More guides
- Valuing and appraising
CAP clean average below: which book price to use
CAP clean average below is three trade prices, not one. Here is what each grade is for, and which one to open first when you are buying stock.
5 min read - Buying at auction
Manheim buyer fees: what you pay on top of the hammer
Manheim buyer fees depend on the account you hold. Here is the public fee structure, and the hammer premium you still check on your own rate card.
7 min read - 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.
2 min read - Dealer marketing
Sell my car forms versus instant valuations
What a seller does when they want to sell a car to a dealer, and why a form that asks them to wait loses out to a price they can see.
2 min read - Running a dealership
Used car margins: what is realistic for an independent?
How to work out the real margin on a used car, from the price you paid through fees and prep, and what quietly eats it before the car sells.
2 min read - Part exchange
How to value a part exchange without losing margin
How to price a part exchange from the car you can sell, so the allowance looks fair and the used car still makes its margin.
3 min read - Valuing and appraising
Trade, retail and part-exchange values explained
What trade value, retail value and a part-exchange price each mean, and how to use all three without pricing a car twice.
3 min read - Valuing and appraising
How to spot a mileage discrepancy in MOT history
How to read a car's public MOT history, spot a mileage that does not add up, and decide whether that car is still worth buying for stock.
3 min read - Sourcing stock
How to buy cars direct from the public
A practical way for independent dealers to buy stock from local sellers, from the first enquiry through to the V5C and the money.
2 min read - Starting in the trade
How to become a car dealer in the UK
The practical steps to start an independent used-car business in the UK, and the official places to check tax, insurance and the company.
2 min read - Buying at auction
The hidden costs of buying at auction
The hammer price is the easy part. Here is every extra cost that lands on an auction car before it is ready for your forecourt.
3 min read
