1st Choice Spares
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersNorwich, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
1st Choice Spares firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 1st Choice Spares
- Legal name
- 1st Choice Spares
- Website
- https://1stchoice.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
1st Choice Spares industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Used Car Parts Online Marketplace
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers (423140), Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces (CRAFAHAD)
Keywords
Where 1st Choice Spares is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norwich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
1st Choice Spares business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Supplier Network Fees: The platform aggregates demand from buyers and connects them with car breakers and auto recyclers who pay to be part of the network and receive qualified leads
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer (Private Motorists) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Trade Repairers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
1st Choice Spares product offering
Product offeringCore offering
1st Choice Spares operates an online comparison marketplace that aggregates live inventory from a network of 150+ UK vehicle dismantlers, breakers, re-conditioners and new parts suppliers. Buyers search by vehicle registration or make/model, receive real-time price quotes from multiple suppliers, and purchase used and new car, van and 4x4 parts at up to 80% off new dealer prices, with secure online payment and 30-90 day guarantees. The platform is free for buyers; the company monetises through supplier-side lead and transaction fees.
Product overview
1st Choice Spares operates as a single unified marketplace platform for used car parts. The core product is a comparison marketplace that aggregates inventory from 150+ UK vehicle dismantlers and breakers, enabling consumers and trade buyers to search by vehicle registration or make/model, compare real-time prices, and purchase parts with 100% payment protection. Parts range from individual components (bumpers, doors, engines, gearboxes) to full assemblies. The platform covers multiple vehicle categories including cars, vans, and 4x4s, with parts for electric vehicles also available.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 1st Choice Spares Marketplace Online comparison marketplace that enables private motorists and trade repairers to search for new and used car, van and 4x4 parts by vehicle registration or make/model, compare real-time prices and stock from 150+ UK dismantler depots, and purchase with 100% payment protection and 30-90 day guarantees. Parts covered include engines, gearboxes, body panels, bumpers, doors, lights, brakes, electrical components and many other categories.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 80% savings off new dealer prices
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use 1st Choice Spares
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
1st Choice Spares technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
1st Choice Spares partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Vehicle Recyclers Association (VRA)coreOfficial member of the Vehicle Recyclers Association, a UK trade body for vehicle dismantlers and auto recyclers. Membership indicates compliance with industry standards and ELV (End-of-Life Vehicle) regulations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
1st Choice Spares competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Halfords: UK's largest retailer of automotive parts, accessories, and cycling products, with a significant trade-supply business through Euro Car Parts. Competes for parts and accessories demand across both consumer and trade segments, though with a much broader retail portfolio.
- Amazon (Automotive Category): Global general marketplace with a growing automotive parts and accessories category in the UK, including used-parts listings from third-party sellers. Increasingly competes for parts-search demand via SEO and Prime delivery, though lacks 1st Choice's specialist dismantler network depth.
- eBay Motors: Broader online marketplace with a major automotive parts and accessories category including used parts from individual sellers and dismantlers. Competes for the same UK parts-search demand and offers a similar transaction fee model, but operates as a general marketplace rather than a specialist parts comparison site.
- LKQ Corporation: Global market leader in aftermarket and recycled auto parts distribution with operations across North America and Europe. Overlaps with 1st Choice in recycled parts aggregation and trade supply, but operates at much larger scale and as a physical-inventory distributor rather than a pure marketplace.
Direct peers
- Car-Part.com: US-based used auto parts marketplace that aggregates salvage-yard inventory and lets buyers search by vehicle and part. Same core comparison/aggregation model as 1st Choice Spares, though US-focused. Closest direct peer in product mechanics.
- Euro Car Parts: UK trade and retail aftermarket auto parts retailer (owned by Halfords). Competes for the same trade repairer and DIY customer base in the UK and shares the parts-comparison / price-transparency value proposition, though Euro Car Parts holds inventory rather than aggregating it.
- Autodoc: European online auto parts retailer serving multiple countries with a broad aftermarket catalog. Comparable on online price-comparison mechanics and B2C/B2B parts delivery, though Autodoc focuses on new aftermarket parts versus 1st Choice's used-and-new mix.
- GSF Car Parts: UK aftermarket parts distributor serving trade workshops and retail customers via online and branch channels. Comparable B2B/B2C model targeting independent garages with competitive pricing — the same trade segment 1st Choice Spares prioritizes.
Regional players
- Mister-Auto: European online auto parts retailer (French-founded) serving continental Europe. Comparable online parts-comparison and delivery model, but a regional player that does not compete in the UK market. Useful proxy for cross-border expansion potential.
- RockAuto: US online-only retailer of aftermarket auto parts with a strong catalog and price-comparison interface. Comparable online-first parts retailer model, but US-focused and does not serve the UK market directly.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
1st Choice Spares social profiles
Digital presence1st Choice Spares financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
1st Choice Spares leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
1st Choice Spares funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
1st Choice Spares M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 1st Choice Spares
What does 1st Choice Spares do?
1st Choice Spares operates an online comparison marketplace that aggregates live inventory from a network of 150+ UK vehicle dismantlers, breakers, re-conditioners and new parts suppliers. Buyers search by vehicle registration or make/model, receive real-time price quotes from multiple suppliers, and purchase used and new car, van and 4x4 parts at up to 80% off new dealer prices, with secure online payment and 30-90 day guarantees. The platform is free for buyers; the company monetises through supplier-side lead and transaction fees.
Is 1st Choice Spares a public or private company?
1st Choice Spares is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was 1st Choice Spares founded?
1st Choice Spares was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 1st Choice Spares based?
1st Choice Spares is headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 1st Choice Spares make money?
One revenue line is on record: supplier Network Fees.
Who are 1st Choice Spares's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Halfords, Amazon (Automotive Category), eBay Motors and LKQ Corporation. Direct peers are Car-Part.com, Euro Car Parts, Autodoc and GSF Car Parts. Regional players are Mister-Auto and RockAuto.
Does 1st Choice Spares have an API?
No public API is recorded for 1st Choice Spares.
What industry is 1st Choice Spares in?
1st Choice Spares's product category is Used Car Parts Online Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAD, Automotive Parts, Tires & Workshop Supplies Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 423140 and its SIC code is 5010.