How do I pick up my vehicle?

Dealers can arrange delivery, or you may be able to organise a collection if you wish.

Do they sell only new cars?

Some services only sell new cars, some sell used cars and a few services have options for both.

What do dealers get out of this?

At the end of the day, more sales. They're paying the car buying services to provide them with pre-qualified sales leads essentially. Why would they want to do this? It opens up their dealership to potentially nationwide customers and allows them to sell cars easily online.

How do these services make money?

Car buying services may operate on a dealer subscription basis, where a dealer pays monthly to be sent requests for quotes, or they are given a pre-agreed fee for each sale. Some services also charge customers a fee. They may also make money through any finance deals they broker.

Are cars available in every state?

Many car buying services have national networks that allow them to source cars from across Australia. Some will offer delivery for free or a fee, and others may have pick-up options. You can check with a service what the different options are and any potential fees to decide what's most convenient and affordable for you.

Are the quoted prices the final price I'll pay?

There may be additional vehicle fees. For instance, when you purchase a car with Carma you need to take into account stamp duty and the registration transfer fee which needs to be paid within 14 days from delivery of the car.

Do car buying brokers handle the financial side of things?

Potentially, though you need to read the small print and do your due diligence. Carma offers finance through three lending partners and it also has its own financial consultants on hand to help you with any finance questions you may have.