Finding the right car: Vehicle Highlights and Auto Trader ad features explained

Figuring out whether a used car is fairly priced can be tricky, especially with so many similar options out there. Comparing them all takes time, but we’re here to help.
The Auto Trader team has packed its adverts with key features and insights, so you can easily compare prices, spot great deals, and find the right car with confidence.

Choosing the right car can feel overwhelming, with endless options to browse and a host of specs and features to compare.
Whether you need a car for daily commutes, long road trips, or weekend getaways, finding the perfect match shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. Which is where Vehicle Highlights comes in. Powered by AI, Vehicle Highlights analyses each car’s standout features and pinpoints what matters most to you, whether that’s advanced safety systems, premium technology, or fuel efficiency. Instead of scrolling through endless listings or keeping track of details manually, Vehicle Highlights makes your search simpler, helping you identify key features at a glance and make a more informed decision. By comparing thousands of similar cars based on factors like age, fuel type, body style, and engine size, Vehicle Highlights automatically identifies what makes a specific car stand out. This means you don’t have to dig through specifications to see why a car might be the right fit - AI does the work for you, surfacing the most relevant details. Developed by Auto Trader’s in-house team of over 400 data scientists and engineers, Vehicle Highlights can help you choose smarter, faster, and with confidence.

From price flags and dealer reviews, to our mileage indicator, we provide lots of information about how each car compares to similar cars on the market to help you save time, and hopefully, money.
Here we break down exactly what to look for in our adverts, so you can make an informed decision about the next car you buy.

Most of our adverts have at least a Basic Check which checks to see if the vehicle has been recorded as stolen, scrapped, imported, exported or written-off. Some dealers advertise cars with a full history check, carrying out 27 different checks against the car, including outstanding finance, plate changes, and mileage discrepancies. Learn more about vehicle history checks.

If you’ve ever bought a brand-new car for the first time, you’ll know it’s not a just simple case of choosing the make and model you want – there are many specifications to consider. This is where it gets down to the finer details and helps you choose between a car that ‘will do’ vs. ‘the perfect car’ that meets all your needs and more.
In general, vehicles with a higher spec often cost more as they’ll have higher performance spec, better quality interior and exterior, and the best in-market safety features. You can find details such as the performance figures, size and dimensions of the model within the advert itself so that you have to look elsewhere.

Extra features are often what makes a vehicle stand out from the rest. These are the optional extras the very first owner selected when the vehicle was built which often makes it more unique in comparison to others. Think bespoke interiors, luxury heated seats, built-in sat-navs, parking assistance and more.
These vehicles are often rated a ‘high price’ but are worth considering if these factors are important to you. As with most things - if you want something special, it usually has the price tag to go with it.

Our Price Indicator is a colour-coded system designed to help you quickly and easily compare the price of a car to similar cars for sale on the market.
We value each car daily to make sure our Price Indicators are a true reflection of current market prices. We then give each car a price rating based on how the seller’s asking price compares to our Auto Trader valuation.

We take the seller’s asking price and compare it to our Auto Trader valuation to determine if it’s a great, good, fair, low or high price.
Our Auto Trader valuations are calculated using a complex algorithm that takes into account millions of data points including a car’s make, model, age, mileage, specification and optional extras. We update our valuations daily, combining data from over half a million adverts on our site, over 3,500 dealer websites, plus the latest prices from major car auctions, ex-fleet and leasing cars. There are factors which are not included in our valuations because everyone’s car-buying needs are different. We highlight these elements in other areas of the advert because although they may not influence our valuations, they could be important to you. Factors that don't impact our valuations: • Vehicle location • Dealer reputation & service • Warranties • Service history • Number of owners • Vehicle condition

What are the different price ratings?

There are five price ratings ranging from Low to High. We suggest you pay particular attention to adverts with Low or High price labels as there is often more information to help you identify why this might be. Here’s a run-down of what each label means and what to look out for on the advert.
Great These cars are priced slightly below market compared to similar cars for sale. Good These cars are priced similar to the market price so you can be confident you won’t be overpaying. Fair These cars are priced slightly above market which means there may be other factors to consider e.g. warranties, full-service history, extra features etc which our valuations don’t take into account. This may justify why the sellers asking price is slightly higher so check the advert for this info. Low These cars are priced much lower than the market price which often suggests the seller is looking to sell the car quickly or there is a defect to consider. Information about this should be included in the adverts description so check the details carefully. High These cars are priced above market, so we recommend checking the advert for special features of this offer. It may have special equipment, be in exceedingly good condition, come with additional warranties and services, or come from a very reputable dealer.

Should I avoid ‘High Price’ cars?

High priced cars are not ones to ignore, in fact they may be the very best pick of what’s available in the market! You could pay less for a similar car, but it may not come with all the bells and whistles that you’re looking for. It all comes down to personal preference and what you’re willing to compromise on. Some people prefer to buy a car that's in an almost-new condition for example, whereas others may be willing to sacrifice that for a 3-year warranty providing ultimate peace of mind.

Most manufacturers have their own Approved Used scheme where vehicles have to pass a comprehensive check to be up to the manufacturer’s standards. It varies between brands but in general, it usually includes a history check, mechanical check, warranty and roadside assistance.
Due to the vehicle passing these rigorous checks, these vehicles are usually priced slightly above market but are definitely worth considering as they could cost you less in the long run.

Vehicles with full or part-service histories are in general worth more than a vehicle with no service history. This is because vehicles with a service history are often well looked after and therefore tend to last longer.

Number of previous owners can often have a big impact on the price of a car. For example, you can expect a car that’s had seven previous owners to cost a lot less than exactly the same car but with one previous owner. This information can often be found in the Overview and Description sections the advert.

Understanding the costs of a car is essential for making an informed purchase, and our Running Costs tool helps you estimate key expenses like insurance, tax, and fuel before you buy the car. Available on adverts on Auto Trader, the Running Costs feature can include:
• Insurance costs. These vary depending on the car’s insurance group, which ranges from 1 to 50 based on factors such as size, value, and repair costs. The higher the group, the more expensive the insurance. You can also compare quotes directly to get the best deal. • Car tax. This is calculated based on the vehicle’s first registration date, fuel type, and CO₂ emissions. Diesel cars generally incur higher tax costs than petrol models, while hybrids and electric vehicles benefit from lower rates due to their reduced emissions. If the list price of a car exceeds £40,000, an additional £410 is payable from the second year for up to five years. • Fuel efficiency. This is another crucial factor, with miles per gallon (MPG) figures provided for urban driving (towns and cities), extra-urban (A-roads and mixed driving), and overall combined MPG. These figures offer a useful benchmark but remember it’ll vary based on driving habits and conditions. The data displayed reflects the usual specifications of the latest model and may differ for older versions. Always check with the seller for precise details before purchasing.

As you can see, there’s many factors to consider but ultimately, it’s all down to what’s important to you. Our job is to help you find the information you’re looking for, so you can find the perfect car, faster.
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