AA Cars has launched its ‘Approved Dealer’ standard on its used car search website, www.theAAcars.com, in an effort to boost buyer confidence.
The move comes as new data reveals more than a quarter (27%) of drivers plan to change their car in the next twelve months. Eight out of ten (78%) drivers are planning to change their car in the next five years – with almost two-thirds (64%) intending on buying a used car.*
Franchised dealers who inspect their used cars to a manufacturer standard can join the Approved scheme. Independent dealers who choose to join the scheme will have all of their cars inspected by the AA, effectively bringing the dealer to the same standard as a franchised dealer.
Through having their vehicle stock independently inspected by the AA, as well as signing up to the AA’s ten-point customer service charter, known as Dealer Promise, dealers – and consequently car buyers – will benefit from the trust and quality associated with the AA brand.
New research indicates that almost all buyers (92%) say they would prefer to purchase an inspected car, while almost nine out of ten (86%) feel they would be reassured if their dealer was associated with the AA.
Edmund King, president of the AA, says: “The AA is the nation’s most trusted brand. ‘Approved Dealer’ confirms to buyers that they can purchase a car with absolute confidence, knowing that not only has it been inspected, but is backed with a ten-point dealer promise that means in the unlikely event of something going wrong, there is a robust means of sorting problems out quickly and efficiently.”
Approved Dealer follows on the launch of AA Car’s Dealer Promise last year – a 10-point charter that includes a commitment from dealers to offer history checks, a minimum of six months MOT and a mediation service that sees AA Cars handling disputes between customers and dealers.
Paul Yates, managing director of AA Cars, says: “Ultimately, Approved Dealers is about creating the safest places to buy a used car. Car buyers have shown that pre-sale inspections give them the reassurance they need to purchase and drive away from the forecourt on that day.
“Prospective buyers can be understandably intimidated by the sheer volume of choice and varying quality when trying to find a used car online. It’s often difficult to cut through this cacophony to find what you really want. Coupling rigorous inspections with the authority of the AA brand is an effective way to help guide buyers through this process and, quite simply, boost consumer confidence at the point of purchase.”
