Resources
Everything you need to run a modern dealership
Practical guides explaining how independent car dealers use Lotra to manage stock, customers, listings, finance and AI in one place. Written to answer the questions dealers actually ask — and structured so search engines and AI assistants can find the answers fast.
Foundations
Starting a dealership
How to start a used car dealership in the UK
A step-by-step guide to launching a UK used car dealership — from business structure to your first sale.
How much does it cost to start a dealership?
A realistic breakdown of setup costs for a UK independent dealership — stock, premises, insurance, software and fees.
Dealer licence requirements in the UK
What the UK actually requires to trade cars — registrations, permissions and the trade plates most dealers need.
Registering your dealership with HMRC
How to register as self-employed or a limited company, handle VAT, and set up the margin scheme for used cars.
FCA authorisation for car dealers explained
When you need FCA authorisation to offer finance, what a Limited Permission covers, and how to apply.
Trading standards requirements for used car dealers
The consumer law rules every UK used car dealer must follow — CPRs, CRA 2015, advertising and complaints.
Motor trade insurance: a dealer's guide
What motor trade insurance covers, the policies a UK dealer needs, and what drives your premium.
Dealership startup checklist
A practical checklist for launching a UK used car dealership — legal, financial, operational and marketing.
Opening your first forecourt
How to pick a site, agree a lease, kit out the pitch, and open the doors on your first dealership.
Dealer accounting basics
The essentials of dealership bookkeeping — VAT margin scheme, cost of sale, gross per unit and cash flow.
Features
Vehicle inventory management for car dealers
How modern inventory management works — from auction purchase to sold, without spreadsheets.
Dealer CRM: managing customers and enquiries
What a dealer CRM does, how it captures leads, and how Lotra keeps every enquiry warm.
Multi-channel vehicle listings and syndication
Publish once, sell everywhere. How dealers push stock to AutoTrader, Facebook and more.
Dealership finance tracking and profit per unit
How to track reconditioning costs, VAT margin, and true profit on every vehicle.
AI for car dealers: what it actually does
Practical AI use cases for independent dealerships — pricing, descriptions, and follow-up.
Dealership reporting and KPIs to track
The metrics that matter: days in stock, gross per unit, lead-to-sale conversion, and more.
Articles
How independent UK dealers are protecting margin in 2026
Rising stock prices and tighter buyers are squeezing margin. Here's what the best independents are doing about it.
Beyond AutoTrader: where UK buyers actually search now
The channel mix has shifted. A look at where enquiries really come from in 2026 — and how to cover them all.
How AI changed the day-to-day of a small forecourt
A candid look at what AI actually replaced (and what it didn't) inside a two-person independent dealership.
Five spreadsheet mistakes quietly costing dealers thousands
The everyday spreadsheet errors that eat margin — and how a DMS closes them off automatically.
Ready to see Lotra in action?
Try Lotra free or talk to us about how it fits your dealership.