability is increasingly being won or lost in the workshop rather than the showroom. While vehicle sales continue to dominate headlines, some

15/07/2026

Smaller used car dealers under pressure as AA Cars sees rise in closures

AA Cars has seen a rise in dealer closures this year, with its national sales manager saying smaller independent sites are increasingly coming under

26/06/2026

The podcast is out. And I have to say - Simon absolutely delivered.

Simon has been talking to James Baggott and Jon Reay on the Car Dealer Magazine podcast about 30 years of running Simon Shield Cars. Thirty years of buying and selling used cars from the same site in Great Bricett, Ipswich, Suffolk. Thirty years of doing things their way.

He talked about how it all started - no money, no grand plan, just a loan from his father-in-law and a quiet determination to make it work. (And yes, he paid it back.) He talked about why they've never wanted to get bigger - just better. About what's changed in the market and what hasn't. About where they source their cars now, why auction stock doesn't make sense for them anymore, and why selling fewer cars at better margins beats chasing volume every time.

And he was honest about what it actually feels like to still be doing this at 63. "I'm knackered most of the time," he said. Which, after 30 years of running a business with two people, feels entirely fair.

What I love most about listening back is how much it sounds like Simon. No spin. No sales pitch. Just a man who genuinely loves cars, knows his trade, and has spent three decades doing it properly.

Have a listen - link below. And if it sounds familiar - like the kind of dealer you'd actually trust - that's because it is.

🎙️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve5Bfx4UNCo&t=394s

Simon Shield Cars · Family-run · Great Bricett, Ipswich, Suffolk · Since 1996

09/06/2026

🚨 The used car market just shrugged off the bank holiday slowdown.

We sat down with automotive consultant Derren Martin to unpack the latest Cazana data, shared with Car Dealer ahead of general publication.

May prices rose 0.7% on three-year-old cars — circa £170 — making it the fifth consecutive month of growth in 2026. EVs led the way again, posting the biggest value increases for the second month running.

Watch the 10-minute interview in full below now.

Would you agree? Let us know what you saw at your dealership in the comments.