Parkers Car Guides
A United Kingdom automotive information brand covering car prices, valuations, reviews and buying advice.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Parkers Car Guides is a United Kingdom automotive information brand focused on vehicle pricing, valuations, reviews and advice for people buying, selling or researching cars. Its principal digital destination, Parkers.co.uk, provides information on new and used cars, including price lists, valuation tools, reviews and buying guidance. The brand is particularly associated with helping consumers estimate the market value of vehicles and compare models in the British automotive market. The business began as a printed car-price publication in 1972. The first issue of the Parkers Car Price Guide appeared in March of that year and cost 20 pence. The publication developed from a specialist price guide into a broader consumer automotive reference, adding visual improvements and eventually covering road tests, buying guides and finance-related information. Its print history also included Parker's Car Chooser Magazine and the older-car reference known as Parkers Plus. The brand's ownership and distribution structure changed during the 1990s and 2000s. Emap acquired Parker's portfolio from Parker Mead in 1997, after which the website was launched in the late 1990s. Bauer Media Group subsequently acquired Emap's media division in 2008, bringing the Parkers title into Bauer's consumer-media portfolio. The operation moved from London to Peterborough in 2003. Parkers increasingly shifted from print to digital services. The Parkers.co.uk website, launched in the late 1990s, became the central platform for vehicle research and valuation information. The monthly magazine ended in January 2020, allowing the brand to concentrate on its website and continue developing its valuation tools. The digital offering has remained centered on practical consumer information rather than vehicle manufacturing, dealership retailing or ownership of automotive products. Editorially, the portfolio has included passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles such as vans and pickups. Keith Adams has edited the portfolio since 2016, while Luke Wilkinson has served as deputy editor and Tom Webster has headed the commercial-vehicle section according to the cited reference material. Parkers is published within Bauer Media Group and is best understood as an automotive publishing and information brand rather than a standalone vehicle company.
History
Parkers Car Guides originated as a printed automotive pricing reference founded in 1972. The first issue of the Parkers Car Price Guide was released in March 1972 at a price of 20 pence. During its early development, the publication introduced full-colour front pages in 1973 and gradually expanded beyond basic price listings. Its role was to provide consumers with a structured reference for assessing vehicle prices in a market where reliable used-car information was difficult to obtain. The brand later developed a wider portfolio of automotive publications. In 1998 it introduced Parker's Car Chooser Magazine, which continued until 2006. The older-car title Parkers Plus was merged with the main Parkers Car Price Guide in 2002. The publication also adopted red spot colour in 2003 and moved from London to Peterborough during the same year. In 2005, the car-price guides became fully illustrated in colour, strengthening their presentation as consumer magazines rather than purely tabular references. Ownership changed in the late 1990s. Emap purchased Parker's portfolio from Parker Mead in 1997, and the last edition carrying the Parker Mead association appeared in August of that year. A website was launched in the late 1990s, with Parkers.co.uk becoming the digital counterpart to the print guide. The online service allowed the brand to extend its pricing and review content beyond the limits of a monthly publication. Bauer Media Group acquired Emap's media division in 2008, including Parker's Car Price Guide. The brand continued to operate as part of Bauer's consumer-media activities. In 2011, the apostrophe was dropped from the public-facing name, resulting in the Parkers branding used for the online service and later publishing activity. During the 2010s, Parkers broadened its editorial and advisory scope. A bespoke car-finance advice section was added in 2015, with Chris Lloyd associated with its development. In 2016, Keith Adams replaced Kieren Puffett as editor. The monthly magazine was revamped in 2017 to include road tests, buying guides and content with a stronger focus on deals and consumer decisions. The portfolio also covered commercial vehicles, including vans and pickups. The final major transition was from print to digital. The monthly Parkers Car Price Guide ceased publication in January 2020 after nearly five decades as a periodical. The brand instead concentrated on Parkers.co.uk, its vehicle valuation tools, reviews, price information and online buying guidance. Parkers is therefore best characterized today as a digital automotive information and valuation brand with roots in a long-running United Kingdom print reference publication.
- 2020
Monthly print publication ceases
[1]The monthly Parkers Car Price Guide ended in January as the brand focused on its online services.
- 2017
Monthly magazine receives editorial revamp
[1]The magazine added road tests, buying guides and more deals-focused material.
- 2016
Keith Adams becomes editor
[1]Keith Adams replaced Kieren Puffett as editor of the portfolio.
- 2015
Finance advice section added
[1]The portfolio added a bespoke car-finance advice section.
