Trader Media Group’s (TMG) Van Trader and Truck Trader – the no 1 destination for new and used commercial vehicles and sister websites to Auto Trader – have experienced a massive increase in website traffic and manufacturer advertising and are set to take a larger stake of the commercial vehicle insurance market, through an exclusive partnership with the Budget Group of Companies, the UK’s third largest independent personal lines intermediary.

Over the last 9 months, searches for commercial vehicles have more than doubled from 629,943 in June 2004 to 1.35 million in April 2005*. The magazine, Truck and Plant Trader has increased its circulation by nearly 3% over last year and now has a current circulation of 19,758 (ABC Jan – Dec 04).

Strong growth in light CV registrations, up by 8.2% and truck registrations up by 12.8% in April 2005, signals huge potential for Van Trader and Truck Trader. (*Source: TMG May 2005).

Manufacturer advertising has been secured with Mercedes Vans, Nissan and Peugeot, all of which are running banner advertising, until the end of June. Manufacturer advertising on the Van Trader and Truck Trader website has more than doubled over the last 12 months.

Van Trader and Truck Trader’s new partnership with Budget Insurance will provide the market with one of the most comprehensive instant online quote and buy insurance services online, for commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Van Trader and Truck Trader’s new insurance facility checks for the best quotes from Budget’s panel of 11 leading insurers. Promoted across the Van, Truck and Car home and insurance pages, the insurance quote and buy facility will receive exposure to around 8 million monthly page impressions.

Visitors who are looking for an insurance quote for a commercial vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, simply call 0800 197 3942 and they will receive an instant quote and the option to buy insurance over the phone.

Jason Biffin, Head of e-commerce at TMG, commented: “We are delighted with the growing success of Van Trader and Truck Trader and we are looking to increase our share of the commercial vehicle market over the next 12 months, through an aggressive investment and innovation strategy.

“We have built the largest audience of commercial vehicle buyers in the UK and we offer dealers and manufacturers cost effective and measurable routes to market. Our partnership with Budget will help us grow our share of the commercial vehicle insurance business and strong growth in commercial vehicle registrations provides excellent market opportunities for us.”

TMG is one of Europe’s largest specialist multi media groups, publishing over 70 titles including Auto Trader, Top Marques, Bike Trader, Motorhome & Caravan Trader, Auto Freeway, Buy a Boat and Boats & Yachts, all of which have associated websites. TMG has developed its titles as the channels of choice for the buying and selling of a range of motoring, leisure and commercial products and services. Built on a combination of local targeting and comprehensive national coverage, TMG’s titles can be accessed via magazines, websites, Digital TV and WAP components.

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For further information, please contact:
Karen Hughes/Kathryn Coury
The Drum Consultancy
Tel: 020 7025 8044
Fax: 020 7025 8100

Notes to Editor

• TMG publishes over 70 titles every week with a combined circulation of one million
• Employing 4,000 people in 40 locations in the UK, Southern Ireland, Holland, Italy and South Africa, TMG operates 40 sites in the UK and internationally
• RECORD SUCCESS FOR AUTO TRADER: In April 2005, Auto Trader’s website attracted 4,235,114* unique users, an all time record month, representing a 65% increase on April 2004, which recorded 2,781,602**. Users also generated 45,437,592 vehicle searches across 300,000 vehicles and 218,794,464 page impressions in April 2005. (*Source: Auto Trader, May 2005). (**Source: Auto Trader, May 2004)
• The Auto Trader magazine attracts over 1.8 million motorists every week and is published through 13 regional editions, with a total weekly circulation of 317,415 (Jul-Dec 04)