Retail Categories

Take a look at our 27 retail categories below. Entries are free and must be submitted by the deadline; Friday 26th August.

You can select 'View Criteria' on each category below to see the individual criteria in relation to each of our retail categories. Once you have picked your category, you can select 'Enter Now' which will take you to the entries portal. You can also add more categories there by adding other categories to your basket.

You can also take a look at this year's Supplier Categories here.

Aftersales Excellence Award

The Aftersales Excellence Award acknowledges and rewards the dealer who consistently delivers an outstanding aftersales service. Nominations are invited from departments operating in franchised or independent sites across the UK.

Aftersales Excellence Award

Our panel of judges will be looking at up-selling initiatives which have boosted bottom lines and won high levels of customer retention.

• Nominations need to be supported by sales figures and customer testimonials

• Open to all franchised and non-franchised dealers

• Entries are welcome from individuals and teams

• Entrants need to show evidence of best practice

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Bodyshop of the Year

The Bodyshop of the Year award is open to any franchised or independent company undertaking body repairs. The winner needs to show how it has successfully implemented best practice initiatives, from efficiencies to customer care, while incorporating strategies to increase throughput and win new business

Bodyshop of the Year

The winner needs to show how it has successfully implemented best practice initiatives, from efficiencies to customer care, while incorporating strategies to increase throughout and win new business.

Entrants will need to show year-on-year business successes and explain why they think they are setting new standards for the bodyshop sector. Financial results for the year will be treated in confidence.

• Open to all businesses undertaking body repair work

• Entrants need to show evidence of best practice initiatives

• Year-on-year improvements need to be supported by financials

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Business Manager of the Year

The Business Manager of the Year award will acknowledge and reward the pivotal role played by business managers in the sales process.
Nominations are invited from Business Managers, or their line managers, working in franchised and independent dealerships.

Business Manager of the Year

The Business Manager of the Year award will acknowledge and reward the pivotal role played by business managers in the sales process. Nominations are invited from Business Managers, or their line managers, working in franchised and independent dealerships.

Judges will look for evidence of clearly defined processes, successful sales records and an indication of how their success has impacted the business’s bottom line.
• Acknowledging the role of business managers
• Open to business managers in franchised and independent dealerships
• Judges will look for evidence of a clearly defined processes and the positive impact made by business   managers on bottom lines
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category.
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

Carmaker of the Year

The Carmaker of the Year award will be chosen by the panel of judges and presented to the carmaker who has excelled in terms of producing new models, successfully marketing them and building close relationships with its dealer network.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com. 
This category is now closed

Carmaker of the Year

Motor Trader's judging panel will look for evidence of innovative network marketing support as well as dealer satisfaction and profitability.

• The award will be made by judges' nomination

• This category is open to all carmakers

• The brand must be able to display high levels of dealer satisfaction

• New products launched in 2021 will be considered

• Dealer profitability will be assessed

• The winner will be nominated by the Motor Trader Awards’ panel of judges

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

Customer Care Award

The Customer Care Award is open to all franchised and independent vehicle retailers and recognises efforts to promote customer care which have contributed to a business’ profits and success.

Customer Care Award

Entrants need to demonstrate high levels of customer satisfaction, loyalty and repeat business. They will also need to supply evidence of successful customer care programmes and CSI ratings. Judges will be looking for a business which is setting new benchmarks and raising the professionalism of the sector. Customer testimonials must be included.

• Open to franchised and independent vehicle retailers

• Entrants need to show high levels of customer satisfaction, loyalty and repeat business

• Customer care programmes, CSI ratings and testimonials should be included

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category.

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Dealer Group of the Year

The Dealer Group of the Year award is for the Motor Trader Top 200 franchised dealer group running four or more sites that has implemented the most successful strategy for developing sales and profitability in the past year.

Dealer Group of the Year

The winner will be chosen by Motor Trader's panel of judges and presented to the franchised group, that has set standards competitors would be proud to emulate.

