BCA has released details of sales volumes for its Live Online sales channel for the first Quarter of 2011, reinforcing the growing popularity of this crucial remarketing tool. Having already surged past 100,000 units sold online in the UK in 2010, the appeal of trading online has continued in the first three months of 2011. 477,000 bids were made on Live Online between January and March 2011 – an 18% increase year on year and 28,500 vehicles were sold to online bidders - a 9.2% increase year on year.

The lowest priced vehicle sold online by BCA in the first three months of the year was a Suzuki Swift, for just £125. But, proving that online isn’t a barrier for higher value vehicle sales, a Rolls Royce Phantom sold online for £112,000 at the beginning of the year with nine other vehicles going for over £70,000 each online.

Nearly 2,000 commercial vehicles were sold to online bidders in Quarter One – more than double those sold in the same period in 2010.

A new version of Live Online was launched in Quarter One 2011, featuring multiple sales windows and a new look and feel to make it even easier to use. A multitude of other improvements have also been added, including automatically updating sale information on the catalogue page and improved vehicle information display in the sale window.

With 20% of all BCA sales purchased and processed online, it is clear that trade buyers see this as a vital tool in saving them time and money to replenish stock, as BCA’s remarketing director D’Vidis Jacobs explained: “In 2010 we saw online sales in the remarketing sector gain real traction to become an integral part of the sales programme for most volume sellers at BCA. And this trend has continued in the first three months of 2011.

“The immense flexibility of our online channels means our customers can sell and buy used vehicles 24/7, 365 days a year, without incurring travelling costs or missing out on good deals because they couldn’t get to an Auction in person. Online is set to continue to grow in importance for stock acquisition, helping retail dealers maximise profit from their used vehicle business, and we will be introducing further innovations in response to customer feedback through the rest of year, addressing the needs of buyers and sellers alike."