12:15 pm, June 11, 2026
JCT600 says increases in National Insurance and minimum wage costs added £3.2m to its annual cost base in 2025, as the dealer group reported a slight fall in profits.
Overall figures from the dealer group remained close to those of 2024, with turnover falling from £1.335bn to £1.326bn and profit before tax down from £20.2m to £20.1m.
In its accounts for the year ending December 31, 2025, which are now published on Companies House, directors wrote: ‘Increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance placed substantial additional cost pressure on businesses.’
They went into further detail, explaining that ‘the focus on expense control has been crucial in a year when changes to employment taxes placed an additional £3.2m of cost on the group.
‘A cost out exercise was conducted throughout the year focusing on all areas of the business. A very commendable 0.64% reduction in expenses was achieved.’
The business was also hit by a decrease in new car volumes but used car sales increased by both volume and turnover.
It explained: ‘JCT600 new vehicle units decreased by 2.08% which compares favourably to the decline of 2.64% seen in the brands that JCT600 represents Gross profit margin declıned by 0.2% which in the backdrop of discounting to achieve BEV targets represents a good result.
‘Used vehicle turnover increased by 2.1% and volume increased by 2.8% (UK increase 2.15%). The volume increase was diluted by a shift in mix which impacted on the average price of vehicles sold.
‘However, a strong focus on the use of technology and agile pricing resulted in an increase in gross profit margins of 9.6%. The result being an excellent used vehicle performance.’