• Open to all Motor Trader Top 200 franchised groups running at least four sites

• The judges are looking for a group setting industry best practices

• New and used car sales and aftersales will all be evaluated

• The winner will be setting industry standards

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

• Please note that the winner will be nominated by the Motor Trader Awards’ panel of judges.

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Dealer Principal of the Year

The Dealer Principal of the Year award recognises and rewards the key role played by the dealer principal in running a successful franchised dealership

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.
This category is now closed

Dealer Principal of the Year

The judges will look for a manager with excellent leadership qualities who successfully led their business through 2021. The panel will look for managers with high levels of professionalism, innovation and community spirit.

• The winner will be nominated by the panel of judges of the Motor Trader Industry Awards

• Judges will award the winner who has proven sales success and retailing innovation

• Judges will look for managers who have great community spirit

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.

Dealer Website of the Year

The Dealer Website of the Year award is open to franchised and independent retailers. It will identify and reward the best customer facing dealer website in the motor trade.

Dealer Website of the Year

The judges will look for excellent functionality, ease of use and regularly refreshed content. Entrants should explain what makes their site the best and support their entry with traffic figures. URLs directing our judges to any special features would be useful.

• Open to franchised and independent vehicle retailers

• Entrants will need to show excellent functionality, ease of use and regularly refreshed content

• Traffic figures and URLs to any special features would be useful

• The website needs to be setting industry standards

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category.

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Digital Initiative of the Year

The Digital Initiative of the Year award recognises and rewards the best use of digital media by franchised and non-franchised dealers.

Digital Initiative of the Year

The judges will be looking for best practice examples of how digital platforms, including social media, mobile apps, online video and live chat, have been used as part of a dealer’s digital marketing mix to help drive sales. Entrants need to provide examples of successful campaigns and include URLs where applicable.


• Open to all franchised and non-franchised dealers

• Entrants can be standalone showrooms or dealer groups

• Entrants need to supply evidence of successful digital marketing campaigns

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021


PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Award

The Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Award is open to independent and franchised dealerships. The Diversity & Inclusion Award recognises the work or project a retailer has undertaken over the past year to promote equality, inclusion, diversity and fairness in their business.

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Award

The awards cover all aspects of diversity including, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.

Judges will look for evidence of structures in place to promote diversity. Single-site businesses as well as branches of small, medium or large dealer groups are eligible.

• Open to individual franchised and independent dealerships and groups

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category.

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

Employer of the Year

The Employer of the Year award acknowledges and rewards the dealer groups setting new standards for recruiting, nurturing and retaining employees. Shortlisted groups will need to demonstrate how they are setting industry standards for employee satisfaction and show how this is contributing to their bottom line.

Employer of the Year

This award is open to all franchised and independent groups. Judges will look for evidence of investment in employee satisfaction, clearly defined career paths and competitive remuneration packages. Testimonials from employees are welcome.

• Category acknowledges the role of employers in the motor retailing sector
• Open to all franchised and independent dealer groups
• Judges will look for evidence of a clearly defined programme aimed at nurturing employee satisfaction
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

EV of the Year

The EV of the Year Award is open to all new models on sale in UK dealerships between June 2020 and December 2021. It is judged by The Motor Trader Industry Awards' panel of judges.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.

This category is now closed

EV of the Year

Consumer and dealer appeal, as well as driving characteristics and innovation, will all be key considerations. It must all set the standard for the class it competes in.

• The finalists and winner will be decided by Motor Trader’s panel of motoring journalists

• The car must have been on sale in UK showrooms between June 2020 and December 2021

• The car must have high customer and dealer appeal

• The winner must be setting class standards

• Entry is by judges' nomination

EV Retailer of the Year

The EV Retailer of the Year award is open to independent and franchised dealerships and rewards excellence across the whole spectrum of EV business activities, including new and used EV sales, marketing and aftersales.

EV Retailer of the Year

Judges will look for evidence of excellent showroom presentation standards. Single-site businesses as well as branches of small, medium or large dealer groups are eligible. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to individual franchised and independent dealerships

• Recognises excellence across marketing, aftersales, new and used EV sales and training

• Local community initiatives and customer testimonials would support entries

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Franchised Dealership of the Year

The Franchised Dealership of the Year award is open to individual franchised dealerships and rewards excellence across the whole spectrum of business activities, including new and used car sales, marketing and aftersales.

