Website Compliance for Motor Dealers: A Practical FCA Guide

Why Website Compliance Matters

Many dealerships focus on FCA authorisation, regulatory reporting and finance processes but pay less attention to website content.

However, customers often form their first impression of a business through its website.

Information relating to finance, complaints, FCA status, commission disclosure and customer support should be clear, accurate and consistent.

Website content should also remain aligned with how the dealership actually operates.

As businesses grow, change finance providers, update processes or amend permissions, website wording can quickly become outdated if it is not reviewed regularly.

FCA Website Requirements for Motor Dealers

The FCA does not provide a single website template for motor dealers.

However, firms should ensure that website content is accurate, fair and not misleading.

Website reviews should consider:

• FCA status disclosures
• Finance wording
• Credit broking disclosures
• Commission disclosure
• Financial promotions
• Complaints information
• Consumer Duty considerations
• Vulnerable customer information

A website should accurately reflect the dealership's activities and customer journey.

FCA Status Disclosures

Motor dealers should review how their FCA status is described on their website.

Information should be consistent with:

• The firm's FCA permissions
• The FCA Register
• Trading names
• The dealership's role within the finance process

Customers should not be left uncertain about whether a business is authorised, what activities it carries out or how it participates in vehicle finance transactions.

Website footer wording should also be reviewed periodically, particularly following website redesigns or changes to business structure.

Finance and Credit Broking Wording

Finance wording is one of the most important areas of website compliance for motor dealers.

Customers should be able to understand:

• The dealership's role
• Whether the business acts as a credit broker
• Whether finance introductions are provided
• How finance applications are handled

Where a dealership acts as a credit broker, website wording should not imply that the dealership is the lender.

Clear explanations can help improve customer understanding and reduce misunderstandings during the finance journey.

Commission Disclosure

Many FCA-authorised motor dealers receive commission in connection with finance introductions.

Website content should be reviewed to ensure that any commission disclosure wording is:

• Clear
• Consistent
• Appropriate to the firm's arrangements
• Consistent with customer communications

Commission wording should not be left hidden within old templates or forgotten pages that no longer reflect how the business operates.

Financial Promotions and Marketing Claims

Financial promotions are an important part of website compliance.

Motor dealers should review claims relating to:

• Vehicle finance
• Monthly payments
• Interest rates
• Eligibility
• Approval processes
• Promotional offers

Marketing statements should be clear and capable of being understood by customers.

Dealerships should avoid wording that could create a misleading impression about finance availability, approval likelihood or customer eligibility.

Complaints Information

Customers should be able to find information explaining how complaints can be raised.

The website should provide clear information about:

• How customers can complain
• Contact methods
• The dealership's complaints process

Complaints information should be consistent with the firm's internal complaints procedures.

Consumer Duty and Website Compliance

Consumer Duty has increased the importance of customer understanding.

Motor dealers should consider whether website content helps customers understand:

• The dealership's role
• Finance arrangements
• Optional products
• Customer choices
• Available support

Website wording should support informed decision-making rather than simply satisfying disclosure requirements.

Vulnerable Customer Information

Many dealerships now include information explaining how additional support can be requested.

Vulnerable customer information should be:

• Easy to locate
• Written in plain English
• Consistent with dealership procedures
• Relevant to customer needs

The objective is to help customers understand what support may be available if they need additional assistance.

Common Website Compliance Mistakes

Some of the most common issues include:

• Outdated FCA disclosures
• Incorrect trading names
• Old lender references
• Missing complaints information
• Inconsistent commission wording
• Misleading finance claims
• Outdated finance examples
• Website content that no longer reflects current business activities

Regular reviews can help identify these issues before they become larger compliance concerns.

Motor Dealer Website Compliance Checklist

Motor dealers should regularly review:

• FCA status wording
• FCA reference number
• Trading names
• Credit broking disclosures
• Finance wording
• Commission disclosures
• Complaints information
• Vulnerable customer information
• Financial promotions
• Representative finance examples
• Contact information
• Privacy notices

Maintaining a simple website review process can help keep information accurate and consistent.

Website Compliance Before FCA Authorisation

Website reviews are particularly important before submitting an FCA application.

The FCA may review public-facing information during the application process.

Businesses should ensure that website wording is consistent with:

• Planned permissions
• Business activities
• Customer journeys
• Application information
• Supporting documentation

Consistency can help reduce unnecessary questions during the authorisation process.