What Automotive Compliance does

Automotive Compliance Ltd is a Gloucester, UK-based FCA-regulated regtech firm (founded 2008; FRN 497010) that supervises a network of motor trade Appointed Representatives and supplies compliance systems to UK car dealerships. Its core products are the TCF Showroom System — a cloud compliance platform that integrates with 13+ dealer management systems (Penderton, Kerridge, CDK, Dealerweb, Pure Car, Supercar, Artesia, DEKRA, MotorSight, AutoGeni, and others) to capture demands-and-needs assessments, financial promotions reviews, and audit trails across the sales process — plus an IMI-accredited E-Learning Academy for staff certification, an ACL Hub customer portal, a Soft Search Solution (co-developed with Evolution Funding) for finance pre-eligibility, and VAP Boost, an online platform for selling value-added products outside the showroom.

The firm's business model combines recurring regulatory oversight and subscription fees from its 300+ Appointed Representative dealers with software-as-a-service licensing (Showroom System for ~1,200 users), one-off FCA application consultancy at £1,500 per engagement, IMI-accredited training subscriptions, and ongoing compliance consulting to directly authorised dealerships. Distribution is field-based and consultative, anchored on direct relationships with dealership principals and business managers and reinforced by OEM-level relationships (7 manufacturers supported) and industry-event presence.

In December 2025, Automotive Compliance was acquired by Evolution Funding Group (rebranded Centeca in June 2026), the UK's largest automotive finance and digital commerce platform that facilitates over £6.5 billion in annual finance advances across more than 5,500 retailers. Automotive Compliance continues to operate as a standalone legal entity within the group, with its leadership team in place and the transaction described as subject to regulatory approval.

Name

Automotive Compliance

Legal name

Automotive Compliance Ltd

Website

https://automotive-compliance.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Automotive Compliance Ltd (founded 2008, Gloucester, UK) is an FCA-regulated regtech firm that supervises a network of 300+ Appointed Representative motor dealers and provides compliance software (TCF Showroom System, IMI-accredited E-Learning, Soft Search, VAP Boost) to UK car dealerships and OEMs. Acquired by Evolution Funding Group (Centeca) in December 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regulatory Compliance Software

akta.pro primary industry

Auto & Vehicle Loan Brokerage (FSAEAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vehicle Protection & Add-on Product Financing (Warranties, GAP, Service Plans) (FSAKADAL), Dealer-Sold & F&I Administered Service Contracts (Dealer Obligors) (FSAJALAD)

Keywords

• FCA compliance software
• Regulatory compliance services
• Appointed representative network
• Motor retail compliance
• Dealer management system integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Appointed Representative Network Fees: Ongoing compliance services fees charged to dealerships operating as Appointed Representatives under Automotive Compliance's FCA authorization. Services include regulatory oversight, monitoring, training, and access to compliance systems.
2. Directly Authorised Support Services: Consultancy and software services for dealerships that maintain their own FCA direct authorization, including showroom systems, training, and ongoing compliance support.
3. FCA Application Consultation: One-time consulting fees for guidance on completing FCA direct authorization applications, understanding regulatory requirements, and implementing compliance frameworks.
4. Software Licensing: Access fees for proprietary compliance software including TCF Showroom System, Demands and Needs platform, and E-Learning Academy.
5. Cost Savings as Value Proposition: The company markets potential cost savings of £2,500+ annually on FCA regulatory fees and up to £1,000 on PI insurance for dealerships switching to Appointed Representative model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Automotive Compliance Ltd supplies FCA-regulated compliance oversight, proprietary software, and accredited training to UK motor vehicle dealerships. As an FCA-authorised principal firm (FRN 497010), it hosts dealerships as Appointed Representatives, delivering the TCF Showroom System (a DMS-integrated compliance platform), the IMI-accredited E-Learning Academy, the Soft Search Solution for finance suitability, and VAP Boost for online value-added product sales.

