12:50 pm, July 22, 2026
One of the best-known names in the used car industry turns 80 this week, with BCA marking eight decades since its first sale took place in a marquee in Surrey.
Founded as Southern Counties Car Auctions in 1946, just 14 cars were offered at that first sale at Frimley Bridges.
Evolving to become British Car Auctions, and then BCA, the company has grown into one of the best-known names in European automotive services, supporting customers across the vehicle lifecycles.
While BCA is widely recognised for vehicle remarketing, the business has evolved beyond the auction lane. Today it provides a range of connected services that help OEMs, fleets, finance providers, leasing companies, dealer groups and retailers move, prepare, manage and sell vehicles across the new and used car supply chains.
That support includes portside vehicle services, storage, technical preparation, refurbishment, imaging, logistics, in-life fleet services, end-of-contract defleet, retail preparation, funding solutions and digital remarketing.
BCA’s online marketplace remains at its core, though, with a network of professional buyers and thousands of vehicles sold every day through live online sales, timed auctions and fixed-price channels.
In its 80th year, BCA has recently integrated Aston Barclay into its national auction network, bringing a broader geographic coverage and a range of services, as well as supporting customers that still want to attend and bid physically.
BCA’s Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Pearson, has over thirty years of experience with the company. He said: ‘BCA has always adapted to the changing needs of the automotive industry. Our heritage is in auctions, but our role today is much broader.
‘We help customers manage vehicles more efficiently from the point they enter the supply chain through to preparation, sale, movement and reuse.”
He added: ‘Our customers are looking for partners who can reduce complexity, improve speed and create value across their businesses.
‘Whether we are supporting new vehicle activity at port, managing end-of-life defleet, preparing vehicles for retail, moving stock around the country or connecting sellers and buyers through our remarketing processes, our focus is on delivering joined-up services that make the automotive supply chain work better.’
