The new Autotrader buying journey is here

As we approach the end of 2025, we're not slowing down – we're accelerating towards some exciting milestones that will transform how you connect with car buyers.

We've spent decades investing in technology and data to provide you with unique insights into vehicles – insights many of you now use in your day-to-day decision-making. Now, we are in a place to take things one step further, and provide information about the buyer. It's made possible by the new Autotrader buying journey.

Back in May, after four years of evolving and enhancing Deal Builder, we made it available to everyone. Today, over 6,000 retailers are already unlocking the benefits – creating seamless, connected journeys between their digital presence and physical forecourts, and driving real results.

The Transformation is underway

Deal Builder provides additional functionality on your adverts which will become central to how Autotrader works. If you're not yet live, your activation email is coming soon, and by early next year, every retailer will be part of this transformation.So, it's no longer a question of if, but how we make it work for you. And we're committed to making sure it drives real results for your business.

In mid-November, if you're already live on Deal Builder, Buying Signals will be available on every deal. You'll also benefit from a brand-new product page, reimagined for results. This new page does more than showcase a car – it converts. Optimised for performance, designed to deliver more high-quality deals, and built to make your vehicles shine whilst keeping your brand front and centre. This is about giving your buyers confidence and delivering you results.

Introducing Buying Signals

This week, we're announcing the imminent launch of Buying Signals, a powerful new way for you to connect with your customers. Drawing on 450 million weekly interactions on our platform, Buying Signals will transform how you engage with buyers and drive real impact for your business.

Available with every deal delivered through Deal Builder, Buying Signals consists of two key components:

Buyer Intent – Shows how ready a customer is to take action, based on their behaviour and interactions on Autotrader.

Buyer Preferences – Reveals what your customers are interested in and what they're actively looking for.

By understanding what each customer wants, how likely they are to convert, and how best to approach each deal, you gain the confidence, control, and opportunity to convert more effectively. You can target the right customer at the right moment, offer a seamless journey, and tailor your response to build trust and maximise conversion.

From Leads to Deals

This isn't about mandating change – it's about embracing a smarter, more connected way of meeting customer needs and your needs. We're building on leads to deliver something even more powerful: deals. These are interactions with increasingly committed buyers, rich in unique and actionable insights. A complete picture of the buyer, combined with all the tools you need to convert.

The way people buy cars is changing fast, and we're evolving with change. If you're not already benefitting from Deal Builder, keep an eye out for your activation email over the coming weeks, or reach out to one of our 300-strong account team to find out how you can get access even earlier.

The new Autotrader buying journey is here, and we’re here to make it work for you.