BRITISH Car Auctions has reported that new year trading conditions have continued as strongly as the end of last year, and has urged fleets to remember basic principles in order to keep the positive sales climate going.

BCA customer affairs director Tom Madden said: 'The typical three to five-year-old fleet market is performing strongly, with our branded corporate sales programme seeing conversion rates between 85 and 90%, and price performance averaging above guide figures.'

He added: 'There has been a tangible air of enthusiasm since the turn of the year with well attended sales and some exceptional values achieved across a broad range of stock.

'Providing the right stock is put before the right buyers in volume, the strong residuals surely follow.'

However, Madden warned against complacency.

He said: 'Vendors will do well to remember the mantra of 'Condition, History, Age, Mileage and Preparation — that's CHAMP for short — when remarketing their vehicles.' Madden was equally bullish about future business.

He added: 'Experience of recent years tells us that with a very buoyant start to the year and the March registration plate change generating some healthy part-exchange business, there is every reason to expect a successful first quarter.

'At the back end of the second quarter, we should see the new '51' numberplates appearing in the used market in reasonable volumes, which may well have an invigorating effect on used values.'

Sales of ex-Lombard cars at BCA Derby, Nottingham and Newport (above) raised more than £2,500 for two charities. Lombard donated money for each car sold to Focus, which helps blind people in the Birmingham area, and to the special needs unit of Alway Junior School in Newport. More than 800 cars were offered. BCA's business development manager Carol Stevens said: 'The Lombard sales generate a great deal of demand as buyers know they will be presented with a first rate selection of vehicles.' Strong sellers included: a 97R Audi A6 1.8T with 102,922 miles which sold for £6,100 (119% of CAP clean), a 98R Mercedes-Benz E240 Avantgarde with 22,818 miles which sold for £17,300 (119%) and a 98S Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5 with 69,322 miles which sold for £8,200 (128%).