Autotrader has launched a nationwide digital billboard campaign promoting its 2026 Retailer of the Year winners to buyers in their local communities.
The campaign, which began on November 2 and will run until the end of 2026, features award-winning car, van and motorcycle retailers alongside New Car Retailer of the Year winner Vines Group.
Each billboard combines Autotrader’s award branding with the identity of the individual dealership or dealer group.
The marketplace said the activity was intended to help winning businesses increase local awareness and use their award credentials to build trust with prospective customers.
Dealers gain local marketing support
The businesses featured include independent car dealers Thame Cars, Acklam Cars and Carlingo. Franchised winners Horizon-Magna Motor Group, Sinclair Group and Vertu Motors are also being promoted.
Bridgend Van Centre, Iver Van Sales and David Spear Commercials won the small, medium and large Van Retailer of the Year categories respectively while the motorcycle winners were TH Motors, Carl Rosner Motorcycles and Vertu Motors.
Rebecca Clark, group sales director at Autotrader, said: “Our Retailer Awards are all about recognising the brilliant businesses and people delivering great experiences for car, van and bike buyers across the UK.
“But we wanted that recognition to go beyond the awards themselves. Putting our Retailer of the Year winners on billboards in their local communities is more than just a chance to celebrate with their teams and customers. We want to help these businesses stand out and build trust with local buyers, so those buyers can feel more confident choosing an award-winning retailer.”
Awards assessed 14,000 partners
Autotrader assessed around 14,000 retailer partners through data analysis, independent judging and mystery shopping before selecting 93 finalists and 31 winners.
Amy Chohan, marketing manager at Sinclair Group, said: “Winning Retailer of the Year is a fantastic achievement for our team, and the billboard is a great way to celebrate it with the local community. We’re proud of the hard work behind this award and delighted to share the news across the area.”
The billboard activity follows Autotrader’s wider consumer marketing campaign, which it expects to reach 70% of UK adults across television, digital, social, radio and outdoor advertising.
Ensure you always receive AM insights. Make us a preferred source of news on Google