2026 Autotrader Retailer Awards now open for entries, featuring brand new self-nomination categories
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Autotrader Retailer Awards, marking 19 years of celebrating the very best in automotive retail. The annual ceremony recognises those car, van, and bike businesses that are pushing the industry forward, leading from the front and inspiring their peers. From game-changing impact to outstanding customer service, the Awards recognise the top performing automotive retailers across eight different categories, five of which are self-nomination.
With circa 84 million visits every month, Autotrader is the UK’s largest automotive platform, and with a nearly 50-year heritage, is among the best-known consumer brands in the country. Winning a Retailer Award trophy, as well as a winner or finalist logo to sit alongside adverts on Autotrader, is an extremely effective way for retailers to demonstrate their excellence to potential car buyers, and to build immediate trust in their brand.
New city, new categories
For 2026, the Autotrader Retailer Awards will head to Manchester for the first time, bringing the ceremony to a city with deep automotive roots, from the birth of Rolls-Royce to Ford’s first UK factory. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to attend the Awards ceremony in early October.
Also new this year, Autotrader is expanding its self-nominated categories with four brand new awards designed to recognise the retailers and individuals driving meaningful progress across the industry. These include:
These new awards join the returning Woman of the Year category, launched in 2024 and supported by the Automotive 30% Club. The award celebrates inspiring women who are making a difference in automotive retail, whether she's leading a team, improving performance, shaping culture or driving change. Last year’s award was won by Michelle Caveney, Brand Director at JCT600, who Automotive 30% Club founder Julia Muir described as “a true trailblazer”. Self-nominated category winners are selected by an independent panel of expert judges, with last year’s panel featuring senior leaders from John Lewis, MoneySuperMarket, LinkedIn and The Carbon Literacy Trust.
The winners of the three further categories will be determined by data. This includes the Customer Experience Award, which employs one of the largest mystery shopping exercises of its type to whittle down the top 1,000 performing retailers on Autotrader. It also includes the Awards’ top accolade, the Retailer of the Year, which in 2026 will once again be split across car, van, bike, and new car.
The Autotrader Retailer Awards are all about recognising the businesses and individuals making a real difference in automotive retail. In a market that’s becoming more competitive, more digital and more fast-moving. We’re seeing incredible innovation across the industry, and many of the retailers really leading the way are the ones using data and technology to work smarter, support their teams and create even better experiences for customers. That’s exactly what these Awards are designed to celebrate.
“To be shortlisted is an achievement in itself. With winners chosen through independent judging and robust data, the Awards recognise retailers making a real impact on the sector. Whether it’s embracing new technology, evolving the business, investing in people or earning the trust of customers, these are the businesses helping to shape the future of automotive retail. If you’re driving that kind of progress, we’d love to see you put yourself forward.”
Self-nomination entries are now open and will close on 10th July. Retailers can submit their entries here. Individuals can nominate themselves or be made on someone else’s behalf.
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