Car Dealers - Start up advice?
Discussion
PH is truly wonderful. Have managed to find ways to register a domain, set up @yourdomain.com email accounts, find a letter headings and business cards company run by a PHer, regulations on towing trailers, bookkeeping software information and lots of other advice just by searching previous threads.
Things are taking shape nicely. Hope you don't mind if I update this regularly.
Currently thinking of ways to advertise to the college and sixth form kids who need a first car. Maybe driving instructor pupils too.
44 days to go.
Things are taking shape nicely. Hope you don't mind if I update this regularly.
Currently thinking of ways to advertise to the college and sixth form kids who need a first car. Maybe driving instructor pupils too.
44 days to go.
Best of luck 
Nice to see somebody actually taking some action instead of just expecting others to have their ideas for them...
Once we move to our new yard next month, I'm going to experiment with breaking a car then selling the bits online. See what I make back and go from there. This was recently suggested by another PH'er.
It could prove a nice little sideline to our main business, and as we employ a mechanic anyway... it's a logical progression.
Sometimes you just have to suck it and see!
If it doesn't work, it's cost me a few hundred quid, if it does work then at the very least it's my mortgage paid!
Nice to see somebody actually taking some action instead of just expecting others to have their ideas for them...
Once we move to our new yard next month, I'm going to experiment with breaking a car then selling the bits online. See what I make back and go from there. This was recently suggested by another PH'er.
It could prove a nice little sideline to our main business, and as we employ a mechanic anyway... it's a logical progression.
Sometimes you just have to suck it and see!
If it doesn't work, it's cost me a few hundred quid, if it does work then at the very least it's my mortgage paid!
KingRichard said:
Best of luck
Nice to see somebody actually taking some action instead of just expecting others to have their ideas for them...
Once we move to our new yard next month, I'm going to experiment with breaking a car then selling the bits online. See what I make back and go from there. This was recently suggested by another PH'er.
It could prove a nice little sideline to our main business, and as we employ a mechanic anyway... it's a logical progression.
Sometimes you just have to suck it and see!
If it doesn't work, it's cost me a few hundred quid, if it does work then at the very least it's my mortgage paid!
i once had an old ford transit that i could not give away. somebody suggested i broke it. i had people travelling from leicester to birmingham for a part. £10 for each wheel and tyre . sold things that i would have given away. reckon i got about £600 for the bits.even managed to sell the ht leadsNice to see somebody actually taking some action instead of just expecting others to have their ideas for them...
Once we move to our new yard next month, I'm going to experiment with breaking a car then selling the bits online. See what I make back and go from there. This was recently suggested by another PH'er.
It could prove a nice little sideline to our main business, and as we employ a mechanic anyway... it's a logical progression.
Sometimes you just have to suck it and see!
If it doesn't work, it's cost me a few hundred quid, if it does work then at the very least it's my mortgage paid!
always thought it was a viable option to make some cash as long as there are not too many hoops to jump through these days
Sorry for the hi-jack.
As far as I can work out... you strip a motor down (grease monkey reckons he can do a saloon in a day, so £100 in labour).
Take the shell to the scrappy who will take the V5 and declare it scrapped.
Clean all the bits up, stick them in bags with stock numbers on. Pack them on racking.
Advertise online (ebay, own website, gumtree).
I looked at Porsche 928's. You can get a manky one with no MOT for about a grand.
The back bumper ALONE is worth £500 as you can't get hold of them. Then the engine, all the electrical components, dashboards, gearbox, glass, lights, body panels, wheels...
All adds up.
We are just buying the scrap back of a taxi that was written off (Cat D) in an RTA on the motorway. By the time we have stripped and sold all the bits from a 2 year old car that are worth selling, we'll be about £3k up on the deal - assuming we can sell all of these parts.
As far as I can work out... you strip a motor down (grease monkey reckons he can do a saloon in a day, so £100 in labour).
Take the shell to the scrappy who will take the V5 and declare it scrapped.
Clean all the bits up, stick them in bags with stock numbers on. Pack them on racking.
Advertise online (ebay, own website, gumtree).
