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How to Start Buying Used Vehicles Wholesale
Buying used vehicles wholesale can help you stock your dealership faster and more efficiently. Learn how to source, check, bid on, and transport multiple cars.
Why stock your dealership one car at a time when you can source several vehicles at once?
Buying used vehicles wholesale is more efficient: you can source multiple cars from the same place and spend less time arranging each purchase separately.
But buying in bulk also means managing more vehicles and logistics at once, so a clear purchasing process matters.
That’s why we’ll look at how wholesale vehicle buying works, and how to make your first wholesale purchases step by step.
Key takeaways
- Wholesale buying means sourcing several vehicles at once, while still choosing and checking each car individually.
- Budget more than the purchase price because fees, transport, taxes, and preparation affect your final cost.
- Check every vehicle before you bid, especially its mileage, condition, history, VAT status, and documents.
- Ex-lease vehicles are a useful source of wholesale stock because large numbers of them regularly enter the used-car market.
What does buying wholesale actually mean?
Buying vehicles wholesale means sourcing several cars for your dealership instead of purchasing them one by one.
Of course, this isn’t just about getting any 15 cars you can find. Wholesale buying still lets you choose vehicles individually based on model, price, condition, and more.
The difference is that you can source several suitable vehicles within the same purchasing process.
But since you’re buying more vehicles, you also have to plan your budget differently.
Make sure you account for the full cost of every vehicle, not just the purchase price. That includes:
- Purchase prices
- Auction or platform fees
- Transport
- Taxes and registration costs
- Repairs and preparation
Once you know how much you can realistically spend per vehicle, the next question is where to source them.
Where do dealers buy wholesale vehicles in Europe?
One way to source several used vehicles at once is through an online wholesale platform.
On eCarsTrade, you can buy multiple vehicles using four different purchasing methods.
The table below compares the methods.
|
Buying method |
How it works |
Best for |
|
Blind auctions |
You place your bid without seeing what others have offered. |
When you’ve set a maximum amount you want to spend. |
|
Open auctions |
You can see the current highest bid and decide whether to go higher. |
Follow prices as they develop. |
|
Fixed prices |
You buy the vehicle directly at the listed price. |
Securing stock without waiting for an auction to end. |
|
Our stock |
Buy eCarsTrade-owned vehicles directly. |
Besides online wholesale platforms, good sources for stocking vehicles include leasing and fleet companies, rental companies, and physical car auctions.
All of these sources can provide multiple vehicles at once, but the amount of work involved in sourcing and transport will differ.
Why ex-lease vehicles dominate wholesale car sourcing
If you’d like a steady supply of cars, it makes sense to look at sources that regularly release large numbers of vehicles.
Ex-lease cars are a good example, simply because so many company cars enter the market in the first place.
According to the European Commission, corporate vehicles account for around 58% of new car registrations in the EU.
Many of these vehicles eventually return to the used-car market when leases end, or company fleets are renewed, which is your opportunity to source cars in bigger numbers.
Ex-lease cars also come with some advantages that you don’t always get with privately owned used cars. These are:
- Regular maintenance records
- Detailed condition information
- Lower vehicle ages
- Large numbers of similar cars entering the market
One thing to keep in mind: company cars usually have relatively high mileage because they are used regularly.
So, you still need to compare mileage, condition, and service records before buying.
What do you need before your first wholesale purchase
Wherever you source your vehicles, have a few things ready before making your first wholesale purchase. Here’s a quick checklist.
- A registered business: Most wholesale platforms are for professional traders, so you’ll usually need valid company registration to buy.
- VAT information: Have your VAT details ready, especially if you’re buying vehicles across EU borders.
- A clear budget: Calculate how much you can spend on each vehicle after accounting for fees, taxes, and transport.
- A way to check vehicles: Know what to review before buying (mileage, damage, service history, photos, VIN, and more).
- A transport plan: Decide whether you’ll arrange your own carrier or use the platform's delivery option.
Once you have these basics in place, buying several cars becomes easier because you can apply the same buying practices across hundreds of listings.
How to buy your first wholesale vehicles online at eCarsTrade: step by step
Buying wholesale is similar to buying one car in many ways.
The main difference is that you can search, bid, and track many vehicles from one account.
Here’s how the process works on eCarsTrade.
Register and verify your company
First, create an eCarsTrade account and submit your company information.
If you’re representing an EU company, you’ll need a VAT number that’s valid in VIES.
You’ll then upload company documents and proof of identity. The exact documents depend on the country where your company is registered.
