Evolution Funding
Evolution Funding (Centeca) is the UK's largest used auto finance platform, providing FCA-authorized credit brokerage, lender matching, and dealer software to used car dealers across the United Kingdom since 2002.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersChesterfield, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Evolution Funding does
Evolution Funding (rebranded commercially as Centeca in 2026) is a UK FCA-authorized credit broker operating the country's largest used auto finance platform, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Chesterfield, England. The company serves used car dealers by connecting them with a panel of lenders and providing an end-to-end technology stack covering lead generation, credit pre-screening, lender selection, showroom solutions, digital checkout, and onboarding/fulfilment, supplemented by acquired capabilities in dealer SaaS (Click Dealer, acquired 2021), brokerage (Creditas Financial Solutions, announced 2024), and FCA-regulated compliance services (Automotive Compliance, announced 2025).
The platform is distributed through direct dealer sales, technical integrator partnerships, a marketplace, and a self-serve dealer portal (Dealerzone), with sub-brands including Click Dealer, Signature, Evolution Extra, My Car Credit, and Evolution Loans addressing both dealer-facing and consumer-facing use cases. The company is privately held and owned by global private equity firm Carlyle, with reported FCA authorization (FRN: 823324) and ISO 27001 certification supporting regulatory and lender due diligence requirements.
Revenue is generated primarily through commissions received from credit providers (lenders) when customers are introduced via the platform, classified as a transaction-fee model, with no customer-facing brokerage fees. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed. The company has executed an acquisition-led platform build-out supported by Carlyle capital, culminating in the 2026 corporate rebrand to Centeca as the platform strategy reached its targeted end-to-end scope.
Evolution Funding firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Evolution Funding
- Legal name
- Evolution Funding Ltd
- Website
- https://web.evolutionfunding.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Evolution Funding (Centeca) is the UK's largest used auto finance platform, providing FCA-authorized credit brokerage, lender matching, and dealer software to used car dealers across the United Kingdom since 2002.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Evolution Funding industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Motor Finance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Consumer Lending (522291), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Auto / Vehicle Marketplace Lending (FSAKAHAF)
Keywords
Where Evolution Funding is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chesterfield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Evolution Funding business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commission from Credit Providers: Evolution Funding acts as a credit broker, not a lender. The company receives commission from credit providers (lenders) for introducing customers to them. This commission is predetermined and varies by credit provider and product type. The company also pays an portion of this commission to introducing suppliers or partners.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Evolution Funding product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Evolution Funding operates as an FCA-authorised credit broker (not a lender) that connects UK used car dealers with a panel of motor finance lenders through a proprietary technology platform. The platform spans lead generation, credit pre-screening, lender selection, showroom tools, and digital checkout. The firm also licenses the Click Dealer SaaS suite to dealerships and offers customer-facing finance products under Evolution Extra, My Car Credit, and Evolution Loans.
Product overview
Evolution Funding is a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of the core Evolution Funding Platform (the UK's largest used auto finance platform), supplemented by acquired brands like Click Dealer (automotive SaaS software), and customer-facing products including Evolution Extra, My Car Credit, and Evolution Loans. The platform offers a portfolio of technical modules including Lead Generation, Credit Pre-screening, Lender Selection, Showroom Solutions, Digital Checkout, Software as a Service, and Onboarding & Fulfilment. Evolution Funding operates as a credit broker (not a lender) working with a panel of lenders, and the company has expanded through strategic acquisitions including Click Dealer Limited (2021), Creditas Financial Solutions (2024), and Automotive Compliance (2025). The company has recently rebranded as Centeca as part of its platform strategy acceleration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Click Dealer: Automotive software and SaaS platform for dealers
- Signature
- Evolution Extra
- My Car Credit
- Evolution Loans
Products and services
- Evolution Funding Platform The UK's largest used auto finance platform that enables UK used car dealers to sell more cars on finance by acting as a credit broker connecting dealer-submitted applications to a panel of lenders, with integrated lead generation, credit pre-screening, lender selection, showroom solutions, digital checkout, and onboarding and fulfilment.
- Click Dealer SaaS automotive dealer management platform acquired in 2021, providing dealers with online motor finance services, digital workflow tools, and capabilities for used vehicle retailing.
- Signature Partner solution offered under Evolution Funding's portfolio, providing dealers with an additional finance origination pathway as part of the group's dealer-focused offerings alongside Click Dealer.
- Evolution Extra Customer-facing motor finance product offered by Evolution Funding to consumers purchasing vehicles through participating dealer partners.
- My Car Credit Customer-facing car credit finance product allowing consumers to manage their car credit financing arranged through Evolution Funding's dealer network.
- Evolution Loans Customer-facing loans product offered by Evolution Funding for consumers arranging vehicle financing through the dealer channel.
