AutoTrader raised its dealer fees by 8% in 2025, pushing average monthly costs past £238 for a basic package. For many independent dealerships, that's £2,856 a year — before VAT — to list a handful of vehicles on one platform. MotorBoard was built to fix exactly this.
AutoTrader's 2025 Fee Hike: What Dealers Are Actually Paying
AutoTrader's pricing has climbed steadily year-on-year. In 2025, they pushed through an 8% increase across dealer plans — the second consecutive double-digit-ish rise in three years. The headline figure is around £238/month average, but that's a blended number. Mid-size dealerships with 20–50 active listings routinely report spending £300–£500/month, and that's for cars only.
Want to list your motorbikes, vans, or motorhomes? That's a separate subscription. AutoTrader categorises by vehicle type, so a mixed-stock dealer needs multiple subscriptions to cover their full inventory. The bundled cost adds up fast.
Add in optional "boost" products, featured placements, and data packages, and it's easy to see why dealer frustration with AutoTrader has reached a high watermark. Search "AutoTrader alternative UK" and you'll find dealer forums full of people actively looking for a way out.
MotorBoard Pricing: Flat Rate, All Categories Bundled
MotorBoard operates on a simple flat-rate monthly model with three tiers. All categories are included in every plan — cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles, motorhomes, and classic cars. One subscription, everything you stock.
| Plan | Price (ex. VAT) | Active Listings | Listing Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £49/month | Up to 25 | 4-week renewable |
| Growth | £89/month | Up to 50 | 4-week renewable |
| Pro | £139/month | Unlimited | Until sold |
At £49/month for the Starter plan, MotorBoard is 79% cheaper than AutoTrader's average. Even the Pro tier at £139/month — which includes unlimited listings across all vehicle categories, live until sold — is 42% cheaper than AutoTrader's average for cars alone.
Feature Comparison: MotorBoard vs AutoTrader
Price matters, but dealers want to know what they're getting for it. Here's how the core features compare:
| Feature | MotorBoard | AutoTrader (typical dealer plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £49–£139 | ~£238+ average |
| Photos per listing | Up to 20 | Up to 20 |
| Video per listing | Yes (1 video, up to 50MB) | Yes (with some plans) |
| All vehicle categories | Yes — bundled in every plan | Separate subscription per category |
| Listing duration | 4-week renewable or until sold | Varies by plan |
| Hidden fees | None | Boosts, features, data add-ons |
| Final value fees | None | None (classifieds model) |
| Minimum contract | 12 months | Varies |
| Annual prepay discount | One month free | Available on some plans |
Why Bundled Categories Matter
This is the feature that catches most dealers by surprise. AutoTrader structures its pricing by vehicle category — cars are one product, motorcycles another, light commercial another again. A dealer with a mixed forecourt stocking cars, a handful of vans, and the occasional motorbike ends up paying for three separate subscriptions.
MotorBoard includes all five categories — cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles, motorhomes, and classic cars — in every plan, at every price point. Whether you list one vehicle type or five, you pay the same flat rate.
For a dealer on MotorBoard Starter at £49/month versus AutoTrader at £238/month for cars only, the savings are material. But for a mixed-stock dealer who'd need multiple AutoTrader subscriptions, the comparison becomes even more stark.
No Hidden Fees, No Forced Add-ons
AutoTrader has built a significant secondary revenue line through optional products: promoted listings, "Dealer Homepage" packages, AutoTrader Connect data tools, and various visibility boosts. Each of these is sold separately, and the pressure to buy is real — a dealer who doesn't pay for prominence on a platform with millions of buyers is at a disadvantage against competitors who do.
MotorBoard charges one flat monthly fee. No promoted listing products, no data packages, no forced upsells. Every dealer on a given plan has the same visibility foundation. What you pay is what you get.
Photos and Video: Same Standard Across All Tiers
MotorBoard allows up to 20 photos and 1 video per listing — the same allowance on the £49 Starter plan as on the £139 Pro plan. There's no "unlock more photos" premium add-on. Video supports MP4, MOV, and WebM up to 50MB and 60 seconds.
For dealers who invest in proper listing photography and walkaround videos — the listings that consistently outperform text-heavy no-photo entries — this matters. You don't need to upgrade your plan to show your stock properly.
Who Should Switch?
MotorBoard makes the most sense for:
- Independent dealers with up to 50 active listings — the Starter and Growth plans cover most small-to-mid dealerships at a fraction of AutoTrader's cost.
- Mixed-stock dealers — if you sell cars, vans, bikes, or motorhomes, you need one subscription, not three.
- Dealers frustrated by annual fee hikes — MotorBoard pricing is transparent and changes with 30 days' notice, not buried in contract reviews.
- Dealers who want honest listing exposure — no paid prominence system means your listings compete on merit, not marketing spend.
Start Listing on MotorBoard
MotorBoard is live at motorboard.co.uk. Dealer subscriptions start at £49/month for up to 25 active listings across all vehicle categories. Full pricing and plan details are on the dealer pricing page.
If you're currently paying AutoTrader £238+ per month and want to see what the same listing budget gets you elsewhere — create an account and list your first vehicle today.