RAC Approved Network has targeted the addition of a further 100 dealers by the end of 2017, bringing the total to 370.

The used car programme expects to sell 35,000 cars in total this year and Sean Kent, director, corporate and independent dealers at The Warranty Group, the RAC’s partner in the dealer sector, believes the growth will cement the business as “The most comprehensive offering of its kind”.

Kent said: “We expect the BuySure approach to fit well with the mood of the 2017 car market and therefore, for interest to grow further.

“Against a general economic outlook that is more downbeat, we believe that more and more consumers will be looking for a used car purchase that, as far as possible, minimises the risk of unexpected expense.

“Similarly, we believe that there will be growing interest from a growing number of dealers seeking a way of differentiating themselves from their competitors in what is likely to be a more competitive used car sector.

“Association with the RAC, among the most trusted of all UK brands, is an ideal way of doing this.”

Recruitment to the RAC Approved Dealer Network will be aided by a recent increase in the number of agents promoting the initiative.

At the end of 2016, 14 were added, bringing the total to 50.

Kent said: “With the enlarged agent network and the considerable national footprint of the scheme, we are very positive about where we will be in a year’s time.”