Companies that use Evolution Funding
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Evolution Funding technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Evolution Funding partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Automotive CompliancecoreAcquisition of Automotive Compliance adds FCA-regulated compliance services to Evolution's automotive retail and finance platform. The deal brings the final piece of their platform vision, enabling a truly end-to-end solution for dealers, lenders, and partners. Automotive Compliance continues as a standalone entity.
- Creditas Financial SolutionscoreAcquisition of Creditas Financial Solutions, a motor finance broker, pending FCA approval. The acquisition aims to expand Evolution Funding's dealer network and enhance Creditas' offerings for dealers. Creditas operates under its own brand as a subsidiary of Evolution Funding Group.
- Click Dealer LimitedcoreAcquisition completed in July 2021 of Click Dealer Limited, an automotive software provider. The deal expands Evolution's digital and SaaS offerings, supports Click's existing dealer customer base, and enhances capabilities in online motor finance services.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Evolution Funding competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zuto: Zuto is a UK-based car finance broker/platform for used-car buyers and dealers, arranging motor finance through a panel of lenders. Direct overlap with Evolution Funding on credit brokerage intermediation for UK used auto finance, with similar fintech-led go-to-market.
- Startline Motor Finance: Startline is a UK motor finance lender serving dealers via broker and direct dealer relationships. Comparable to Evolution as a dealer-channel intermediary in UK motor finance and a likely panel partner.
Emerging players
- Carwow: Carwow is a UK car marketplace connecting buyers with dealers and offering finance options at the point of sale. Comparable to Evolution as it embeds finance into the dealer-customer journey, though Carwow is primarily a purchase marketplace rather than a finance specialist.
- Motorway: Motorway is a UK used-car marketplace that pairs sellers with dealers and increasingly offers finance products. Overlaps with Evolution in the UK used-car ecosystem and finance distribution through dealers.
- Carmoola: Carmoola is a UK fintech offering direct-to-consumer car finance, including used vehicles. Comparable to Evolution as an alternative UK car-finance origination channel, though operating as a lender rather than a credit broker.
Broad incumbents
- Auto Trader: Auto Trader is the dominant UK car marketplace with finance products, lender relationships, and dealer SaaS capabilities. A broader incumbent that touches the same dealer, lender, and finance-affinity value chain as Evolution Funding's platform.
- Moneybarn: Moneybarn is a UK specialist lender focused on used-car finance for near-prime and non-prime consumers. Comparable as a counterparty on Evolution's lender panel and as a UK used-auto finance specialist operating in similar customer segments.
- MotoNovo Finance: MotoNovo is a major UK motor finance provider distributing through dealer and broker channels. Comparable to Evolution as a lender partner on its panel and a competitor for dealer-originated volume.
- Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group): Black Horse is the UK motor finance arm of Lloyds Banking Group, providing dealer and broker-originated auto finance. Directly comparable to Evolution as a lender-side player in the same dealer-broker motor finance distribution channel.
- Close Brothers Motor Finance: Close Brothers Motor Finance is a UK motor finance provider operating through dealer and broker networks. Comparable to Evolution as a lender panel partner and competitor for dealer-originated used-vehicle finance volume.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Evolution Funding social profiles
Digital presenceEvolution Funding compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Evolution Funding financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Evolution Funding leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Evolution Funding subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Evolution Funding funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Evolution Funding M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Evolution Funding
What does Evolution Funding do?
Evolution Funding operates as an FCA-authorised credit broker (not a lender) that connects UK used car dealers with a panel of motor finance lenders through a proprietary technology platform. The platform spans lead generation, credit pre-screening, lender selection, showroom tools, and digital checkout. The firm also licenses the Click Dealer SaaS suite to dealerships and offers customer-facing finance products under Evolution Extra, My Car Credit, and Evolution Loans.
Is Evolution Funding a public or private company?
Evolution Funding is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Evolution Funding founded?
Evolution Funding was founded in 2002. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Evolution Funding based?
Evolution Funding is headquartered in Chesterfield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Evolution Funding make money?
One revenue line is on record: commission from Credit Providers.
Who are Evolution Funding's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zuto and Startline Motor Finance. Emerging players are Carwow, Motorway and Carmoola. Broad incumbents are Auto Trader, Moneybarn, MotoNovo Finance, Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group) and Close Brothers Motor Finance.
Does Evolution Funding have an API?
No public API is recorded for Evolution Funding.
What industry is Evolution Funding in?
Evolution Funding's product category is Motor Finance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKADAA, New & Used Auto Purchase Loans, with a secondary code of FSAKAHAF, Auto / Vehicle Marketplace Lending. Its NAICS code is 522291 and its SIC code is 6141.