British family transforms former car dealership into unexpected home
Published on Feb 19, 2026 at 2:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Feb 19, 2026 at 2:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A British family has converted a long-vacant car dealership into a family home after taking on a full home conversion and property renovation.
The car dealership had sat unused for more than 10 years before the purchase.
When work began, the building still reflected its commercial past in both layout and condition.
Turning it into a livable space required a practical approach as opposed to a dramatic reinvention.
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From car dealership to family home
The family purchased the car dealership for £330,000 while it was still classed as a commercial property.
That status affected the buying process, adding time through additional legal and lending requirements.
Once the sale was completed, the home conversion moved ahead without major changes to the original structure.
As part of the property renovation, most of the interior was removed to allow the space to function as a residence.
The upper level was rebuilt and now includes five bedrooms, laid out in a way that suits everyday family use rather than the building’s original purpose.
The former forecourt remains a defining feature of the site – designed to display vehicles, the space now sits within the boundary of the family home.
Its size is unusual for a residential property and serves as a reminder of just how big car dealerships can be.
So far, the home conversion has cost around £90,000. Total property renovation spending is expected to remain below £200,000.
Comparable five-bedroom homes in the area typically sell for considerably more, leading the family to estimate savings of around £230,000 through the conversion of the car dealership.
When car dealerships find a second life
This is not the first time a disused car dealership has been given a new purpose.
Across the UK, former showroom sites and service centers are being reused in ways that reflect changing attitudes toward space and car culture.
Some are becoming homes, while others are staying closer to their automotive roots.
One recent example involved a man who bought an abandoned Saab dealership and began restoring it as a private garage rather than a residence.
Instead of stripping the building of its history, the project focused on retaining key features of the original dealership while adapting it for personal use.
The goal was to create a space that could house cars, tools, and social areas under one roof.
That approach highlights how flexible these buildings can be once they leave the commercial market.
A car dealership offers wide floor plans, strong structures, and layouts that work just as well for storage and workshops as they do for living space.
In both cases, the appeal comes from working with what is already there rather than starting again.
Whether converted into a family home or reimagined as a private garage, these projects show how former car dealerships continue to find relevance long after their original purpose has ended.
The buildings remain tied to car culture, even as the way they are used continues to shift.
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Callum has vast and varied experience, presenting a radio show and founding his own magazine to name just a couple of his accolades. In addition to his role as PR & Partnerships Coordinator, liaising with the most prestigious car brands in the world, Callum also heads up the website’s daily news. When he's not at his desk he can be found testing out the ASMR and driving UX of the latest supercar and EV launches.
