As a car dealer, you want to offer your customers a wide range of vehicles. That's why trade-ins of used cars are certainly part of your everyday business - nothing new so far. And, of course, as you know, there are several sources for used car purchases. However, many dealers still do not use digital auction platforms such as CarOnSale to take in used cars. Find out here why it is worthwhile for independent dealers in particular to include B2B auctions in their used car management.
Trade-ins of used cars often occur when customers buy a new car and trade in their old vehicle. According to a survey by Deutsche Automobil Treuhand (DAT), 55% of new car buyers and 37% of used car buyers do this directly with the dealer.
The used car dealer has two options: He can either include the trade-in in his inventory for private customers (B2C trade) or offer it for sale to other dealers (B2B trade). B2C stands for business relationships between dealers and end customers, while B2B stands for business relationships between dealers.
Buying trade-ins from customers is part of your daily business and, as professionals, we don't have to tell you anything about it. But what about buying used cars from authorized dealers or fleet providers? Why is this a profitable business for you?
Because the used car market is tight. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, only 5.6 million used cars were sold in Germany in 2022. In 2021 it was 6.7 million and in 2020 even 7.0 million. The bottom line is that there have been fewer and fewer cars on the market to offer customers in recent years.
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In addition, there are delays in the delivery of new cars. One reason for this is the ongoing microchip crisis, which is not only affecting the automotive industry. Due to supply bottlenecks for the chips, only a few of them are available. This means that many almost-finished new cars cannot be delivered because they lack the microchips. Customers sometimes have to wait months for their new vehicle - and many have little patience or cannot afford it because their old car is no longer roadworthy.
The result: some customers who actually want a new car choose a young used car instead. This leaves even less choice for dealers. Demand for used cars is high, supply is low, so prices are rising significantly.
"In 2019, 44% of all used cars were traded in the price segment up to 10,000 euros. In 2022, only 23%. The category over €17,500 accounted for 24% in 2019 and 46% of all used cars in 2022." (Source: DAT Report 2023)
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So when you buy B2B trade-ins, you not only improve your offering, you also become more competitive and more resilient. Your customers benefit from more choice and appreciate it.
In fact, according to DAT, 23% of all people surveyed who planned to buy a car in 2022 but didn't, said the reason was limited choice.
If you have decided to buy trade-ins, the next question is where to buy them at a good price. One place to go is, of course, a brick-and-mortar store, and backyard stores in particular are a popular source of purchases. However, you can also buy trade-ins conveniently online.
Für die Endkunden ist das Internet längst ein wichtiges Medium bei der Entscheidungsfindung für den Autokauf. Die meisten Endkunden informieren sich vorab online, bevor sie sich für einen Händler entscheiden und diesen dann aufsuchen. <br>25 % aller Gebrauchtwagenkäufer können sich sogar vorstellen, ein Fahrzeug ausschließlich über einen Online-Händlerkontakt zu kaufen - das fand der TÜV Nord in seiner Digitalstudie 2022 heraus.
In 2020, 41% of all retailers in Germany also stated that they used online platforms for reseller auctions to buy trade-ins. However, in times of digitalization and scarcity of goods, this figure is surprisingly low. (Source: autohaus.de)
CarOnSale sees itself as your partner with the aim of simplifying the purchase of trade-ins. When you use our platform, you benefit from the following advantages:
Let's start with the most important point: at CarOnSale you have access to a significantly larger B2B used car trade-in offer than at any local car dealership. This is of course because you are not limited to a specific region. Whereas previously you probably only looked at the local buying market when you wanted to buy trade-ins, with CarOnSale you have access to offers from dealers all over Europe.
You know your typical customers very well and know what kind of goods they are looking for. And of course you want to buy trade-ins that meet your customers' needs - after all, customer satisfaction is your flagship. But with the current shortages in the used car market, it's sometimes not so easy to get a particular class of vehicle at reasonable prices. At CarOnSale, on the other hand, you will find models from all categories. This is because our range includes used car dealerships as well as company car trade-ins and fleet trade-ins. All in all, the marketplace covers the entire range of vehicles: from upper mid-range cars to SUVs and compact small vehicles.
Another advantage of buying a trade-in from CarOnSale is the uncomplicated and speedy processing of the reseller transaction. We take care of all the steps for a smooth purchase!
These include:
Secure payment processing via COSPay
Contract creation
Delivery of documents
Optional transportation via COSCargo
CarOnSale provides you with the COSCargo tool for transportation. We will deliver the vehicle directly to your yard within 8 to 10 working days* and you will receive regular updates on the current location of the goods during transportation, which means that you can sit back and relax after the successful auction while CarOnSale takes care of the transaction.
When you buy a trade-in, every euro counts - after all, the purchase and resale price is your profit. This is especially true at the current high used car prices. Benefit from low-risk profit generation by taking advantage of price differences abroad. After all, the stock and price of vehicle models abroad differ from those in Germany. With CarOnSale, you can specify in advance for each auction the maximum amount you want to bid for this car. In this way, you ensure that your profit margin is not too low.
As already mentioned, many dealers are still skeptical about digital tools such as CarOnSale. As a result, they miss out on many advantages when buying trade-ins. We want to support you in your daily business of buying used cars. That is why we have compiled some typical prejudices and put them to rest.
True, as we are an online auction platform, this is not possible. However, at CarOnSale you can expect vehicle exposés far above the industry standard! Our vehicle assessors ensure this directly on site at the supplier's premises. They give their assessment based on 75 predefined criteria, and any anomalies are highlighted in the exposé. Among other things, you will find information on the paint layer thickness and tire tread measurement, sound recordings of the engine and detailed videos in our exposés - as if you were there yourself! Still not convinced? Complete your impression with the 360-degree condition overview. Here we show you at a glance where any defects on the vehicle are located. On this basis, you can buy trade-ins without taking any risks.
Have you heard? With the COSCheck Plus warranty, you are insured against undetected mechanical damage up to an amount of €5,000! And for just EUR 99.
That's right, we charge a fair platform fee for successful auctions. The fee scale is based on the vehicle price, but is capped at a certain amount. Thanks to the wide range of prices that are possible at auctions, we promise you that it is worth buying trade-ins from us. A clear list of the costs can be viewed transparently at any time.
This enables fair pricing for both buyers and Seller!
You don't have to. Bid conveniently via the bidding agent by entering your maximum bid and the automation will do the rest and keep you up to date. In addition, a CarOnSale employee is available to you (via WhatsApp, telephone or email). Of course, the platform can also be used on your cell phone, so you can take a quick look at the current status while you are at work. And: you save the time you used to spend on viewings or auctions in stationary dealerships.
Buying trade-ins on digital platforms such as CarOnSale - this option has enormous potential for professionals like you to remain competitive even in the current difficult times. Do you still have questions about the process? Feel free to contact us by phone or email!
A successful vehicle purchase incurs fees that start at €89 and are capped. You can view all costs incurred transparently in your account at any time.
As a rule, collection and delivery take place within 7-10 working days.
As CarOnSale is a marketplace for commercial used car dealers, we are legally obliged to check the following documents from you:
1. your business registration/excerpt from the commercial register. | 2. your passport or identity card (front and back). | 3. your sales tax identification number (VAT ID).
