2:04 pm, July 28, 2026
Used car supermarket Big Motoring World has begun consulting staff over potential redundancies after deciding to scale back its Big Wants Your Car vehicle buying operation.
The used car supermarket group says it is changing its stock sourcing strategy as it continues to expand across the UK, reducing the number of vehicles it buys directly from members of the public.
A statement from the firm confirmed that a formal consultation process began today (July 28) with employees working within the Big Wants Your Car division and said it could result in a number of roles being made redundant.
The retailer said it will work with affected employees throughout the consultation process and explore opportunities to redeploy staff elsewhere within the wider business where possible.
Big Wants Your Car has been one of several channels used by the retailer to acquire stock directly from consumers, alongside part exchanges, auction purchases and trade supply agreements.
However, Big Motoring World says direct supply partnerships have become an increasingly important source of used cars as the business has continued to grow.
The company said it will now place greater emphasis on acquiring vehicles through those channels while reducing the number of cars purchased directly from private sellers.
Despite the changes, the retailer stressed that BigWantsYourCar.com will remain operational and continue buying vehicles from consumers.
A spokesman said: ‘Big Motoring World has implemented a revised group-wide stock sourcing strategy to support the rapid and sustained growth of the business at its 11 stores.
‘The changes include the scaling down of its BigWantsYourCar.com division, which purchases used vehicles direct from consumers.
‘As direct supply partners have become increasingly important sources of stock, Big Motoring World will reduce the number of cars acquired direct from consumers through BigWantsYourCar.com.
‘Big Motoring World has initiated a formal consultation process with colleagues within BigWantsYourCar.com, which could lead to certain positions being made redundant.
‘The consultation period began on July 28 and the company is working with those potentially impacted to explore all available options and evaluate opportunities for re-deployment where practicable.’
The announcement comes during a period of continued expansion for the used car supermarket group.
In May, Big Motoring World completed the takeover of the former Sytner Select dealership in Warrington, creating its 11th and largest retail site.
The 13-acre dealership, previously operated by CarShop before Sytner acquired the business, has capacity to stock around 1,000 used cars and saw around 60 employees transfer to Big Motoring World.
At the time, chief executive Laurence Vaughan said the new showroom would support the company’s continued growth, while insisting it had secured sufficient vehicle supply to stock the new dealership, despite criticism from ousted founder Peter Waddell.
The business also remains at the centre of one of the motor industry’s most closely watched legal disputes.
Waddell, who remains Big Motoring World’s majority shareholder, is suing Bluebell Cars – the holding company behind the retailer – along with a number of directors, claiming unfair dismissal, harassment and disability discrimination following his removal from the business in 2024.
The company denies the allegations and says Waddell was dismissed following an investigation into complaints about his conduct.
The seven-week High Court trial concluded in April after hearing extensive evidence from both sides, exposing the inner workings of one of Britain’s biggest used car supermarket groups.
The case included allegations over governance, executive decision-making and Waddell’s conduct while running the business, all of which were vigorously contested during proceedings.
Mr Justice Marcus Smith reserved judgment at the end of the trial. While a decision had initially been expected within six weeks, the industry is still awaiting the outcome more than three months later, with the verdict now expected imminently.