ForecourtOnline vs Auto Trader
The Auto Trader alternative built for small traders
Own your leads instead of renting them.
Auto Trader is a marketplace — you pay to advertise on their portal, and you pay for the leads it sends. It's not a website or back-office for your business. ForecourtOnline is the other half: your own site, your own stock and VAT records, and a free aggregator that drives leads to you rather than charging per enquiry.
Why traders switch to ForecourtOnline
- Your own brand and domain, not a listing on someone else's portal
- A free aggregator network instead of paying per lead
- Built-in VAT margin scheme records and stock book Auto Trader doesn't offer
- Stock, leads, bookings and your website in one place
- Transparent low monthly pricing, not advertising rates
Where Auto Trader may suit you better
We'd rather be honest — Auto Trader could be the right call if:
- You want the sheer reach of the UK's biggest car marketplace
- Live-market pricing intelligence and a price-position badge matter to you
- You're happy to pay per lead for that audience
Side by side
ForecourtOnline vs Auto Trader
| Feature | ForecourtOnline | Auto Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent, low-cost SaaS pricing | ||
| HMRC VAT margin scheme invoices | ||
| Stock book & quarterly export | ||
| Itemised reconditioning costs per vehicle | ||
| Block-based page builder | 21 blocks | |
| Embeds for an existing website | ||
| Public read API for your own stock | ||
| AI photo classification & cropping | ||
| Cookieless, server-side analytics | ||
| WhatsApp click-to-chat | ||
| Own free aggregator network (free leads) | Unique | |
| Online reserve / deposit payment | £99 | |
| Part-exchange enquiry tool | ||
| Finance calculator / soft-search | ||
| Portal syndication (Auto Trader, Facebook…) | Is a portal | |
| Reviews / reputation tools | ||
| Native mobile app | Responsive |
Auto Trader details are based on public marketing material and vary by package — treat them as indicative, not contractual.
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Start your 14-day free trial — no card required, no contract — and see why traders pick ForecourtOnline over Auto Trader.
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