Redesign or rebuild: deciding for a heavy truck dealership group website

The verdict in three sentences

If used stock is re-keyed by hand and the 2017 WordPress install no longer takes updates, a redesign only repaints the problem: you need a new site fed by your DMS stock feed. In 2026, agencies charge £7,000 to £13,000 (CAD 12,000 to 22,000) for a redesign and £15,000 to £30,000 (CAD 26,000 to 50,000) for a rebuild with a stock feed, over 6 to 10 weeks. The decision rests on 8 measurable criteria, and the heaviest is the time spent publishing 140 used vehicles.

The starting point: a 2017 site against live stock

A truck and van dealership in the West Midlands or the Greater Toronto Area sells new units, used units, aftersales and maintenance contracts. Its 2017 WordPress site predates the shift to mobile among hauliers: an owner-operator in Wolverhampton or Mississauga checks stock on a phone between runs. Used vehicle listings are typed by hand, photos are patchy and sold units stay online for weeks.

Three lead streams matter: enquiries on a used tractor unit or rigid, workshop bookings, and requests for repair and maintenance contracts or contract hire. The last two are recurring and often more profitable than the sale itself.

An 8-criteria decision matrix

Score each criterion from 1 to 5 for your situation. Above 28 points in the "rebuild" column, a redesign will not hold.

In the typical case described here, 6 of 8 criteria point to a rebuild. A redesign still makes sense with low stock and a site that already ranks for "truck dealer Birmingham" or "used trucks Toronto".

What each option costs in 2026

Kolonell quotes in EUR. The DMS connector depends on the vendor: some provide a daily XML or CSV export, others a paid API. That part is quoted after reading the technical documentation.

What a rebuild changes for the workshop

Aftersales is often underused online. Slot-based booking for services, MOT or annual safety inspections, tachograph calibration and tyres cuts counter calls and fills gaps in the schedule. A maintenance contract form asking for annual mileage and fleet size qualifies fleets of 5 to 50 trucks, which carry the dealership's recurring revenue.

Mini case study

David, general manager of a truck and van dealership in Birmingham, lists 140 used vehicles. Each listing takes 25 minutes to enter and update by hand, with roughly 35 units rotating each month: 35 × 25 = 875 minutes, about 14.5 hours a month. A DMS feed cuts that to 5 minutes per listing for photos and sales copy: 35 × 5 = 175 minutes, about 3 hours. The saving is 11.5 hours a month, 138 hours a year, or £4,830 at a loaded £35 an hour. If the site also wins 2 fleet maintenance contracts a year at £5,000 margin each, the total gain reaches £14,830 a year, against roughly €10,000 for a medium app and Standard maintenance in year one.

FAQ

Can a redesign pull stock from the DMS?

Technically yes, through a plugin, but on a 2017 WordPress install the conflict risk is high. Above 50 rotating units, a dedicated build is more reliable and loads faster.

How long does a dealership rebuild take?

Plan on 8 to 10 weeks with the stock feed, including 1 to 2 weeks to get technical access from the DMS vendor. A redesign without a feed takes 5 to 8 weeks.

Will we lose our rankings by switching sites?

Not if 301 redirects are prepared. Map the 50 to 200 existing URLs and redirect each one to its new page before launch.

Should we keep listing marketplaces?

Yes, they still bring national reach. Your own site captures leads without fees and keeps customer data, which matters for maintenance contracts.

Can the site handle several depots?

Yes, with a page per depot and a stock filter by location. For 2 to 4 depots, the budget impact is moderate and is confirmed in the quote.

Let's scope your project. Send us your DMS name, stock volume and workshop priorities, and within 48 h we will tell you whether a redesign is enough or a rebuild is needed, with a 6 to 10 week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.