What Cargem does

Cargem is the trading name of Hiltop Motors Ltd, a private limited company registered in England (Company No. 7055994) that operates a used-car supermarket from a single showroom at Manor Way, Rainham, Essex (RM13 8RH). Established in 2009 and rebranded under new ownership in approximately April 2024, the business holds over 1,000 pre-owned vehicles in stock spanning hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs, MPVs and convertibles from brands including BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota, with online listings (605 visible) priced between approximately £5,000 and £22,000.

The commercial platform bundles core vehicle sales with intermediated finance (PCP and HP) arranged through a four-lender panel (MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers, Evolution Funding, Blue Motor Finance), an RAC-backed extended warranty with breakdown cover, a £599 three-year service plan, £50 MOT testing, Williams F1 tyre/alloy and paint protection products, and a nationwide delivery service with a 14-day money-back guarantee. The cargem.co.uk storefront is powered by Click Dealer dealer-management software, draws vehicle specification data from CAP HPI, and integrates a soft credit-check eligibility tool (Evolution Funding / Experian / Equifax) to pre-qualify finance applicants without hard-credit impact.

The business is FCA-authorised as a credit broker (FRN 665436, not a lender) and earns revenue through a mix of one-time used-vehicle margin, lender commission per finance agreement placed, warranty attach, and recurring service-plan/MOT income. Go-to-market is sales-led: showroom direct sales supplemented by online browsing, online finance application, part-exchange valuations, and a 'We Buy Cars' acquisition channel that purchases inventory directly from private sellers. Cargem does not operate proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities; its competitive position rests on inventory scale, multi-lender finance access, 15+ years of trading history, and aggregated customer-review social proof (1,720+ Google reviews, 330+ Autotrader reviews).

Name

Cargem

Legal name

Hiltop Motors Ltd

Website

https://cargem.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cargem (Hiltop Motors Ltd) is a UK used-car supermarket selling over 1,000 pre-owned vehicles from a single showroom in Rainham, Essex, intermediating finance through a four-lender panel and bundling RAC warranty, servicing and nationwide delivery for individual retail buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Used Vehicle Retail

NAICS

Used Car Dealers (44112), Automobile Dealers (4411)

akta.pro primary industry

Auto & Vehicle Loan Brokerage (FSAEAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)

Keywords

• Used car sales
• Vehicle financing
• Extended warranty
• Car dealership
• Vehicle servicing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Used Vehicle Sales: Primary revenue stream from the sale of used vehicles. Stock includes over 1,000 vehicles across multiple brands (BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Ford, etc.). Vehicles are sold at retail prices ranging from approximately £5,000 to over £22,000.
2. Finance Intermediation: The company acts as a credit broker (FCA No. 665436), arranging Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance products from a panel of lenders including MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers, Evolution Funding, and Blue Motor Finance. Commission is received from lenders for each finance agreement placed.
3. Vehicle Purchases (We Buy Cars): The company also purchases vehicles directly from private sellers, providing free no-obligation valuations. Revenue is generated by reselling acquired inventory at a margin.
4. Vehicle Servicing: A 3-year service plan is offered (Full Service, Interim Service, Major Service) priced at £599 for vehicles up to 2200cc engine size. MOT tests available at £50. Additional services include tyre and alloy protection, and paint protection.
5. Extended Warranty Products: RAC Warranty products are sold alongside vehicles. An extended RAC Warranty with 12 months free RAC Breakdown Cover is provided, covering repair costs up to the vehicle purchase price.
6. Delivery Services: Nationwide delivery is arranged for customers who purchase vehicles online or cannot visit the showroom in person. Delivery fees apply, with additional charges for remote areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cargem is a used car supermarket operating from a large showroom in Rainham, Essex, selling over 1,000 pre-owned vehicles across major brands spanning hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs, MPVs, and convertibles. The core offering is bundled with in-house finance intermediation (PCP and HP), RAC-backed extended warranties, a 3-year service plan, MOT testing, nationwide delivery, and a car buyback/valuation service, providing an end-to-end used car buying experience.

