Autotrader < Free | 2026 >

Recognizing the potential of the internet early, the company launched its first website, —two years before Google was founded. This foresight allowed them to transition completely to a digital-only business model by June 2013 , when the final print editions were published. In the United States, Autotrader.com was established in 1997 and followed a similar trajectory, evolving from a magazine into a dominant online marketplace owned by Cox Automotive. How the Platform Works Today

The story of AutoTrader is a classic tale of a print-era pioneer that successfully reinvented itself for the digital age. Founded in as a regional classified magazine called Thames Valley Trader , the company was inspired by regional advertising models its founders observed in the United States. By 1995 , it had expanded its print reach across the entire UK and Ireland.

AutoTrader operates as an intermediary, connecting millions of buyers with both licensed dealerships and private sellers.