Evolution Funding

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.

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

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

• Motor finance brokerage
• Auto finance platform
• Credit broking services
• Dealer finance software
• Automotive lending technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Automotive CompliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025Acquisition 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 SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2024Acquisition 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 LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Acquisition 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

Direct 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

• Facebookbit.ly/EF_BusinessFB
• LinkedInbit.ly/EF_LinkedIn
• Xx.com/evolution_fund

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evolution Funding