MOTOSALE LIMITED

What MOTOSALE LIMITED does

MOTOSALE LIMITED operates motoSALE.com, a UK-registered private limited company headquartered in Chinnor, Oxford, that runs a web-based online classifieds marketplace for buying and selling motorcycles, scooters, sports bikes, tourers, cruisers, classic and vintage bikes, choppers, mopeds, sidecar motorcycles, and (since 2003) new and used cars. The platform was founded in April 2003 by two lifelong motorcyclists and publicly launched at the BMF Rally 2003. The underlying technology is a searchable web classifieds database with email search-alert notifications (Wish List), CSV bulk upload for trade members, services and club directories, and SSL-protected user registration. Users can place unlimited free adverts with up to 5 photos per advert, valid for renewable 21-day periods, and browse or contact sellers without charge. No mobile app, API, or AI/ML features are part of the product surface.

The business model is essentially a freemium marketplace. The core platform is entirely free for both private sellers and dealers, eliminating buyer subscription charges that the company itself originally imposed at £6 for six months. The only disclosed paid offering is a £12/12-month Trade Subscription that allows dealers and traders to format custom webpages behind their services directory entry. There is no third-party advertising, no pop-ups, and no disclosed transaction, lead, or premium consumer revenue. The go-to-market is product-led growth: a self-serve website with word-of-mouth referrals, press coverage from the BMF Rally launch and Rider Magazine advertising, and organic discovery via the services and club directories. The company is bootstrapped/self-funded with no disclosed venture capital or private equity involvement and serves a global audience with no geographic restrictions, although management acknowledges that a larger competitor forced a material reduction in trade ad volumes.

Name

MOTOSALE LIMITED

Legal name

motoSALE Limited

Website

https://motosale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MOTOSALE LIMITED operates motoSALE.com, a UK-based web classifieds marketplace for buying and selling motorcycles, scooters, and cars. The platform is entirely free for users, monetizing only via a £12/year trade subscription for dealers seeking custom webpages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chinnor

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trade subscription fees: Dealers and traders can subscribe for £12 for 12 months access, which allows them to format their own webpages behind their service directory entry. This was the primary revenue source after eliminating buyer subscription charges.
2. Services directory listing fees (inferred): Pre-registered dealers and traders in the services directory have ability to create personal webpages; new dealers can request listing when registering with the system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

motoSALE.com is a free online classifieds marketplace where private individuals and trade dealers can list, search for, and contact sellers of motorcycles, scooters, and cars. The platform supports free advert placement, browsing, and contact for all users, with an optional £12/year Trade Subscription that unlocks custom dealer webpages and bulk upload features. Complementary Services and Club directories connect the user base to motorcycle trades and rider groups.

Product overview

motoSALE.com is a free online classifieds marketplace platform for buying and selling motorcycles, motorbikes, scooters, cars, and related parts and accessories. The core platform operates on a completely free model for both buyers and sellers, with optional paid add-ons including a Trade Subscription for dealers who want custom webpage formatting, plus supplementary directories for services and motorcycle clubs. The platform provides advert search functionality, wish list alerts, and a services directory for the motor industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• motoSALE.com Online Marketplace Web-based classifieds marketplace where private individuals and trade dealers can post, search, and contact sellers of motorcycles, scooters, and cars. Free advert placement and browsing for all users, with search, Wish List email alerts, and 21-day renewable advert cycles.
• Trade Subscription Annual £12/year subscription tier for motorcycle and vehicle dealers that unlocks custom dealer webpages, CSV bulk upload of inventory, and trade-specific features beyond the standard free listing.
• Services Directory On-platform directory listing motorcycle-related service providers (e.g. engineers, repairers, trainers) to be discovered by motoSALE's user base.
• Club Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% cheaper than local newspapers, FreeAds papers, or magazines on a monthly basis
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Real Classic MotocyclesminorOthersCross-link partnership with Real Classic Motocycles website, shown as a related resource in the site navigation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PistonHeads: UK enthusiast-focused online marketplace for performance and enthusiast cars, with classifieds and community. Comparable on enthusiast-segment focus, dealer listings, and paid-tier revenue model.
• Cycle Trader: US-based online marketplace dedicated to motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, and powersports vehicles. Comparable product/offering (motorcycle classifieds) though serving a different primary geography.
• Gumtree UK: Major UK general classifieds site with a strong motors section covering motorcycles, scooters and cars. Comparable on free/paid listing mechanics and self-serve marketplace format, though broader than motorcycle-only.
• Car and Classic: UK and European online marketplace specializing in classic, vintage, and enthusiast cars and motorcycles. Comparable on classifieds format, niche enthusiast positioning, and auction-style plus fixed-price listings.
• Auto Trader UK: The dominant UK online marketplace for new and used vehicles, including a dedicated motorcycle section. Highly comparable to motoSALE on buyer/seller flow and use case; differentiated by scale, paid dealer model, and broader category coverage.
• MCN (Motor Cycle News) Marketplace: Long-running UK motorcycle media brand with a paid classifieds platform for motorcycles (motoSALE cites MCN's £40+ pricing as competitor benchmark). Overlapping audience of enthusiast motorcycle buyers and sellers in the UK.
• eBay Motors: Global online marketplace for vehicles and vehicle parts, including dedicated motorcycle sub-categories. Operates on a listing-fee plus commission model (motoSALE explicitly benchmarks against eBay's £30.55+ fees). Directly overlapping on free/paid classifieds format and audience.
• Bike Trader (Auto Trader Bikes): UK motorcycle-specific classifieds platform operated by Auto Trader. Directly comparable on the motorcycle-only use case; motoSALE's own website explicitly benchmarks pricing against Bike Trader's £15 web ads and £24+ print ads.

Broad incumbents

• Craigslist: Long-running free-classifieds pioneer (especially in the US) covering motorcycles and vehicles. Comparable on free/seller-paid classifieds model and self-serve format, with much broader category coverage.
• Facebook Marketplace: Massive social-platform-embedded general classifieds marketplace with a strong local-vehicle category. Represents a free/ad-supported competition layer that captures casual buyers and sellers away from specialist motorcycle sites.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 MOTOSALE LIMITED