Using an auto broker can save you time and effort when looking for a new or used vehicle. Alternately known as car brokers, motor brokers, or a car-buying service, auto brokers search for a vehicle for you and work with dealerships to get you the best deal possible. While these type of services usually cost a fee, the time and headache auto brokers can save you may be well worth the cost.
Method 1 of 1: Choosing an Auto Broker
Materials Needed
- Cell phone
- Computer or laptop
- Paper and pencil
Once you have decided to use the services of an auto broker, you must choose the best one for your needs. Whether you decide to use a broker service offered through your auto club, an individual service, or one that operates through a dealership, learning what you can about each service can help you make an informed decision when it comes time to find your next vehicle.
Step 1: Look for a broker. Check out the different brokers available in your area. You should also compare what services each alternative offers and if they are working for you or a dealership. Some of the different types of auto brokers include:
Individual car brokers: These type of brokers are most often former car dealers and work out of a small office, or even a home office, and have a small staff. These types of brokers are customer driven and usually charge a flat fee for their services.
Wholesale or auto club broker services are offered through services such as AAA or through discount clubs such as Costco or Sam's Club. These type of brokers usually offer their services to club members for free or a very low price.
Dealership-related brokers work with auto dealerships and receive compensation for their services. You should be cautious when hiring this type of broker, as they may not have the customer's best interests at heart since they are trying to make money for the dealership.
Tip: Look for auto brokers who only work for a flat fee that is agreed upon before you make a purchase. That way the broker only gets paid once they find you a deal on the car you want. This also prevents the broker from driving up the fee if they place you in a more expensive car.
Step 2: Evaluate the broker. Before hiring an auto broker to find you a vehicle, you should find out more about them and how they work. Some questions to ask include:
- Are they licensed to legally sell cars in your state?
- How do they find deals on cars?
- What is their background?
- Do they receive money from dealerships or carmakers for their services?
How much does it cost to use their services?
Tip: You should also ask if the auto broker can deliver your new or used vehicle to your home or office as an added convenience. This saves you the cost and time it takes when needing to pick the vehicle up from the broker and is a service that some car-buying services offer.
Step 3: Look for feedback. Check out any customer feedback, ratings, or comments about the broker. This should give you a good idea as to how customer-oriented they are and if they know what they are doing when it comes to finding the best deals.
Check out the websites of the various services you are thinking of using and make sure you understand what they offer and how they go about the business of finding a vehicle at the price you want. Some of the best auto broker services include American Auto Brokers, Elite Auto Brokers, and CarsDirect, among other auto broker sites.
- Tip: When choosing an auto broker to help you in the purchase of your next vehicle, make sure that they deal in the type of car that you seek. Some brokers deal exclusively in new or luxury vehicles and won't be much help when looking for a used car.
Step 4: Compare prices. To ensure that you are getting the best price from the auto broker, do a little research on your own. One way to do this is to check out the prices on the vehicle year, make, and model you are interested in at dealerships in your area. This should give you something to compare against the prices the auto broker gives you.
You can check out sites like Edmunds.com, Kelly Blue Book, and AutoTrader, among other valuation sites.
Most often, an auto broker can save you time spent looking for a new or used vehicle. In addition to the money savings they can also generate for you by finding the best deals, they also offer convenience and peace of mind. If you decide to go the pre-owned vehicle route, make sure to have one of our expert mechanics perform a pre-purchase car inspection to make sure you are getting a quality vehicle for your money.