I looked at Porsche 928's. You can get a manky one with no MOT for about a grand.
The back bumper ALONE is worth £500 as you can't get hold of them. Then the engine, all the electrical components, dashboards, gearbox, glass, lights, body panels, wheels...
All adds up.
We are just buying the scrap back of a taxi that was written off (Cat D) in an RTA on the motorway. By the time we have stripped and sold all the bits from a 2 year old car that are worth selling, we'll be about £3k up on the deal - assuming we can sell all of these parts.
KingRichard said:
Sorry for the hi-jack.
As far as I can work out... you strip a motor down (grease monkey reckons he can do a saloon in a day, so £100 in labour).
Take the shell to the scrappy who will take the V5 and declare it scrapped.
Clean all the bits up, stick them in bags with stock numbers on. Pack them on racking.
Advertise online (ebay, own website, gumtree).
I looked at Porsche 928's. You can get a manky one with no MOT for about a grand.
The back bumper ALONE is worth £500 as you can't get hold of them. Then the engine, all the electrical components, dashboards, gearbox, glass, lights, body panels, wheels...
All adds up.
We are just buying the scrap back of a taxi that was written off (Cat D) in an RTA on the motorway. By the time we have stripped and sold all the bits from a 2 year old car that are worth selling, we'll be about £3k up on the deal - assuming we can sell all of these parts.
The only bit you forgot is getting the various waste licences from the EA and planning permission for vehicle dismantling from your local authority.As far as I can work out... you strip a motor down (grease monkey reckons he can do a saloon in a day, so £100 in labour).
Take the shell to the scrappy who will take the V5 and declare it scrapped.
Clean all the bits up, stick them in bags with stock numbers on. Pack them on racking.
Advertise online (ebay, own website, gumtree).
I looked at Porsche 928's. You can get a manky one with no MOT for about a grand.
The back bumper ALONE is worth £500 as you can't get hold of them. Then the engine, all the electrical components, dashboards, gearbox, glass, lights, body panels, wheels...
All adds up.
We are just buying the scrap back of a taxi that was written off (Cat D) in an RTA on the motorway. By the time we have stripped and sold all the bits from a 2 year old car that are worth selling, we'll be about £3k up on the deal - assuming we can sell all of these parts.
Out of interest, why would I need a waste licence to strip a car in ten hours and stock the parts?
I get the bit about the L.A but we have permission to work on our fleet... I'm sure the guy will be okay with us dismantling our own parts. They are mainly concerned with Health & Safety. As long as we aren't buggering about with fluids it should be okay
I get the bit about the L.A but we have permission to work on our fleet... I'm sure the guy will be okay with us dismantling our own parts. They are mainly concerned with Health & Safety. As long as we aren't buggering about with fluids it should be okay
V8mate said:
That looks like you can get a paragraph 45 exemption... whatever that is - so if I just wanted the spares for my taxi company, that would be fine to dismantle a vehicle, as long as I notified them of the activity.If I want to sell the parts, I will become unstuck, unless I buy them 'depolluted'.
V8mate - happy to take this off forum if you like, otherwise we'll ruin this thread
It is like listening to Pinky and the Brain...lol
Back on track.
Your business model is a good one. Small cars with fast turnover and reasonable profits. Cars at that end of the market are not really affected by book drops either.
If you are still struggling with your insurance, drop me a line and I will pass on a number for you.
Back on track.
Your business model is a good one. Small cars with fast turnover and reasonable profits. Cars at that end of the market are not really affected by book drops either.
If you are still struggling with your insurance, drop me a line and I will pass on a number for you.
Quick update. I've sold my Clio and have bought my first 3 cars yesterday. Another 12 to go before new year.
Signage is next which is looking expensive, but i want it to look as smart as possible as i think people judge a garage a lot on the appearance.
Still at my current job so juggling everything and Christmas is difficult but hopefully everything will be ready in time!
Signage is next which is looking expensive, but i want it to look as smart as possible as i think people judge a garage a lot on the appearance.
Still at my current job so juggling everything and Christmas is difficult but hopefully everything will be ready in time!
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