Product overview

Automotive Compliance provides a suite of FCA compliance solutions for the UK motor retail sector, comprising the TCF Showroom System as the core compliance platform, complemented by specialized modules including the Soft Search Solution (powered by Evolution Funding) for credit eligibility assessment, VAP Boost for online value-added product sales, and the IMI-accredited E-Learning Academy for staff training. Services include Appointed Representative Network support where they act as principal firm, and consultancy for Directly Authorised dealerships. The ACL Hub provides portal access to these integrated systems, all designed to ensure FCA compliance throughout the vehicle sales and finance process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soft Search Solution: A soft credit check tool powered by Evolution Funding that determines finance eligibility without impacting the customer's credit score.
• VAP Boost

Products and services

• TCF Showroom System

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ Appointed Representatives in network
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evolution Funding Group (now Centeca)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2025Acquisition completed December 2025. Evolution Funding Group, now rebranded as Centeca, acquired Automotive Compliance to add regulatory capability to their automotive finance and digital commerce platform. Evolution is the UK's largest automotive finance and digital commerce platform, facilitating over £6.5 billion in annual finance advances and supporting more than 5,500 transacting retailers. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and Automotive Compliance continues to operate as a standalone legal entity within the Group with leadership team remaining in place.
• Evolution FundingcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Soft Search Solution - innovative finance pre-eligibility tool that performs soft credit checks without impacting customer credit scores, matching customers with appropriate lenders. The solution integrates Evolution Funding's quote and propose technology into Automotive Compliance's regulatory platform.
• LawgisticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for joint fundraising events including British Motor Show 2024. Lawgistics is a legal and compliance consultancy for the motor trade that partnered with Automotive Compliance to raise funds and awareness for BEN automotive charity.
• Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMI accreditation for E-Learning Academy providing staff training and certification for FCA compliance requirements. The IMI is the professional body for the automotive industry, and their accreditation validates the quality and standards of Automotive Compliance's training programs.
• DMS/CRM Integration PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationShowroom System integrations with major dealer management and customer relationship management systems including Penderton, Gennysis, Dealerweb, Pure Car, Supercar, Kerridge, Artesia, DEKRA, CDK, Qu良, MotorSight, AutoGeni, Mototech, and others. These integrations enable seamless compliance data flow and reduce dealership re-keying requirements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Clyde & Co: International law firm with a long-standing UK motor finance practice advising lenders, dealers, and manufacturers on regulatory and commercial matters. Adjacent competitor for legal advisory work but does not operate an AR principal firm model or compliance SaaS platform.
• Mills & Reeve: Major UK law firm with a significant motor finance and dealer practice. Provides legal advice on FCA regulation, consumer credit, and motor retail transactions — adjacent rather than directly competitive since Mills & Reeve is a law firm rather than a compliance principal firm with proprietary software.
• Vizor Software: RegTech vendor providing regulatory reporting and supervisory technology to financial services firms and regulators across multiple jurisdictions. Adjacent technology peer — comparable in regulatory software DNA but operating at a different (larger, multi-jurisdiction) scale and without motor trade specialisation.
• Warranty Solutions Group: UK provider of used car warranties and aftermarket protection products for franchised and independent dealers. Adjacent participant in the dealer F&I ecosystem that Automotive Compliance oversees for regulatory purposes.
• Car Care Plan: UK administrator of extended warranties, GAP, and service plans for motor retailers. Adjacent to Automotive Compliance's VAP Boost value chain — both enable dealers to monetise aftermarket product sales compliantly, though Car Care Plan is the obligor while ACL provides the regulatory wrapper.
• DWF: Global legal business with a UK motor trade and insurance practice. Provides regulatory and litigation support to motor finance clients — comparable in regulatory expertise but does not offer dealer-facing compliance SaaS or act as AR principal firm.
• AutoProtect: UK provider of vehicle protection products (GAP insurance, extended warranties, tyre & alloy cover) administered at the point of sale. Ecosystem participant — Automotive Compliance's VAP Boost platform facilitates compliant sale of AutoProtect and similar products at dealerships.

Broad incumbents

• PwC UK: Big 4 firm providing regulatory compliance, risk, and assurance services to UK financial services and motor finance clients. Competes for enterprise compliance mandates with large dealer groups and lenders but is not a specialist motor trade AR principal firm.

Direct peers

• Thistle Initiatives: UK financial services regulatory consultancy providing FCA compliance support, authorisation assistance, and ongoing compliance oversight to authorised firms. Comparable business model — outsourced principal firm and AR compliance services — though broader across financial services beyond motor trade.
• Lawgistics: UK motor trade legal and compliance consultancy providing regulatory advice, document templates, and DPA/GDPR support to dealers. Direct competitor in the UK motor trade compliance niche — Lawgistics and Automotive Compliance co-marketed via Bangers4BEN charity events but overlap significantly in legal advisory and HR compliance services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automotive-compliance-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/bangers4ben_official
• Xx.com/automotivecomp
• Facebookfacebook.com/automotivecomplianceltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Automotive Compliance