One of the UK’s leading online car retailers has opened its first customer centre in Essex.

The new collection and drop-off location at Lakeside, in Thurrock, is the 20th site built by Cazoo in only 15 months.

The site in Lakeside was acquired earlier this year and Cazoo says it has spent £1m on setting up a base there.

A total of 20 new jobs, which range from customer-facing and vehicle-servicing, have been created.

Cazoo says the new site will provide customers with the added option of collecting cars they purchase online from. or dropping off cars they sell online.

Cazoo has been one of the fastest growing businesses in Europe, with consumers embracing the convenience of buying and selling used cars entirely online.

The company is planning to open a further 12 Customer Centres across the UK over the next year.

Cazoo owns and fully reconditions all of the cars it sells before offering them online for either home delivery or collection in as little as 72 hours.

It also buys cars directly from consumers, offering a guaranteed price with the option of either home pickup or drop-off at one of its locations and same day transfer of funds. Alex Chesterman, founder and CEO of Cazoo said, “Consumers across the UK are increasingly embracing the proposition of buying and selling cars entirely online, given the better selection, value, transparency and convenience.

“Our customer centres further enhance that proposition by giving customers the option of collecting a car they buy from us or dropping off a car they sell to us if they prefer.

“And these sites allow us to better serve our customers with our own service centres.

“We’re excited to be opening in Lakeside as we continue our mission to provide the best car buying and selling experience to consumers across the UK.”