The Vehicle Remarketing Association will convene members on March 26 at Cox Automotive’s Bruntingthorpe site to examine how an ageing vehicle parc and more remote transactions are increasing the need for consistent, accurate used-vehicle grading. The meeting, run with the Car Remarketing Association of Europe (CARA), will focus on how evolving standards affect pricing, transparency, and buyer confidence in a market where more stock is bought sight unseen.
Event details
Date: Thursday, March 26 • Location: Cox Automotive, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire • Host: VRA in partnership with CARA.
Speakers and agenda highlights
- Gavin Shone (Openlane): The future of vehicle grading.
- Connor O’Boyle (TradeBid): U.S. grading experience and lessons learned.
- Panel: Stuart Coppard (Manheim) and Stuart Pearson (BCA) on operational realities in high-volume remarketing.
- Market briefings: Jon Taylor and Abi McCabe (Autorola UK) on new/used car sectors; Emily Morgan (cap hpi) on vans.
Why grading matters now
Grading is the common language for vehicle condition—covering cosmetic wear, structural issues, and increasingly ADAS/safety system status. As older vehicles make up a larger share of inventory and more deals happen remotely, trusted and consistently applied grades are essential to pricing, reserve setting, transport and reconditioning decisions, and risk management.
Standards are evolving on two fronts
- Capture: Moving beyond checklists to clearer imaging, standardized digital reports, and workflows that reduce subjectivity—critical for remote transactions.
- Scope: Expanding beyond visible damage to include electronics health and cost-to-cure items that influence refurbishment time and margins, especially with older stock.
Cross-market insights
The U.S. perspective will inform how to balance detail with usability in online marketplaces. Any shift toward more nuanced grading will affect auction houses, inspection vendors, fleets, finance firms, and retailers relying on condition data.
Market context: cars and vans
Updates from Autorola UK and cap hpi will frame supply-demand dynamics and age profiles shaping auction stock. For vans, duty cycles and equipment needs require grading that accounts for work-related wear.
European alignment and access
The CARA collaboration aims to reduce cross-border inconsistencies, broaden buyer pools, and improve comparability. A key theme is ensuring wider access to high-quality condition data—improving depth while preserving clarity and usability at scale.
Expected outcomes
- Clearer guidance on technology and reporting practices that enhance consistency.
- Better calibration of grades to refurbishment costs and time-to-retail.
- Reduced arbitration and faster decisions for retailers, traders, and finance providers—ultimately improving consumer outcomes.
The session is one of the first visible outputs of VRA’s formal tie-up with CARA and is expected to help set the tone for U.K. grading practices through the rest of the year.
