RAC Dealer Network expects to have 1,300 members by the end of 2017 after experiencing double-digit growth through the year. 

The business expects to see a 12% increase in used car and van sales and a further 80 to 90 dealers added to its network by the end of this year.

RAC Dealer Networks’ sales director Sean Kent (pictured) said: “We continue to recruit dealers to the network, albeit at a very deliberate pace to ensure that we only work with those that meet a level of commitment to customer service that is commensurate with the RAC brand.

“We will continue to add more but certainly not at the expense of quality.”

However, he added that 2018 was expected to be a more difficult year in the used car sector, with money among buyers likely to be tighter.

Against this backdrop, he expected the level of trust placed in the brand would be crucial to the performance of the network.

Kent said: “It is quite difficult to know what next year will bring in the used car and van sectors but our research shows that the brand plays a crucial role in bringing buyers into our dealers.

"At a point in time when they are likely to be looking for reassurance, that confidence will be crucial to the network’s ongoing success.”