Under the common term “buying and selling used vehicles,” we can distinguish several intermediaries in the automotive sector. All of these activities are possible through self-employment.

Buyer and reseller of used vehicles

Its mission is to buy used vehicles at the best price, build up a fleet, and then find potential buyers. More simply, it involves reselling cars. While waiting for the sale,  it stores the vehicles in a dedicated space, open to the public. It therefore acts on its own behalf. This storage is commonly called a car park .

He therefore acts on his own behalf. To remunerate himself, he resells the vehicle by applying  a margin on the purchase price .

Reseller of vehicles on consignment

The manager of a car consignment shop doesn’t buy vehicles. His role is to  showcase cars that are left by individuals. To do this, he displays them in a dedicated space (the consignment shop) and allows potential buyers to test drive the vehicle before purchasing.

Car agent

The car agent, also called a car dealer, acts on behalf of individuals or professionals. Their goal is to find the vehicle, new or used, that best meets their client’s needs. They purchase the vehicle and then resell it to the customer, taking a margin . They are generally in contact with car dealerships and manufacturers.

He is also responsible for all administrative procedures: vehicle registration, procedures in the event of vehicle importation, etc.

Car broker

The car broker is not an agent, as he does not purchase a vehicle on his own behalf. His role is limited to researching and negotiating the vehicle and the registration procedures on behalf of his client, while putting him in direct contact with the seller. Ultimately , it is the client who buys his car himself.

Special case: maintenance and repair of vehicles

If he wishes, the car buyer-reseller can repair his vehicles himself before reselling them. He will then be subject to  specific regulations , linked to the activity of “vehicle maintenance and repair”, more often called mechanic  :

Good to know

You can also opt for car transport if you enjoy driving and transporting vehicles across the country or to prestigious events. For more information, check out our dedicated car transport guide !

Qualities and skills to be a buyer-reseller of used vehicles?

No matter what type of business you choose in the car sales industry,  you don’t need any specific qualifications  (unless you offer vehicle maintenance and repair services).

However, your success depends on  a perfect knowledge of the automotive market (trends, new technologies, average prices, etc.) and very good mechanical skills. Strategic and commercial skills are also a plus for developing your business.You need to be proactive  in order to spot good deals and  have a real taste for negotiation  to get the best prices!

Also, be a good salesperson and listen to your customers, especially if you decide to be a broker or car agent. In this case, you must do everything possible to find the vehicle best suited to their needs.

Finally, support your customer as best you can because purchasing a vehicle generally represents a significant amount of money to spend.

What are the mandatory formalities for buying and selling a car?An unregulated profession

Buying and selling used cars is an unregulated activity. This means that you are not required to have a degree, qualification, or professional experience to operate this business as a sole proprietorship

However, many professionals in the buying and selling of vehicles come from a commercial background or carry out this activity  after initial experience as mechanics .

 Important information

Please note that if you offer additional car maintenance and repair services in addition to your buying and selling business, your activity will be regulated . You will then need to provide proof of a diploma or more than 3 years of professional experience in the sector.

Formalities related to the purchase and sale of used vehicles

Then, you record for each sale: the identification of the vehicle, the date, the contact details of the buyer and seller, the price, and the payment terms. The idea behind keeping this register is to be able to identify the origin and destination of each product, as well as its price. In addition, it must be up to date to reflect the state of the stock held by the buyer-seller.