Data from Experian Hitwise shows the leading motor retail groups in the AM100 continue to have the most visited dealer websites.

It'll be little surprise to industry observers, given that the major groups have the IT and digital infrastructure and spend that matches their scale, however aggressive independents also feature strongly.

In the March plate-change month Arnold Clark ranked most visited, with 5.7% of all automotive dealership visits.

Pendragon’s Evans Halshaw brand ranked third with 4.02%. Pendragon has a stated aim of becoming the UK’s number one online motor retailer, so Arnold Clark looks set to have a fight looming.

Vertu Motors’ Bristol Street Motors brand captured a 2.1% share, Perrys took 1.7%, while Lookers and Sytner Group both took 1.5%.

Franchised dealers continue to face competition online from large independent chains, with Carcraft taking 4.97%, Motorpoint 2.5%, Buyacar 2.2% and Cargiant 2.1%.