Autoscout24 acts as a dealer

Autoscout24 acts as a dealer

For the marketplace operator based in Munich and active throughout Europe, it is a milestone in the company's history: As AutoScout24 smyle, they now also act directly as a car dealer. In the future, the company will offer complete online car purchasing “in partnership with dealers” and will take care of registration, insurance and delivery to your doorstep – “free of charge and ready to drive,” as they say. The sole contractual partner for the car buyer and the car dealer is AutoScout24. 

With the new service, which is initially only offered in Germany, car buyers will in future be able to order their car online and from the comfort of their sofa. You will then have your vehicle delivered to your doorstep free of charge and ready-to-drive. According to its own statements, AutoScout24 wants to turn car buying into an online shopping experience. In addition to registration, optional financing and a free trial month with motor vehicle liability insurance and fully comprehensive cover from AXA, AutoScout24 also provides a guarantee and breakdown service in case the worst comes to the worst, despite the 25-point check already included. The legally required 14-day right of withdrawal and free return upon request complete the “all-round worry-free package”.

“Biggest innovation in our history”

Edgar Berger, CEO of AutoScout24: "AutoScout24 smyle sells cars completely online. Ordered in 10 minutes and delivered to your doorstep in a short time. Around 40 percent of drivers are already interested in buying online - enormous market potential. As Europe's largest online marketplace for cars, we are starting with the biggest product innovation in our company's history. The complete digitalization of car sales is to the advantage of dealers and consumers."

Free delivery and returns

The fully registered vehicles are delivered free of charge to the new owner within a few days to any address within Germany and to their doorstep. AutoScout24 smyle will also be offered in Austria, but there are currently no precise plans for this and therefore no exact date for the start, as the company said in response to a request from the automotive industry. "For many people, buying a used car involves a lot of effort, effort and uncertainty. With AutoScout24 smyle we want to change this for our users. Because with minimal effort and maximum service, we take the customer experience when buying a car online to a new level: As with buying a book, buyers select the vehicle they want online, click through financing, insurance and other services and in a short time have the fully registered and insured car, including 12 months of maintenance freedom, delivered directly to their door," explains Felix Frank, Chief Commercial Officer of AutoScout24.

All vehicles that are offered for complete online car purchase via AutoScout24 smyle have been selected in advance according to strict quality criteria. To ensure that car buyers receive a transparent picture of their dream vehicle, AutoScout24 smyle precisely documents all signs of use in images. Before delivery to buyers, every car is carefully checked again.

Immediate payment or online financing

If the car is ordered online, buyers can choose between immediate payment and, in the future, online financing. When paying immediately, the amount due is transferred directly to AutoScout24. In the case of financing, buyers apply for a loan online and receive it confirmed within a short time after passing a creditworthiness and identity check and tailored to their individual needs. The car will then be registered by AutoScout24 and the buyer will be contacted by phone to discuss the delivery date.

According to a representative survey in June of this year among around 1,000 respondents in Germany, 38 percent of participants can imagine purchasing their next used car completely online. Last but not least, the prevailing pandemic has contributed significantly to a strong shift of business to the online area.