A car broker helps customers who are looking to buy a car by acting as the middleman between the customer and car dealers. Brokers help you find the type of car you want and through a range of sellers.
Because they have relationships with so many dealerships, the prices car brokers find for you can be lower compared to if you looked at cars on your own. But they do get a commission from the dealers and sometimes charge you a fee, so it's important to weigh this up before deciding to use a broker.
What does a car broker do?
If you're ready to buy a car, a broker can help you through the entire process. This can include sharing different types of cars if you don't have a specific model in mind.
When you know what car you want, the broker contacts a range of car dealerships and sellers to find you the best price. They can also conduct inspections and negotiate with the dealer on your behalf. The broker generally receives a commission from the dealer, but may also charge you a fee for their service.
Car brokers can also provide additional services, including:
Organising test drives
Car finance
Extended warranties
Insurance
Should I use a car broker?
A car broker may be worth considering if you want to avoid some of the hassle and stress of buying a car from a dealer or if you don't know what to look for when it comes to buying a new or used car.
A broker can also potentially save you time by sourcing and inspecting vehicles, and may get you a lower price than if you were to approach a dealer directly.
But if you want more control over the process of buying a car you may prefer not to use a broker. Also keep in mind that many brokers charge a fee for their services (which can sometimes be hidden in the purchase price). So if you're happy to haggle with a dealer, you may be able to get a better price in some cases.
What are the benefits?
As car brokers have existing relationships with a range of dealers, they can often get you a better price on a vehicle than if you bought it from a dealer directly. In some cases, brokers may even be able to find you a car at "fleet prices", which is the price that dealers normally give to businesses buying multiple vehicles.
Car brokers also have experience inspecting vehicles and can do so on your behalf. If you're unsure about the specific car you need, a broker can also use their expertise to help find the car that's right for you.
How much does it cost?
Some car brokers charge a finder's fee for helping get you a vehicle and many also receive a referral fee from the dealer for arranging the sale. Referral fees can generally range from $250 to $1,000, depending on the type of car.
While you won't typically pay the referral fee directly to the broker, it may be included in the price you pay for the vehicle. Car brokers aren't legally obliged to disclose any referral fees they receive, so you should always ask them directly to see if using a car broker makes financial sense.
How to find a car broker
There are 3 main ways you can find a car broker:
Contact an independent car broker.There are dedicated car broker businesses operating around Australia, which you can search for online, in local business directories or by asking people you know.
Auto club services. Some auto clubs and service subcriptions, such as RACQ or RACV, also offer car broker services for members.
Car loan providers.Finder research has found 9% of Australians plan to take out a car loan to buy a vehicle at some point. So if you're planning to get a car loan to buy your vehicle, some lenders also offers free car broker services as part of their loan.
Tom Stelzer is the Members Publisher for Finder, specialising in content for Finder app and website members. He previously worked for Finder as a writer in Australia and the UK, covering things like personal finance, loans, investing, insurance as well as small business and business loans. He has a Master of Media Arts and Production and Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney.
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