0
The transparent transaction

How an auto broker works for buyers and sellers

What happens, in what order, and who does what. Specific fees and timing are always confirmed with you in writing.

What an auto broker actually does

A broker sits between a buyer and a seller and does the work that usually falls on one of them: finding the right vehicle or the right buyer, checking what can be checked, handling the conversation about price, and keeping the paperwork in order until the title changes hands. The point is not to own a lot full of cars. The point is to get a specific vehicle from the person who has it to the person who should have it, with fewer surprises for both.

That is different from the two routes most people know.

Compared with a dealership

A dealership buys vehicles, holds them as inventory and resells them. Its business depends on the gap between what it pays and what it sells for, so when you trade in, the offer reflects the dealer's reconditioning costs, holding time and margin. When you buy, you choose from what that dealer has on the lot or can pull from its network. Dealerships are convenient, and for many people that convenience is worth it. A broker works the other way around: it starts from what you need and looks for the vehicle, or starts from your vehicle and looks for the buyer.

Compared with selling or buying privately

A private sale can bring a seller more money than a trade-in, and a private purchase can cost a buyer less than a retail lot. The price of that is your time and your exposure. You write the listing, take the photos, answer messages, decide who is serious, arrange test drives with strangers, judge whether a payment is real and make sure the title is signed correctly. Buyers face the mirror image: little recourse if the description was wrong, and no one checking the history but them. A broker takes on that work and that screening, so you get closer to a private-sale outcome without running the whole process yourself.

How ABC is paid depends on the vehicle and the work involved. Fees, timing and responsibilities are confirmed with you in writing before you commit.

Step by step

What actually happens

  1. 01

    Your brief

    Tell us what you need: a specific vehicle or a set of priorities.

  2. 02

    Shortlist

    We match inventory and, where needed, source candidates.

  3. 03

    Inspection & history

    Available history and condition information is shared with you.

  4. 04

    See it, drive it

    Arrange a viewing or test drive.

  5. 05

    Agreement

    Price, fees and terms in writing before you commit.

  6. 06

    Title & delivery

    Registration paperwork and handover.

  7. Not sure what to look for yet? Answer a few questions about how you drive. Already know the make and model? Ask us to find that exact vehicle.

    Start browsing
Ways to sell

Private sale, trade-in or broker?

Who does what under each approach. Outcomes vary by vehicle, condition and market, so read the last row as a general pattern. It isn't a promise.

Who handles each part of the sale under each approach
TaskPrivate saleDealer trade-inBroker
Listing and photosYou write the listing and take the photos.None needed. The dealer appraises the vehicle on site.The broker prepares the presentation, with your input on history and condition.
Screening buyersYou sort genuine buyers from time-wasters and scams.Not applicable. The dealer is the buyer.The broker fields inquiries and screens buyers before they reach you.
Test drives and viewingsYou meet strangers and ride along.Not applicable.Arranged and coordinated by the broker.
NegotiationYou negotiate directly with each buyer.You negotiate with the dealer, often alongside the price of your next vehicle.Offers come to you with the broker's recommendation. You make the final call.
Payment and paperworkYou verify payment, sign the title and complete a bill of sale.The dealer handles it.The broker coordinates paperwork and an agreed payment process.
Your time involvementHigh, and unpredictable.Low. Often a single visit.Moderate early on (details, photos, decisions), lighter afterward.
Typical price outcomeOften the highest gross price, if you find the right buyer.Usually the lowest, because the dealer must resell at a margin.Aims for a market price closer to a private sale, less any agreed broker fee.
Listing and photos
The broker prepares the presentation, with your input on history and condition.
Screening buyers
The broker fields inquiries and screens buyers before they reach you.
Test drives and viewings
Arranged and coordinated by the broker.
Negotiation
Offers come to you with the broker's recommendation. You make the final call.
Payment and paperwork
The broker coordinates paperwork and an agreed payment process.
Your time involvement
Moderate early on (details, photos, decisions), lighter afterward.
Typical price outcome
Aims for a market price closer to a private sale, less any agreed broker fee.

Tell us about the vehicle you want to sell

Local knowledge

Colorado considerations

A few things matter more here than in most states. We factor them into what we recommend and what we disclose.

Traction law and tires

When Colorado's traction law is in effect, most often on the I-70 mountain corridor, passenger vehicles need 4WD or AWD, or tires rated for the conditions (M+S, mountain-snowflake or winter) with adequate tread. So tires are part of a vehicle's real value here. A capable AWD vehicle on worn tires is a weaker winter car than a front-drive car on good winter tires. CDOT sets the rules and can change them, so check the current version. More in buying a used car for Colorado winters.

Hail

Hail is common along the Front Range, and plenty of good vehicles have been through a storm. Some were fixed with paintless dent repair, some with conventional bodywork, some never at all. None of that is automatically a problem. Not knowing about it is. We disclose known hail history and repairs on our listings. More in hail damage and used cars.

Altitude

Naturally aspirated engines make less power up high because there's less air to burn. Turbocharged engines compensate much better. Try it:

Rule of thumb only (about 3% less power per 1,000 ft for a naturally aspirated engine). Real figures vary by engine, temperature and tuning.

Towing deserves extra care. See towing a camper in the mountains.

Title and registration basics

A Colorado private-party transfer generally involves the signed title and a bill of sale, and the buyer registers the vehicle with their county motor vehicle office. Emissions testing applies in some counties and not others. Lien releases, out-of-state titles and leases add steps. Requirements vary by county, so confirm specifics with your county office or the Colorado DMV. We help coordinate the paperwork, and who handles what is agreed in writing.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to use a broker?

It depends on the vehicle and the work involved, so we do not publish a single number. Fees, timing and responsibilities are confirmed with you in writing before you commit.

Do I have to buy a car from your inventory?

No. You can browse vehicles currently available, but if the right one is not there, tell us what you need and we will look for it. Request a specific make and model or get help deciding what fits.

Can I still sell my car if I owe money on it?

Often, yes. A loan or lease adds steps because the lender holds the title and must be paid off before ownership can transfer. Tell us about the loan when you submit your vehicle and we will explain how the payoff would be handled for your situation, in writing.

Do you offer financing?

Financing is not offered through this website. If you plan to finance, arranging pre-approval with your bank or credit union before you shop makes the process simpler. Ask us how payment would work for a particular vehicle.

Can I get an independent inspection before I buy?

We share the history and condition information we have, and we think a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic you choose is a sensible step on most used vehicles. How and where an inspection is arranged is agreed for each vehicle.

Is there a warranty or return policy?

We do not make blanket warranty or return promises on this site. Any remaining manufacturer coverage depends on the specific vehicle, and any terms that apply to a particular sale are stated in writing before you commit.

How long does it take to sell?

That depends on the vehicle, its condition, how it is priced and the season. We will give you our honest read once we have seen the details. Timing and responsibilities are agreed in writing for each vehicle.

What should I send when I submit my car?

The year, make, model, trim and mileage, the VIN if you have it, any accident or hail history, loan status, and clear photos of every side, the interior, the odometer and any damage. Honest detail up front saves time for everyone. Start your sell submission or talk to a broker first.

Ready when you are

Buy Browse available vehicles Sell Sell your vehicle through ABC Talk Ask a broker a question