BRITISH Car Auctions has seen demand for its Auction View live auction price service rocket as fleet managers attempt to keep track of volatile used car prices.

The internet-based service, named Best Online Fleet Initiatives in the 2001 Fleet News Awards, provides real-time auction values for vehicles passing through its sites along with a comparison against figures from CAP Black Book and Glass's Guide.

Tom Madden, BCA's customers affairs director, said: 'This represents a huge business benefit for vendors, allowing them to accurately assess the value of their stock at sale time.

'Accurate valuations ensure that vehicles enter the market in line with current sentiment and – when properly prepared – have every opportunity to sell the first time they are offered.'

Fleet NewsNet reported last week that residual values were in turmoil as auctioneers were stretched by a tug of war between vendors and purchasers.

Madden added: 'The good news for company car operators is that it is their own cars that are in demand. Used car buyers want a high specification and they want fashionable, trendy cars, preferably low-mileage examples from a good home. And this is where the company car operator has the upper hand, by providing the marketplace with desirable cars in good colours at sensible mileages and ages, complete with the latest safety equipment and an 'above-base' specification.'