Vehicle Listings: Accuracy, detail, and presentation

Your vehicle listing is more than just an advert, it’s the buyer’s first experience of your brand and the vehicle. In the context of Deal Builder, that listing becomes the foundation of trust that determines whether a customer is confident enough to take the next step - whether that’s submitting a part-exchange, applying for finance, or paying a reservation fee.

To help you get the most from Deal Builder, we’ve broken down exactly what makes a listing work, from presentation and accuracy to consistency and value communication.

Key elements of a high-performing listing

Professional, consistent imagery

What to include:

• Minimum 20 high-resolution images per vehicle

• Wide-angle shots of the front, rear, both sides, and ¾ angles

• Close-ups of key interior features: infotainment screen, steering wheel, seats, gearstick

• Boot space, wheels, and any optional extras (e.g. sunroof, parking sensors)

• A clear photo of the dash with the mileage visible

Presentation tips:

• Photograph vehicles in a clean, neutral environment (avoid distractions in the background)

• Consistent lighting and framing across all vehicles strengthens your brand professionalism

• Avoid wet vehicles or photos taken in low light - they reduce buyer trust

• Use Co-Driver Smart Image Management to re-order your images in an order that most appeals to buyers, in one click

💡 Listings with 20+ images receive significantly more engagement across all Deal Builder actions

Complete all vehicle details

Use the structured fields when listing a vehicle in Portal to provide as much detail as possible. This ensures listings appear in relevant search results and gives buyers confidence in the vehicle’s provenance and condition. This will also help Co-Driver AI Generated Descriptions create a more accurate and engaging description.

Key fields to complete:

• Full spec level (trim, features, packages)

• Accurate mileage

• Number of previous owners

• MOT expiry date

• Service history – ideally described as “full” or “main dealer,” where applicable

• ULEZ status (especially for urban buyers)

• Road tax and insurance group (when known)

Try to avoid:

• Leaving optional fields blank

• Entering service history or ownership details into the description only (instead of data fields)

• Inconsistent use of trim names, which can cause mismatched search results

Transparent, buyer-friendly descriptions

The written description is your opportunity to communicate value - not just spec. It’s where tone, clarity, and honesty can set you apart.

Here's a structure you could follow:

• Introductory sentence: What makes this car stand out?

• Condition highlights: Recent service, new tyres, immaculate interior?

• Spec & features: Emphasise convenience and safety features (e.g. heated seats, Apple CarPlay)

• Included value: Mention any warranty, breakdown cover, or servicing prep

• Call to action: Invite the buyer to start their deal online or reserve today

💡 Or, use Co-Driver AI Generated Descriptions to create an accurate, engaging and optimally-structured description in just one click.