Product overview

Cargem is a used car supermarket offering a comprehensive automotive retail platform centered on high-quality used vehicle sales. The core product is the sale of over 1,000 used vehicles from brands including BMW, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Kia, available in body styles such as hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs, MPVs, and convertibles. This core offering is supported by integrated financial services (vehicle finance through PCP and HP products), an RAC-backed extended warranty program, a 3-year vehicle service plan, nationwide delivery with a 14-day money-back guarantee, and car buyback/valuation services. The product portfolio functions as a unified car-buying platform where vehicle sales, financing, warranty, servicing, and delivery services are bundled together to provide an end-to-end customer experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Used Car Sales Sale of high-quality pre-owned vehicles from a wide range of leading brands including BMW, Ford, Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Audi, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and Kia. Stock of over 1,000 vehicles including hatchbacks, saloons, SUVs, MPVs, and convertibles, with prices ranging from approximately £5,000 to over £22,000. Targeted at individual retail consumers seeking a reliable used vehicle with professional inspection and HPI checks.
• Vehicle Finance (PCP and HP) Flexible vehicle finance packages including Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) intermediated through a panel of lenders (MotoNovo Finance, Close Brothers, Evolution Funding, Blue Motor Finance) as an FCA-regulated credit broker (FRN: 665436). Includes a soft credit eligibility checker that does not affect credit score. Available to customers across good, bad, and no credit histories. Representative APR 14.9% with monthly payments from £105 to over £400.
• RAC Extended Warranty Extended warranty product provided in partnership with RAC, offering 12 months free RAC Breakdown Cover, no excess to pay, and aggregate claim limits up to the original purchase price of the vehicle. Covers repairs at RAC Approved Garages or any VAT-registered garage. Bundled with vehicle purchases to provide after-sales protection.
• Vehicle Servicing (3-Year Service Plan and MOT) Vehicle servicing offering a 3-year service plan for £599 (covering Full Service, Interim Service, or Major Service options for engines up to 2200cc) and MOT testing at £50. Includes engine oil change, fluid top-ups, tyre pressure checks, brake fluid checks, and exhaust system inspections. Provides recurring post-sale engagement with vehicle owners.
• Nationwide Delivery Service Delivery service bringing vehicles from the Rainham showroom to customers across UK mainland at competitive rates. Includes a 14-day money-back guarantee for vehicles purchased without visiting the premises in person (with a 25-mile driving limit). Remote areas may incur additional delivery charges. Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are excluded.
• Car Buyback / Free Valuation Free, no-obligation vehicle valuation and purchase service. Customers enter their registration plate for a competitive valuation, agree a price with the Cargem team, and receive direct bank transfer payment. Paperwork is handled by the team. Provides inventory replenishment for the showroom and a convenient alternative to private selling.
• Car Care (Williams Protection Products) Additional vehicle protection products including Williams F1 Tyre & Alloy Protection and Williams Paint Protection, complementing the servicing and warranty offerings. Protects cosmetic and functional aspects of the vehicle against wear and damage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every vehicle is fully HPI checked, professionally inspected, and road-tested before sale
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• RAC WarrantycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC Warranty is an extended warranty product sold alongside every vehicle. The partnership provides customers with repair cost coverage up to the vehicle purchase price, 12 months free RAC Breakdown Cover, and the ability to claim at RAC Approved Garages or any VAT-registered garage. The RAC logo is prominently displayed on the Warranty page and is a key element of Cargem's after-sales value proposition.
• CAP HPIsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCAP HPI is the UK's leading provider of vehicle data, supplying vehicle specifications and condition data to Cargem's website. Vehicle detail pages include the disclaimer 'This vehicle's specification has been provided by the leading data supplier CAP HPI.' CAP HPI data underpins the quality assurance and transparency claims.
• Click DealersupportingTechnology or IntegrationClick Dealer is the dealer management software provider powering Cargem's website, vehicle inventory system, and online sales tools. The website footer includes 'Website powered By Click Dealer' attribution. Click Dealer provides the website platform, inventory management, finance calculator, and online sales functionality.
• AutotradercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutotrader is the leading UK automotive marketplace where Cargem lists its vehicles. Over 330 customer reviews on Autotrader are displayed on the Cargem website. Autotrader drives significant referral traffic and serves as both a distribution channel and a trust signal for Cargem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cinch: Constellation Automotive-backed online-first used car retailer offering fixed-price vehicles with home delivery and finance. Comparable to Cargem on fixed-price transparency and finance intermediation, but differentiated by a pure-digital operating model with no showroom dependency.

Broad incumbents

• Vertu Motors: AIM-listed UK motor retailer operating franchised dealerships and used car outlets under multiple brands. Comparable to Cargem on the used vehicle retail and finance intermediation activities, though significantly larger and franchised-focused.
• Marshall Motor Group: UK franchised motor dealer group with both new and used vehicle sales, plus aftersales. Comparable to Cargem on finance intermediation, part-exchange, and used car retail activities, but with broader OEM franchise representation and multi-region footprint.
• Evans Halshaw: UK-wide franchised motor dealer group with multi-brand used car operations, finance, and aftersales services. Comparable to Cargem on the used vehicle retail, finance intermediation, and warranty attach activities, though with a substantially larger franchise and store network.
• Lookers: Major UK franchised motor dealer group with new and used vehicle sales plus aftersales. Comparable to Cargem on used car retail and finance intermediation, with substantially greater scale and a multi-brand franchise portfolio.
• Inchcape UK: Global automotive distributor and retailer with UK franchised dealerships and used vehicle operations. Comparable to Cargem on finance, warranty, and used vehicle retail, though with a global parent, premium brand focus, and broader geographic footprint.
• Arnold Clark: The UK's largest independently owned car dealer group, operating new and used car sales across hundreds of locations plus online retail. Comparable as a multi-channel UK car retailer with in-house finance, though substantially larger and broader in scope than Cargem.

Direct peers

• CarShop: UK used car supermarket chain owned by the Sytner/Swan Group, selling multi-brand used vehicles at fixed prices with finance, warranty, and part-exchange. Directly comparable to Cargem in operating model, customer experience philosophy, and product mix.
• Car Giant: London-based used car supermarket with one of the UK's largest single-site inventories. Closely comparable to Cargem in scale, geography overlap (Greater London), fixed-price positioning, and breadth of in-house finance and warranty offerings.
• Motorpoint: The UK's largest dedicated used car supermarket chain, operating large-format sites with multi-brand inventory in the thousands. Motorpoint is the closest scaled analogue to Cargem's car-supermarket positioning, with similar product breadth, in-house finance, warranty, and part-exchange services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Cargemltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cargem