- 2011
Brand drops the apostrophe
[1]The public-facing name was rebranded from Parker's to Parkers.
- 2008
Bauer Media Group acquires the Emap media division
[1]The acquisition placed Parker's Car Price Guide within Bauer's media portfolio.
- 2006
Parker's Car Chooser Magazine ends
[1]The summer 2006 issue was the final edition of the car-chooser magazine.
- 2005
Car guides become fully illustrated in colour
[1]The print guides adopted full-colour imagery.
- 2003
Relocation to Peterborough
[1]The company moved from London to Peterborough, and Steve Rose became editor.
- 2002
Main and older-car guides merge
[1]The Parkers Car Price Guide and Parkers Older Car Price Guide, also known as Parkers Plus, were combined.
Products and positioning
Practical, consumer-oriented automotive information for the United Kingdom, combining vehicle pricing and valuations with reviews, buying advice and research tools.
Automotive information website · 1999
Parkers.co.uk
The brand's primary digital platform provides United Kingdom-focused information for researching new and used vehicles. Its coverage combines vehicle reviews, price lists, valuation information and buying advice. The website succeeded the print guide as the central expression of the brand and is designed as a research resource for consumers comparing cars or assessing the likely value of a vehicle.
Print and digital vehicle valuation guide · 1972
Parkers Car Price Guide
The original Parkers product was a recurring reference guide for vehicle prices and valuations. It became one of the brand's defining offerings and developed into a broader automotive publication containing consumer-focused information. The monthly print edition ran from 1972 until January 2020, after which the brand concentrated on online valuation and pricing services.
Car-buying magazine · 1998
Parker's Car Chooser Magazine
Parker's Car Chooser Magazine was a related consumer publication intended to support vehicle selection and purchase research. It began with a winter 1998 edition and continued until its final edition in summer 2006.
Older-car price guide
Parkers Plus
Parkers Plus was the brand's older-car reference guide. It addressed pricing and valuation information for older vehicles and was merged with the main Parkers Car Price Guide in 2002.
Automotive editorial content
Parkers vehicle reviews and buying guides
The editorial offering includes reviews and buying guidance for new and used cars, with content intended to help consumers assess vehicle strengths, prices and purchase considerations. The print magazine was expanded in 2017 with road tests and more deals-specific content, while the current emphasis is digital.
Van and pickup information
Parkers commercial vehicle coverage
Parkers also covers commercial vehicles, particularly vans and pickups. This section extends the brand's pricing, review and buying-information model beyond passenger cars and is headed editorially by Tom Webster according to the cited reference.
Brand decisions
2020
Shift from monthly print to digital servicesStrategyBackground
After nearly five decades as a monthly print publication, the brand increasingly operated through its online platform.
Action taken
The monthly Parkers Car Price Guide ceased publication in January 2020, with attention redirected to Parkers.co.uk and its valuation tools.
Aftermath
Parkers continued as a digital automotive research and valuation brand rather than a monthly print magazine.
2011
Removal of the apostrophe from the brand nameStrategyBackground
The long-established Parker's name was adapted for the brand's later public-facing identity.
Action taken
The brand was rebranded as Parkers without an apostrophe.
Aftermath
Parkers became the principal styling associated with the website and subsequent digital activity.
2008
Transfer of Parkers to Bauer Media GroupM&ABackground
Parkers was part of Emap's media division when Bauer Media Group acquired that division.
Action taken
Bauer Media Group acquired the media division and took Parkers into its consumer-media portfolio.
Aftermath
The brand continued under Bauer ownership and later developed its digital automotive information focus.
Recent events
- 2020
Parkers print magazine ends publication[1]
Other
The monthly Parkers Car Price Guide ceased publication in January as the brand concentrated on its website and valuation tools.
- 2008
Bauer Media Group acquires Emap media division[1]
M&A
Bauer Media Group acquired Emap's media division, including Parker's Car Price Guide.
- 1999
Parkers website launches[1]
Product launch
The Parkers.co.uk website became the brand's digital platform for vehicle prices, reviews and related consumer research.
- 1997
Emap acquires Parker's portfolio[1]
M&A
Emap bought the Parker's portfolio from Parker Mead, with the final Parker Mead edition appearing in August 1997.
- 1972
Parker's Car Price Guide begins publication[1]
Other
The first issue of the monthly car-price guide was published in March, establishing the brand as a printed automotive valuation reference.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/parkers-car-guides · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled