Buy Center Guides and Training for Dealerships
VAN's resource center is a free library of guides, case studies, and training for dealership buy centers. Case studies from stores that built working buy centers, playbooks and hiring kits from the VAN team, and answers to the questions dealers ask before they start. New to buy centers? Start with the questions below.
How Other Dealerships Run Their Buy Centers
Archibald’s
Amidst automotive market challenges, dealership Archibalds Inc. harnessed the power of the Vehicle Acquisition Network (VAN) to double their retail sales from 60 to 120 a month.
Clift Buick GMC
Garry Clift of Clift Buick GMC used VAN and other innovative strategies to increase his dealership's profits and sustainability by acquiring more cars than ever before!
Elk Grove Subaru
Elk Grove Subaru rebuilt used-car volume from 35 to 86 cars a month and turned wholesale losses into gains with VAN.
Browse all case studies • Want to see this running at your store? Request a demo.
Playbooks and Hiring Kits for Starting and Running Your Buy Center
Vehicle Acquisition Specialist Hiring Kit
Three pay-plan templates with real numbers, a copy-paste job description, an 8-question interview scorecard, a 30/60/90 onboarding plan, and the KPIs to track. Read it on the page or download the PDF. No form.
Buy Center Success
Expert insights from Darrell Steed and Clayton Dorris on enhancing vehicle acquisition strategies for dealerships. It discusses operational excellence, pricing strategies, and building strong industry relationships to improve sustainability and growth within the competitive vehicle market.
Five Process Principles
Over the last decade, we have worked with hundreds of dealerships and identified five process principles to help dealers acquire vehicles from private party sellers.
Accelerating The Waterfall Effect
In today's bustling auto dealership world, we've noticed something: many overlook the magic of private party acquisition. Think of it as that secret ingredient to strengthen customer ties, boost loyalty, and spur growth. If you're curious about getting ahead in this game, our eBook has got you covered. Dive in, and let's journey together to outsmart the competition.
Overcoming Objections
This edition focuses on how to build a simple series of pillars your team can lean on to help them communicate and collaborate better with private vehicle sellers.
What Is Your Buying Philosophy?
In this issue, we will be sharing Vehicle Acquisition Network's insights and expertise along with "Ed's Takes" on how dealerships can increase net profit and see growth through street purchase strategies.
Summer Success Guidebook
VAN's Summer Camp Guidebook is your ultimate resource for unlocking the full potential of your car dealership during the summer season and throughout the year. Download it today to empower your buy-center team, achieve exceptional results, exceed customer expectations, and seamlessly acquire used vehicles from private sellers.
Questions Dealers Ask Before Starting a Buy Center
VAN pricing starts at $1,695 per month for the Professional plan. Accelerate is $2,495 per month, and the done-for-you Managed Buyer service is $5,995 per month. Pricing varies by territory, and Canadian dealers are billed in CAD. See our pricing page for full plan details.
KBB Instant Cash Offer program provides dealers with leads from people who have submitted their car's details to the KBB website. It is a passive acquisition channel: the seller picks a store to redeem the offer at, that store gets the lead, and the offer stays valid at any participating dealer for seven days, so sellers expect a fast response. VAN is an "active" acquisition strategy and reaches cars for sale by people who would not have otherwise considered selling to a dealer. VAN integrates with KBB ICO, so dealers can run both together.
Yes. VAN and VINCUE are now partners. VAN's private-party inventory feed is integrated directly into VINCUE's Buy Center Pro through VAN Mode, so dealers who use VINCUE can pull VAN's marketplace listings inside the platform they already work in every day. The sync runs both directions: VAN acquisition targets appear inside VINCUE, and VINCUE appraisal insights flow back into VAN. See the VAN + VINCUE page for details.
VAN integrates with most CRM systems, KBB ICO, Automotive Mastermind, Roadster, and vAuto. VAN makes your existing process trackable, efficient, and scalable allowing your team to buy more cars. See everything VAN connects with on our integrations page.
Staffing needs are highly dependent on your goals. We work with dealers that have a fully staffed dedicated buying team, dealers that have sales people buying cars on the side, and every staffing level in-between. Understanding your goals is the first step in understanding your staffing needs.
Our dealers on Professional and Accelerate plans are matched with dedicated Acquisition Coaches who provide ongoing technical support, coaching, and performance management for your team. Your coach's entire role is to make sure you are successful with VAN. Dealers on Standard will have access to support via phone or email.
Yes, we do offer accounts for motorcycles and RVs. At this time we do not offer power sports, boats, or any items outside of autos, motorcycles, and RVs.
What's Working in Vehicle Acquisition Right Now
Building one from scratch? How to build a dealership buy center.
New from the VAN team on LinkedIn: What Dealers Need in Private-Party Vehicle Acquisition Software
Want to see what VAN would find in your market? Request a VAN demo.
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