AUTO TRADE CENTER LTD

What AUTO TRADE CENTER LTD does

Auto Trade Centre Ltd is a private, family-run used-vehicle retailer based in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The business sells pre-owned cars and vans across roughly 19 marques spanning budget to premium segments, with stated stock of 52 vehicles at the primary Lisburn showroom and additional showcase locations in Hillsborough for Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz stock. The company is incorporated as a UK private limited company and operates with a small team (1-10 employees).

The product offering centres on used-vehicle sales but is broadened by a set of ancillary services: a Sale or Return consignment programme, direct vehicle purchase (We Buy Cars), part exchange, specialist vehicle sourcing on request, warranty provision (with RAC-backed extended options), and facilitated car finance arrangements through third-party providers. Underlying technology is conventional — no proprietary platform or software is disclosed. Quality assurance is positioned via Experian vehicle history checks, independent mechanical inspections, and a minimum 6-month warranty. Distribution is exclusively through physical showrooms with appointment-preferred viewing; marketing runs through the company website, social media, email stock updates, and customer testimonial pages.

The revenue model is predominantly transactional (one-time vehicle sales at individual unit prices ranging from approximately £4,995 to £38,995), supplemented by commission-like economics on consignment (Sale or Return), transaction fees through part exchange, and referral/affiliate economics on finance and warranty products. Pricing is set per-vehicle based on make, model, year, and condition, with finance structured at monthly budgets across 24-to-60-month terms. The customer base is purely individual consumer retail within Northern Ireland; there is no B2B, fleet, or export segment described.

Name

AUTO TRADE CENTER LTD

Legal name

Auto Trade Centre Ltd

Website

https://autotradecentreni.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Auto Trade Centre Ltd is a family-run used car and van dealership in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. It sells pre-owned vehicles across 19 marques and offers complementary services including consignment, part exchange, vehicle sourcing, warranty, and finance referral to individual consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisburn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Used Vehicle Sales: Primary revenue stream from the sale of quality used cars and vans to individual consumers. Transactions are one-time purchases with vehicles priced individually based on make, model, age, and condition. Price range observed from approximately £4,995 to £38,995.
2. Part Exchange: Customers can trade in their existing vehicle as part payment for a used car purchase from the dealership.
3. Sale or Return (Consignment): The business offers a consignment service where they sell customers' vehicles on their behalf, providing a seamless selling experience for those who want to sell their car without the hassle of private sales.
4. Finance Services: Assistance in finding suitable vehicle financing options based on customer monthly budgets. Low rate finance available through partnerships with financial providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Auto Trade Centre Ltd is a family-run used car and van dealership in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, selling quality pre-owned vehicles across 19 brands. The business complements its core vehicle sales with Sale or Return consignment, We Buy Cars direct purchase, Vehicle Sourcing, Part Exchange, RAC-backed Warranty packages, and CarFinance brokerage. All vehicles undergo Experian history checks and independent mechanical inspections.

Product overview

Auto Trade Centre Ltd operates as a family-run used car dealership in Northern Ireland, offering a comprehensive suite of automotive retail services. The core offering centres on used car and van sales, complemented by a portfolio of supporting services including a Sale or Return (SOR) commission-based selling service, direct vehicle purchase, specialist vehicle sourcing, part exchange, warranty packages (with 6 months standard and extended options), and CarFinance assistance. The business collectively brings over 30 years of experience and positions itself on quality vehicles, Experian checks, independent mechanical inspections, and RAC-backed warranties. Stock spans 19+ brands including AUDI, BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, across body types including SUV, Hatchback, MPV, Estate, and Coupe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Used Car and Van Sales Retail sale of quality pre-owned cars and vans to individual buyers, drawing on over 30 years of collective experience and stocking brands such as Audi, BMW, Ford, Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Vehicles undergo Experian history checks and independent mechanical inspections before sale.
• Sale or Return (Consignment) Commission-based service in which Auto Trade Centre sells a customer's vehicle on their behalf, handling the sale process end-to-end for private sellers who want to avoid the hassle of selling privately.
• We Buy Cars Direct purchase service where Auto Trade Centre buys vehicles outright from sellers, offering a straightforward transaction without the need for consignment.
• Vehicle Sourcing Specialist service to locate and source specific vehicles on behalf of customers looking for particular makes, models, or specifications not currently held in stock.
• Part Exchange Trade-in service allowing customers to use their existing vehicle as part payment toward a purchase from the dealership, reducing the upfront outlay for the buyer.
• Vehicle Warranty Packages Warranty protection on purchased vehicles, including a minimum 6-month warranty as standard and extended RAC warranty options available on request for an additional fee.
• CarFinance Brokerage Financing assistance to help customers find suitable vehicles based on their monthly budget, featuring an online payment slider and low-rate finance options through partner financial providers, with terms of 24, 36, 48, or 60 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• All cars Experian checked for vehicle history verification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ExperiancoreTechnology or IntegrationVehicle history checking service used to verify all cars in stock. Experian checks provide customers with confidence about vehicle history including previous owners, accident damage, and outstanding finance.
• RACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarranty provider offering one-year RAC warranty options for purchased vehicles. Provides customers with extended protection beyond the standard 6-month warranty.
• Finance ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLow-rate finance available through third-party financial providers. The dealership assists customers in finding suitable financing based on monthly budget requirements with flexible term options.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hendry Group: Southern England-based dealer group with used-car operations across multiple franchises. Indirect competitor for online-led used-car searches and a comparable multi-service dealership model to ATC.
• Motorpoint: UK used-car supermarket chain with high-volume inventory, fixed pricing, and online-led sales. Represents the scaled, digital-forward end of the used-car retail market that traditional dealers like ATC must compete against.
• Marshall Motor Group: Listed UK automotive retailer operating franchised dealerships and used-car operations. While a much larger competitor, its structure mirrors ATC's franchise-and-used-car hybrid model across multiple brands.
• Arnold Clark: UK's largest independently owned car retailer with extensive used-car stock and finance arm. While Scotland-focused, its online used-car platform competes nationally with smaller NI dealers for cross-border consumer searches.
• Evans Halshaw: Large UK dealer group with substantial used-car operations under both franchised and independent banners. Competes with ATC for the same mainstream used-vehicle consumer segment with greater geographic reach and finance scale.

Regional players

• JCT600: Northern England-focused dealer group with used-car operations. Comparable multi-franchise dealer model with similar finance, warranty, and part-exchange services — useful benchmark for ATC's service breadth.

Direct peers

• Charles Hurst: Northern Ireland's largest motor retailer group operating multiple used-car showrooms across the same geographic market. Directly competes with Auto Trade Centre for the same consumer base in Belfast and Lisburn, with significantly larger scale.
• Agnew Group: Established Northern Ireland car dealer group with used-car operations across multiple franchises. Competes head-to-head with ATC for used vehicle buyers in the same region, with broader brand portfolio and stronger finance offerings.

Emerging players

• BuyaCar: Online-only used-car retailer offering home delivery across the UK with no physical showroom. Represents the digital-first threat to ATC's traditional dealership model, particularly for consumers willing to purchase without viewing.
• CarShop (Constellation Automotive Group): UK used-car specialist with both physical and online channels offering fixed pricing and 7-day returns. A scaled, modern take on the used-car retail format that pressures independents on convenience and trust signals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/autotradecentreltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auto-trade-centre-ni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 AUTO TRADE CENTER LTD