Franchised Dealership of the Year

Judges will look for evidence of excellent showroom presentation standards. Single-site businesses as well as branches of small, medium or large dealer groups are eligible. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to individual franchised dealerships
• Recognises excellence across marketing, aftersales, new and used car sales and training
• Local community initiatives and customer testimonials would support entries
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Independent Garage of the Year

The Independent Garage of the Year award recognises best practice, innovation and professionalism in the non-franchised repairer sector. This category is open to individual sites, which can be standalone businesses or part of bigger networks, which can show they have excelled over the course of 2021.

Independent Garage of the Year

Judges will look for evidence of profitable trading as well as high levels of workshop utilization and customer retention. Financial performance figures and customer testimonials need to be supplied.

• Open to all non-franchised repair garages operating in the UK
• Entrants can be standalone sites or part of a group
• Entrants need to supply financial performance figures
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Most Improved Dealership of the Year

The Most Improved Dealership of the Year award is open to all franchised and independent car dealerships.

Most Improved Dealership of the Year

Judges will look for evidence of clear management driven change over a two-year period to December 2021, including a coherent business strategy with measurable success criteria, profit, sales, market share and CSI data. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to all franchised and independent car retailers

• Evidence will be needed for improvements over a two year period to the end of December 2021

• Entrants will need to supply financial performance figures. These will be treated in confidence

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

New Car of the Year

The New Car of the Year award is open to all new models on sale in UK dealerships between June 2019 and December 2021. It is judged by the Motor Trader Industry Awards' panel of judges.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.

This category is now closed

New Car of the Year

Consumer and dealer appeal, as well as driving characteristics and innovation, will all be key considerations. It must all set the standard for the class it competes in.

• The finalists and winner will be decided by Motor Trader’s panel of motoring journalists

• The car must have been on sale in UK showrooms between June 2019 and December 2021

• The car must have high customer and dealer appeal

• The winner must be setting class standards

• Entry is by judges' nomination

New Dealership of the Year

The New Dealership of the Year award is open to all franchised and independent car retailing sites which opened during the 24 month period between June 2019 and June 2021.

New Dealership of the Year

Judges will be looking for evidence of a clearly planned and executed launch programme supported by the dealer's short and long term business aspirations. Evidence of good sales performance, innovative marketing and entrepreneurial flair will also be assessed. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to car retailing sites which opened between June 2019 and June 2021

• Entrants need to show a clearly planned and executed launch programme

• Judges will look for sites which have displayed innovative marketing and entrepreneurial flair

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Outstanding Achievement Award

The Outstanding Achievement Award, will go to the person who, in the view of the Motor Trader Awards judging panel, has most notably raised the profile and enhanced the reputation of the UK motor trade.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.
This category is now closed

Outstanding Achievement Award

Among the qualities the panel seek will be high levels of professionalism, innovation and community spirit.

The winner will be nominated by the Motor Trader Awards’ panel of judges.

Judges will choose the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK car retailing sector.

The panel will reward high levels of professionalism, innovation and community spirit.

Sales Manager of the Year

The Sales Manager of the Year award highlights the pivotal role played by sales managers in franchised and independent sites.

Sales Manager of the Year

The successful managers need to show how they implemented and led successful sales programmes and excelled in customer satisfaction and retention. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to sales managers in franchised and independent sites.
• Managers need to show how they implemented and led successful sales programmes
• Year on year sales figures and customer testimonials would also support entries
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category.
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Sales Team of the Year

The Sales Team of the Year award recognises and rewards the crucial role played by dealership based sales teams. 

Sales Team of the Year

The category is open to all franchised and independent dealerships with the judges looking for clear evidence of innovative sales programmes and genuine teamwork. Customer testimonials would also support entries.

