The AA will further grow its dealer proposition after completing the purchase of used car portal VCars.

The acquisition comes four years after the companies began a commercial partnership under the banner of AA Cars and will see dealers gain more immediate access to the AA's 13 million customers as it offically moves on to The AA's web domain.

Simon Benson, of AA Cars, said: “After more than four rewarding years of working closely with Vcars, we’re delighted to be bringing AA Cars fully into the fold.

"This not only gives our dealers the opportunity to benefit from the AA’s unparalleled online visibility but also a chance to build on the unique initiatives that only dealers using our site currently benefit from - such as free breakdown cover for the first 12 months, pre-sale vehicle inspections and a history check on every listed car.

“More of the customer’s car buying journey takes place online - we think it’s a very exciting time to be offering a complete toolkit for dealers looking to take advantage of this shift in purchasing habits.” 

Paul Davis, former CEO of Vcars who will continue to work with AA Cars, added: “We have had a fruitful partnership with the AA over the past few years.

"Our association with the AA has been a significant endorsement of the work that we’ve put into the development of the business.

“But now is the right time for the business to be fully integrated into the AA and I am happy to help them on this journey."