CAP Motor Research is hoping to boost used vehicle trading on the internet by launching a new service early next year which will give true comparisons between cars for the first time. It is converting two of its industry standard reference tools for new cars - New Vehicle Prices and Options and Standard Equipment, Colours and Trims - into used car research systems which can be bought and installed on computers.

The aim is to give used car buyers access to the same information as new car purchasers, who can go online to find out about options, prices and trim levels. CAP sales and marketing director Kevin Finn said: 'Currently the only vehicle comparator information available to online car buyers relates to new cars. The used car market is three times as large but until now, in terms of comparison information, has been very much the poor relation.'

He added: 'People can only make informed choices on used cars if they have all the information available to new car buyers. The value of such a system is clear - for the first time customers will be able to compare a 1995 diesel Mondeo and Vectra, including specification, trim, colours, current values and pence-per-mile ownership costs based on a CAP future value forecast.'