Updating our Terms & Conditions - What it means for your dealership

Published:26th October 2026 | Effective Date: Tuesday 10th November 2026

Streamlining our agreement to support your enhanced service offering

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, digital security, and continuous innovation, we are updating our Terms and Conditions on Tuesday 10th of November 2026.

Over the past few years, we’ve made enhancements to how buyers connect with retailers. To support this growth, we have taken the opportunity to simplify and consolidate our legal framework, reducing paperwork and making our documents far easier to navigate.

Here is a look at why we are making these changes, how they benefit your dealership, and answers to common questions.

Why we’re making these changes

1. Less paperwork & admin: We have retired four separate, standalone Business Rules documents (Deal Builder, AT Calls, Price Indicator, and Retail Check) and incorporated their terms directly into our Main Advertising Terms & Conditions (MATC). You now have fewer documents to track

2. Unified lead insights: We have established a single, consistent definition of “Leads” across all customer touchpoints (online forms, calls, chat, text, and instant messaging). This allows us to provide richer analytics and performance insights across your entire sales funnel.

3. Enhances account security: We have modernised our agreement to support passkeys and updated authentication standards to keep your account and stock data secure.

4. Regulatory alignment: Terms have been updated to reflect current national legislation, including the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 and the Data Use & Access Act 2025.

At-a-glance summary of changes

Terms Document	Summary of Changes	What it means for you
Main advertising Terms & Conditions (MATC)	Created a single definition for "Leads" (covering all enquiry types consistently - including online, by phone, through chat, text or instant messaging app). Moved terms that used to sit in the Deal Builder (Online Leads), Calls, and Price Indicators Business Rules into the MATC. The terms relating to Online Leads and finance will only apply to you if you have the relevant functionality on your adverts. Reflected new security features (e.g., passkeys).  Updated wording to reflect requirements under the Digital Markets, Competition & Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 and updated other references to law (e.g. Data Use & Access Act 2025). Clarified liability boundaries regarding potential cyber events or platform downtime. View the updated Main Advertising Terms & Conditions	Simplified terms: You now have fewer separate documents to review. Consistent approach: We treat every kind of enquiry the same way under our terms. We use all types of leads to make the insights we give you even richer. Compliance requirement: Under DMCCA rules, you must ensure that the advertised price for a vehicle includes all compulsory fees, charges and taxes (like admin or processing fees). You must also provide a business email address and other material information to consumers after receiving a lead. Enhanced security: Accounts benefit from passkey authentication updates.
Autotrader Packages	Aligned terms with the updated MATC. Explained how new entry-level advertising options fit alongside standard Packages Increasing the cap on Economy Stock adverts from 50% to 100% of contracted stock. View the updated Autotrader Packages	Clearer limits: If you use Economy Stock adverts, your allowance is increased to double your core contracted stock.
Sales Insight	Linked data terms to our standard Data Processing Terms. Clarified we may use the output from sales matching (but not the dealer’s actual sales data) for our own product development. View the updated Sales Insight	No operational change: If you provide sales match data to us, the MATC already permits us to use the output for our own product development.  We have included the wording here for transparency, but there is no change for you.
Vehicle Check	Added rules on Vehicle Salvage and Theft data (required by the MIB). Updated Data Guarantee processes for vehicles with outstanding finance. View the updated Vehicle Check	Clearer claim process: If claiming under the guarantee for a vehicle with outstanding finance, claimants must first attempt recovery from the seller before Autotrader settles directly with lenders.
Retailer Privacy Notice & Data Terms	Updated wording relating to credit reference and affordability checks (required by our provider, Creditsafe). Updated wording about leads that come in by phone, so it matches the changes to the MATC and is consistent with other types of leads. Updated references to legislation and third-party service providers. View the updated Retailer Privacy Notice	Transparency: Clearer insight into how credit checks and third-party integrator data are processed. Consistent approach: Reflecting the updates we’ve made to the MATC, so that we treat calls the same way as other types of leads.
Data Processing Terms	Updated references to the Data Use and Access Act 2025, and generally tidied things up. View the updated Data Processing Terms	No operational change: These changes are to update the references to legislation and to make the terms easier to read.

FAQ

• Do I need to sign or return anything to accept these updates

  No. You do not need to take any action.

  The updated terms will automatically apply to your account from Tuesday 10th November 2026, ensuring your service continues without interruption.

• Are my stock limits, package details, or monthly charges changing

  No.

  These updates are focused entirely on consolidating terms and conditions, reflecting security upgrades, and aligning with national legislation. Your core package pricing, contracted stock levels, and account terms remain unchanged.

• Does the single definition of "Leads" change how I receive buyer enquiries?

  Not at all.

  Your lead delivery channels - whether via Portal, email, or your Dealer Management System (DMS) integration will function exactly as they do today. Standardising lead definitions mean that we treat all types of leads consistently and allows us to provide richer, more comprehensive insights across your buyer sales funnel.

• Why are there new clauses relating to Online Leads and Finance in the Main Advertising Terms and Conditions (MATC) when I don’t offer finance?

  We have moved these clauses from the existing standalone Dealer Builder Business Rules. Online Leads and Finance functionality is now available to all advertisers, so it makes sense to keep the relevant terms in the MATC rather than in separate documents. That way, you can find all our key terms in one place. The terms relating to Online Leads and finance will only apply to you if you have the relevant functionality on your adverts.

• Effective Date: Tuesday 10th November 2026 (Changes apply automatically).

• Email Support: retailersupport@autotrader.co.uk

• (Note: If you wish to exercise your right to cancel your agreement due to these changes, please notify us in writing by Thursday 5th November 2026, allowing 2 business days to process your request).

• Is there a change to calls? Why have they been added to the MATC?

  We now treat calls just like any other Lead.

  This means you and Autotrader are each separately responsible for the personal information collected in respect of a call (in legal terms, we’re each a “data controller”). There is no operational change to how you receive tracked calls from the Autotrader platform.

• What do I need to do to comply with the DMCCA 2024 transparent pricing rules?

  Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, advertised prices must be completely transparent. Please ensure your advertised selling prices include all compulsory fees (such as mandatory admin or processing fees). Additionally, when responding to consumer leads, ensure you provide your business email address and any other material information (which was not included in your advert) that the consumer needs in order to decide whether or not to make the purchase.

• Is Autotrader using my raw sales data?

  No.

  Your actual individual dealership sales data remains confidential and secure. As outlined in the MATC, we only use outputs derived from sales matching for product development and our own internal purposes.

• Who should I contact if I have further questions?

  Our team is here to support you. If you would like any further details or clarification about these changes, please send us an email at retailersupport@autotrader.co.uk and we will be glad to assist.