• Open to dealership based sales teams in franchised and independent sites

• Judges will be looking for evidence of innovative sales programmes and teamwork

• Customer testimonials would support entries

• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category

• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Skills & Development Award

The Skills & Development Award is open to all franchised and independent vehicle retailers. It recognises a commitment to improving skills and development for retailers, leading to outstanding performance and professionalism.

Skills & Development Award

Dealerships should be working towards achieving industry recognized qualifications and promoting opportunities for personal development to all staff. Dealerships should demonstrate a structured approach to improving skills and development, with clear aims and learning outcomes. The award is applicable to employee and management training in sales and aftersales, and can include the promotion of diversity and inclusion programmes, leadership and mentoring schemes as well as innovative training initiatives. Evidence of the success of any programme to be provided through performance improvement results. Open to franchised and independent vehicle retailers.

• Recognises commitment to improving skills and professionalism
• Includes retailers working towards national qualifications, offering innovative training, and promoting personal development opportunities
• Show a structured approach to skills and development
• Demonstrate success through results
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Social Media Award

The Social Media Award acknowledges and rewards the franchised or independent site that delivers the best social media presence in the UK car retailing sector and has successfully used it to engage customers and drive sales.

Social Media Award

Our panel of judges will be looking for dealers who have successfully improved their online presence by reaching audiences engaged with social media platforms. Supporting measurement data, including Google Analytics, should be included. Open to all franchised and non-franchised dealers.

• Supporting measurement data, including Google Analytics, should be included
• Entrants need to show evidence of best practice
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.

Used Car Dealer Group of the Year

The Used Dealer Group of the Year award is open to all franchised and independent dealer groups retailing used cars to the public and operating more than one site.

Used Car Dealer Group of the Year

The judges will look for evidence of professionally managed and profitable groups that have increased stock turnover by sourcing vehicles best suited to their customers' needs. Entrants will need to provide evidence of a structured approach to sourcing vehicles and profitable sales. The judges will also look for evidence of successful marketing campaigns.

• Open to all franchised and independent dealers groups operating multiple sites
• Entrants need to show evidence of excellent stocking processes
• Year on year sales performances and customer testimonials would be great to include to support your entry
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

Used Car of the Year: Premium

The Motor Trader Used Car of the Year: Premium award, acknowledges the vehicle that has excelled in terms of its desirability and premium among the dealers selling it and the customers who bought it. The winner is selected by a panel of used car industry professionals.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.
This category is now closed

Used Car of the Year: Premium

For a car to be considered for this award, it must have been available to buy from the used car trade from January 2021 to December 2021.

• The used car must be desirable to both dealers and customers

• To be considered it must have been on sale throughout the period of January 2021 to December 2021

• Entry is made by judges’ nomination

Used Car of the Year: Volume

The Used Car of the Year: Volume award acknowledges the vehicle that has excelled in terms of its desirability and volume among the dealers selling it and the customers who bought it. The winner is selected by a panel of used car industry professionals.

If you have a suggestion for an entry into this category, please email john.kirwan@emap.com.

This category is now closed

Used Car of the Year: Volume

For a car to be considered for this award, it must have been available to buy from the used car trade over the course of January 2021 to December 2021.

• The used car must be desirable to both dealers and customers

• To be considered it must have been on sales throughout the time period of January 2021 to December 2021

• Entry is made by judges’ nomination

Used Car Retailer of the Year

The Used Car Retailer of the Year award is a single site award open to all franchised and independent dealers retailing used cars to the public. The single site can be a solus operation or a dealership within a group.

Used Car Retailer of the Year

The judges will look for evidence of professionally managed and profitable businesses that have increased stock turnover by sourcing vehicles best suited to their customers' needs. Entrants will need to provide evidence of a structured approach to sourcing vehicles and profitable sales. The judges will also look for evidence of successful marketing campaigns.

• Open to all franchised and independent dealers, single site operation
• Entrants need to show evidence of excellent stocking processes
• Year on year sales performances and customer testimonials would be great to add to support your entry
• Simply follow our criteria headings and tell us how you have excelled in your chosen category
• This award will be judged based on the period of January 2021 to December 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Financial information is highly confidential and will not be discussed or disclosed outside of the judging process.