How to connect your AutoTrader account
ScanAuctions uses your AutoTrader Trade Portal account to look up retail valuations for every car it scans. This is how we calculate profit margins, AT ratings, and days-to-sell data. Connecting takes about 2 minutes.
Before you start
- Make sure you're logged into your ScanAuctions account at app.scanauctions.com
- Have your AutoTrader Trade Portal login details ready (email + password + 2FA)
- Use Google Chrome on a desktop computer (not your phone)
Step-by-step guide
Open the connection guide
In ScanAuctions, look at the top right corner of your dashboard. You'll see a row of platform indicators — small coloured dots showing which platforms are connected.
Click the AutoTrader indicator. If it's red, that means it's not connected yet. A dropdown will appear with a "Connect" button. Click it.
This opens the connection guide in a new tab with 3 simple steps to follow.
Log into AutoTrader Trade Portal
Open a new browser tab and go to portal.autotrader.co.uk. Log in with your dealer email and password.
If AutoTrader asks for a 2FA code (a verification code sent to your phone), enter it and complete the login. You need to be fully logged in before the next step.
Copy the connection script
Go back to the ScanAuctions connection guide tab. You'll see a box with some code in it. Click the "Copy" button to copy the script to your clipboard.
Paste the script in AutoTrader
Go to your AutoTrader Trade Portal tab. Now you need to open the browser console:
- • On Mac: Press
Cmd + Option + J - • On Windows: Press
Ctrl + Shift + J - • Or: Right-click anywhere on the page → click "Inspect" → click the "Console" tab
A panel will open at the bottom or side of your screen. Click inside the text area at the bottom of the console, then paste the script you copied (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V).
Press Enter to run the script.
allow pasting and press Enter, then paste the script again.Click any link on AutoTrader
After pasting the script, click any link on the AutoTrader page. For example, click on "Stock" or "Valuations" in the navigation menu.
This triggers an API request that the script intercepts to capture your session token. You should see a green success message appear, confirming the connection.
How long does the connection last?
Your AutoTrader connection lasts approximately 20 hours. After that, the status indicator will turn red and you'll need to reconnect using the same steps above.
This is because AutoTrader's session tokens expire regularly for security. Reconnecting takes less than a minute once you know the process.
Common problems
Nothing happens after pasting the script
Make sure you pressed Enter after pasting. Also make sure you clicked a link on the AutoTrader page afterwards — the script needs an API request to intercept.
I see a "CORS error" or the green message doesn't appear
Some browser extensions (like ad blockers) can interfere. Try disabling them temporarily, or use an Incognito/Private window. In Incognito, you'll need to log into AutoTrader again.
The status is still red after connecting
Try refreshing the ScanAuctions dashboard. If it's still red, the token may not have been captured. Try the process again from Step 1. If it keeps failing, email us at hello@scanauctions.com and we'll help you directly.
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