I haven’t heard of them, but I assume they work in the way that a real estate agent does when you buy a home. Does anyone have any experience with them? Is it worth seeking one out to get a good deal on a car?
I purchased my wife’s and daughter’s cars from a broker in Virginia. Great experience both times, saved lotsa bucks.
Caveats and suggestions–
“As is, where is”. Inspect the car THOROUGHLY. Test drive, get a mechanic to look at it, even more so than a regular purchase.
Do not expect a warranty (although, I suppose they sometimes offer them). Do not even expect it to be checked out.
Haggle. If the broker moves the car, he’s got room for another.
I did not stand for the “we charge $200 extra to get the plates”.
If you like the car, get it. It may be gone soon.
My broker was willing to look out for a particular model for me.
Hope this helps
Hm. This does. My girlfriend is looking for a car and I had never heard of them, but it was brought up here. She’s got a couple of months (probably) before she’s got to really get things in concrete, but it’s good to play the field.
My advice: use one of the many “buying services” which will refer you to the lease department of a new car dealer. (I’m assuming you’re looking for a new car.)
For instance, Costco has such a program. You tell Costco the make and model of car you’re interested in and your zip code. They give you referrals to a couple of participating dealers in your area. You then deal with the Lease department on a fixed price, no-haggle-necessary basis. I’ve bought my last 3 new cars this way and it’s a MUCH better way to buy a car.
Many other organizations have similar services: credit unions, professional organizations, maybe even AAA, so even if you’re not a Costco member, you should be able to find one you qualify for.
J.