metcars

I'll second 'quirky' stuff too. Although at my end selling cheapies, Focus/Astra/Fiesta's always move as they are cheap to run, but the odd oddball can usually be a nice little earner. Interestingly Corsa's turn into 'landmarks' here! I wouldn't even attempt to sell a BMW here, I find punters only want stamped full BMW history but are then happy to cram them full of cheap pattern parts? Even on the old bangers I sell, and in many respects more so, as with a set of 'drug dealer' wheels and 'gangsta glass' they can be made to look a lot newer!

I forgot to mention that obviously there are two Manheim trade accounts, 'basic trade' and 'national buyer', but the OP can upgrade when he meets the requirements.

Manheim will only charge you if you fail to buy 12 cars in a year. Just out of interest my local BCA makes everyone below gold card pay £500 deposit for a bidder number. Must be a pain if you are just starting out and fancy a couple of cars. You can't really keep running out to front office to queue up for a number, so that means you'd have to buy a 'block' of bidding numbers. So, for example 4 bidding numbers means sticking £2k on your debit card. With 2 sales a week and bearing in mind refunding your card if you dont buy, that money would choke up your bank account. I understand why they make private punters register to bid, but it sounds harsh for blue and silver card holders who have already had to declare their trade insurance and proper ID to get hit this way?

Problem with starting at BCA is that you have to "earn" your way to a decent trade account rather than 'buy it' as with Manheim. Which means, having to buy 12 cars to get on a gold card. That's 11 cars at what amounts to private buyers rates, which is a big "ouch". Gold card level is the minimum place to be with realistic fees and other 'perks' but its getting there that will cost you. Just my opinion....?

Try calling Manheim Northampton. They'll have contact details for trade locksmiths coming out of their ears

It's been a while since I opened my Manheim account, I was with them back in the NCA days. But you are probably a victim of the Christmas post 'back up'. Call them on monday morning and ask if your account is 'live' and the number. I've always found Manheim back office to be very helpful, its a shame they don't have BCA's stock! lol Just my opinion.......?

I think its a little bit naiive to expect the auction houses to adopt a trade only position when they are making an "absolute fortune" out of those buying as private buiyers! And if they did, who would take up the slack, just watch the buyers premiums go through the roof. My young nephew has just started out as a plumber and spends an absolute fortune every year being "accredited" for this and "accredited" for that "Corgi" this and "Corgi" that, its all BS. Fact of the matter is, you are going to ask for help from the great minds that gave us "the scrappage scheme" come on! I can guarantee that in 5yrs time you will all be on here moaning about having to pay £600 a year for a tin plate to put outside your house that says you can sell cars?

Perhaps we need to temper our enthusiasm before "waking the sleeping giant". Historically the motor trade gets very little help from the council or Westminster that either makes things either more difficult and/or more for honest traders! In my area of East London the local council have various weapons in their arsenal to deal with rogue traders already but for whatever reason choose not to use them? I'm not convinced that "even more" legislation is really going to help the small guys, other than produce more revenue streams for government, especially the classic knee jerk "licensing" thing thats often mentioned in these situations. Be careful what you wish for, it may come true!

.... and you have 30 days to decide if you want it

I seem to remember often hearing the term 'agent' describing a guy selling cars. Sounds like a good bet to me. Estate agents can sell a million pound house and not have to worry about phone calls in 3 months time because the floorboards are creaking or a tap is dripping?

Sadly, ever since 'Arthur Daley' ALL motor traders are viewed as 'spivs; or suspicious characters regardless of how whiter than white we are. Most people view us in the same way as estate agents or double glazing salesman. As such, nobody fights our corner. Manheim Wimbledon won't be the same without you!

When they invented ANPR they didn't really consider the needs of motor traders?

Use the Blackwell Tunnel instead

How does this work?

I have driven an old Mitsubishi Pajero for 10yrs. I class it as my work vehicle. It does everything other than go fast! Mobile office, tow car, parts collection, shopping, country park with the dog etc etc. I have never been interested in off roading or 4x4's but its reliability and build quality are attractive and regardless of the road conditions, nothing stops it. Unless the council close the road

Another top tip. You can often 'negotiate' a good deal if you find a "wheel refurb" guy when he is working at the auction. The bigger sites usually have guys there almost permanently doing paint, wheels and screen chips and I have found them to be very approachable. I parked a hire car in Manheim Colchester and had it keyed down the side for my trouble. Took me hours to get that scratch out with a mop!

Something for nothing?! Interestingly, he made a few references to the 'Autumn review' so plenty of scope for bad news yet. He giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other; Insurance Premium Tax is going up

I've toyed with the idea of vans. I've got a bunch of Polish fella's at the end of my road who have about 6 in various states of repair and appear to be turning them over on a regular basis, I dont think the council have noticed yet, or anyone has 'dobbed' them in Seriously, they appear to be a lot of money at auction for what they are, Shabby, intergallactic miles and no history; but I guess youre buying usefulness rather than kerb appeal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33277626 Surely it would be simple enough to fit a gadget like this to passenger cars. Regardless of whether you're a speed demon or not, and I'm guessing we are all law abiding citizens, can a case be made to at least limit all new cars to 70mph other than emergency vehicles? And for those special cases of 'track days' and 'autobhan use' (vastly overrated and not fun) a factory level software limit can be removed that invalidates insurance if caught on UK roads? That might sound harsh, but we are being force fed the idea that 'speed' is a huge problem and surely this could save vast amounts of money and resources by the police and council but still keep jobs? For car dealers, the potential to be an absolute nightmare to sort out?

Mechanical or bodywork? Must admit that i sometimes twiddle spanners if it saves me money. I had to put a clutch in a Fiesta a week or so back as it owed me a lot and wouldnt carry a workshop bill. I also turn my hand to bits of bodywork which I actually quite enjoy and is almost like therapy

​Like you still can on BCA Although the old BCA search was in my opinion the best of all of them and still superior to their latest 'janet and john' effort

How do you print out your watchlist in '‌lot' order?

Sorry guys I think I just broke it! Or is it down for 'maintenance' again?

I moaned about both BCA and Manheim. The priority needs too be on the search engine. Also maximising the number of search results displayed instead of a 'janet and john' version with huge pictues of cars in case you dont know what a Mondeo looks like

IMO selling trade to trade is a tough way to earn your money! If you can source quality stock at 'stinking cheap' prices then just retail them, why give the profit to someone else