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Guides for independent car dealers

Know what a carreally costs you.

Straight, practical guides on buying stock, auction costs, valuing cars and running an independent dealership. Written by people who work with dealers every day.

Featured · Buying at auction

BCA buyer fees explained: what you really pay in 2026

What BCA's standard buyer's fee comes to at every price, what VAT does to it, and what a car really costs you once it's on your forecourt.

Updated 24 Sept 20262 min read
Part exchange

Negative equity part exchange: the gap to write down

A negative equity part exchange is when the settlement is higher than the car is worth to you. Here is what to do with the gap, and what not to do.

Updated 10 Nov 20265 min read
Buying at auction

Motorway trade sales: how a dealer actually buys

Motorway trade sales charge a purchase fee on top of the bid, from a schedule on your account. Here is what the dealer terms publish, and what they do not.

Updated 5 Nov 20265 min read

Browse by topic

Buying at auctionFees, bidding and the real cost of every lot.6 guides →Sourcing stockWhere your next cars come from, beyond the hall.3 guides →Valuing and appraisingMOT history, condition and pricing a car right.4 guides →Part exchangePricing a PX without giving away your margin.3 guides →Starting in the tradeInsurance, trade plates, VAT and the rules.3 guides →Running a dealershipMargins, days in stock and your obligations.2 guides →Dealer marketingGetting found locally and turning visits into cars.2 guides →Glossary A to ZEvery trade term, in plain English.26 terms →

Latest guides

Part exchange

Negative equity part exchange: the gap to write down

A negative equity part exchange is when the settlement is higher than the car is worth to you. Here is what to do with the gap, and what not to do.

5 min read
Buying at auction

Motorway trade sales: how a dealer actually buys

Motorway trade sales charge a purchase fee on top of the bid, from a schedule on your account. Here is what the dealer terms publish, and what they do not.

5 min read
Starting in the trade

VAT qualifying car: when the margin scheme does not apply

A VAT qualifying car is one the margin scheme usually cannot cover. Here is HMRC's current test, as at 27 September 2026, and what to read on the invoice.

6 min read
Valuing and appraising

Car service history value on the forecourt

Full service history is worth more when you can prove it and the mileage agrees. Here is which gaps matter, and which ones you can live with.

5 min read
Buying at auction

Auction reserve price: why the screen price is not the price

An auction reserve price is the seller's floor. Here is why the number on the screen is not that floor, and what a provisional bid really is.

5 min read
Running a dealership

Cost of holding car stock: what each week actually costs

The cost of holding car stock is the money, the space and the price drop while a car sits unsold. Here is a worked example you can replace with your own figures.

6 min read
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£8,000 car, 4 a month£50,688kept a year by buying directIllustrative example

Trade terms,A to Z

Plain-English definitions of the words that come up when you buy, value and sell used cars.

Open the glossary →

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Guides for independent car dealers | Buying Desk