Car pricing

Unlike new cars, there is a lot of variation in the pricing of used cars.
Unlike new cars, there isn't a percentage mark-up in the used car business. Instead the objective is to retain as much per unit profit as possible.

The goal varies from dealer to dealer and profit is not just measured by the difference between the acquisition and sale price - other factors, like financing percentage points, extended warranties, gap insurance, etc. come into play.

A dealers average profit objective is somewhere between $1500-$3000 a "copy." That means they might make $100 on one used car, but $12,000 or more on another more valuable vehicle.