A change to the city’s purchasing policy resulted in increased business for a Lawrence car dealer on Tuesday.

City commissioners unanimously agreed to use a provision in the city’s purchasing policy that allows the city to buy from a local company even if its bid is slightly higher than an out-of-town firm’s.

The city agreed to purchase eight police cars for $175,929 from Lawrence-based Laird Noller Automotive. The bid was $216 higher than a bid from Shawnee Mission Ford. But since the local bid was within 1 percent of the low bid, commissioners had the option of keeping the business local.

It was the second time the city used the local preference clause since it was added to the city’s policy last year. The first time was for police car purchases in 2009.