Once your account is verified, you can start purchasing vehicles.
The full eCarsTrade purchasing process covers registration, searching, bidding, payment, and vehicle collection.
Choose how you want to buy
You’ll then decide how you want to buy.
You can filter the available auctions by type and choose between Fixed Prices, Open Auctions, Blind Auctions, and Bid or Buy Now.
If you’re buying several cars, you’ll make the process easier by choosing the purchasing method first.
For example, you can open one auction and look for several suitable vehicles within it before placing your bids.
Filter the vehicles you want to buy
Next, you’ll narrow down the vehicles based on what your dealership needs.
You can filter by things like make and model, fuel type, registration year, mileage, VAT status, and more.
Let’s say you decided to buy through a Blind Auction. After opening a specific auction, you can narrow the results further based on specifications you want.
In this example, only electric vehicles have been selected.
Then review the results and choose the cars that match your needs.
Check every car before bidding
Even if you’re buying several vehicles at once, check each listing individually before bidding or buying.
Pay attention to:
- Mileage
- Photos and reported damage
- Service history, when available
- Appraisal reports, when available
- VAT status
- Vehicle documents
Not every car comes with a service history or appraisal report, so check exactly what information is available on each listing.
Also, this is the time to check the eCarsTrade purchasing fees.
For cars up to €20,000, commission and admin fees usually range from €200 to €350, depending on the bid amount and vehicle origin.
For more expensive cars, fees start at around €350 to €400 and increase with the vehicle price.
If you buy regularly, your user status can also lower these costs. Gold users who buy at least five cars per month get a €50 discount on each car.
Once you have all of this information, it’s much easier to set a realistic maximum bid and compare several cars before you buy.
Place bids on multiple vehicles
Once you’ve found several suitable cars, you can start bidding on them.
This is where wholesale buying becomes much more practical: you can place bids on multiple vehicles instead of waiting to see whether you’ve won one before moving on to the next.
Still, you should keep your overall budget in mind. If several of your bids are accepted, be ready to purchase all of those vehicles!
You can follow the status of your bids from your Personal Page, so you don’t have to search for each vehicle again.
Pay for the vehicles you win
When you win an auction or complete a direct purchase, you’ll be able to download a proforma invoice from your Personal Page.
You'll pay by bank transfer from your company account. Once we confirm payment, you can download your invoice from your Personal Page.
If you’ve bought several cars, you’ll be able to keep track of them from the same account.
Organize transport for your vehicles
The final step is getting the vehicles to your dealership.
The most efficient way to do this is with the eCarsTrade Delivery Service.
Buying several cars can help here, too, as eCarsTrade offers bulk delivery discounts when multiple vehicles ship together.
So, grouping your purchases into one delivery can reduce the transport cost per car.
Common mistakes when buying wholesale for the first time
The best way to make good purchasing decisions and stay profitable is to get familiar with the wholesale buying process before you start.
Before you place multiple bids or orders, watch out for these common mistakes so that you can avoid them:
- Not checking your local market demand. Some models are more popular in certain markets than others, so research what sells well in your area before placing a bid.
- Skipping vehicle checks. Always review key vehicle details like the available photos, damage information, service history, and mileage before buying.
- Miscalculating VAT and other costs. Your purchase price is only part of the total. Make sure you understand how VAT works when buying used cars, along with transport, fees, and local taxes.
- Not preparing for the import process. Before buying abroad, make sure you understand common used-car import issues, including paperwork, taxes, and registration requirements.
If you’re ever unsure about any part of the buying process, you can always reach out to your eCarsTrade Account Manager for help.
FAQ
Can I buy wholesale cars from another EU country?
Yes, cross-border trade is very common among European car traders (and it’s easy!).
How much does it cost to buy wholesale vehicles with eCarsTrade?
eCarsTrade purchasing fees start at €200 per car. For vehicles up to €20,000, fees usually range from €200 to €400, depending on the bid amount and vehicle origin.
Are wholesale vehicles cheaper?
Usually, yes. Wholesale prices are meant for traders rather than final buyers, so dealers can make a profit when reselling them.
What do I need to start purchasing vehicles in bulk?
You’ll need a registered business, a clear budget, a way to check each car, and a plan for transport. If you’re buying across borders, you should also know the VAT and registration requirements that apply to your situation.
Do I need a dealer license to buy wholesale cars in Europe?
There’s no single dealer license for the whole EU. You’ll generally need a registered business that is allowed to trade vehicles, and any additional requirements depend on your country.
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