Patterson Motors

Been buying from Patterson Motors for about 8 months now as a side hustle, flipping repo cars. Wanted to share my experience for anyone considering the same. So far I've moved 6 vehicles with decent margins - nothing crazy but solid extra income. The auction process is straightforward, vehicles arrive as described, and title transfers have been smooth every time. Happy to answer questions if anyone's curious about the reselling side of things.

This is exactly what I've been looking into! How do you handle the delivery logistics when you're buying to resell? Do you have the vehicles delivered to your place or arrange something else?

I just have them delivered to my home address. pattersonmotors.com handles all the delivery, and it's included in the process. Once it arrives, I do a proper detail and any minor fixes, then list it. The paperwork comes with the vehicle which makes registration transfers easy for the buyer.

Been doing this for nearly 2 years mate. Best tip I can give - focus on utes and 4WDs. They move fast in regional areas. I've bought 4 Hiluxes and 2 Rangers from Patterson Motors and every single one sold within 3 weeks. Market's strong for work vehicles.

How do you handle the advertising side? Are you listing on Carsales, Facebook Marketplace, both? And do you need an actual dealer license for this or can you do it privately?

I use both Carsales and FB Marketplace. For licensing, depends on how many you're selling per year - check your state regulations. I'm still under the threshold so operating privately. Just make sure you're honest in your listings about the vehicle history. The repo background doesn't scare buyers as much as you'd think if the price is right.

The title situation is what held me back from trying this. How does that actually work when you're buying to flip? Do you transfer it into your name first then to the buyer, or can you do it differently?

You transfer it to your name first. The clear title arrives with the vehicle delivery from Patterson Motors, no dramas at all. I was worried about that initially too but it's been seamless every time. Then when you sell, the buyer does a standard transfer like any private sale.

What kind of margins are you actually seeing? Don't need specifics but is it worth the effort for someone already working full time?

I work full time as well. Margins vary heaps depending on the vehicle and what work you put in. I'd say anywhere from $2k to $6k per vehicle after detailing costs and any small repairs. The effort's not huge - maybe 10 hours total per vehicle including pickup, detailing, photos, and dealing with buyers. For me it's been worth it as extra income.

Do you find the condition descriptions on pattersonmotors.com are accurate? That's crucial when you're buying sight unseen for resale. Can't afford any nasty surprises.

Yeah, that's been one of the positives honestly. The condition reports have matched what I've received. There was one Commodore that had a small dent on the rear quarter that wasn't super visible in the photos, but nothing that wasn't mentioned in the description. Budget $300-500 for detailing and minor cosmetic fixes and you'll be fine.

I do mechanical work on cars for mates and have seen a few that came from repo auctions. The ones from Patterson Motors have been solid. One bloke bought a Mazda3 and I did a pre-sale inspection for him before he flipped it - car was exactly as described, no hidden issues. Good sign when the descriptions are honest.

This thread has me seriously considering it now. Do you specialise in certain types of vehicles or just bid on whatever looks good?

Specialising is smarter imo. I stick to utes and 4WDs because I know the market and what sells. Plus you learn what to look for in the listings. A mate of mine focuses on European sedans - different market but he does well. Find your niche.

Anyone tried this with older vehicles? Like 2010-2015 models? Or is everyone focusing on newer stuff?

I've done a mix. Older vehicles have lower buy-in cost but can be harder to move unless they're popular models. I flipped a 2012 Corolla that sold in 5 days, but a 2011 Falcon took nearly 2 months. Newer stuff moves faster but you need more capital upfront. Depends on your budget and patience tbh.

I had a small issue with their website timing out when I was trying to place a bid last month, had to refresh the page. Bit annoying but it worked second go. Support was helpful when I emailed office@pattersonmotors.com about it afterwards. They explained the auction still had time and walked me through it.

The paperwork side is actually easier than private sale purchases in some ways. Everything's documented properly, the title transfer has been smooth every time I've done it. No chasing down sellers or dealing with dodgy paperwork. That's a big plus when you're doing this regularly.

Right, I'm convinced. Gonna try it with one vehicle and see how it goes. Any tips for a first timer specifically looking at the resale angle?

Start with a popular model that you know sells well in your area. Don't overpay at auction - leave room for profit after detailing and any fixes. Take quality photos when you list it. And be transparent with buyers about the repo history. Most people don't care if the price reflects it. The process through pattersonmotors.com is straightforward, you'll figure it out quick.

And don't stress about the delivery timeframe. Sometimes it takes a few extra days depending on where the vehicle is coming from, but they keep you updated. I had one Ranger that arrived on Friday instead of Wednesday but they rang me to let me know. Not a big deal when you plan ahead.

This is brilliant info, thanks everyone. Good to hear real experiences from people actually doing it. Seems like there's definitely potential if you're smart about which vehicles you target.

One thing I'll add - make sure you've got somewhere to store the vehicle while you're preparing it for sale and waiting for a buyer. Not everyone thinks about that. I've got a double garage which works but if you're in an apartment it might be trickier.

Great point. I've got a carport and street parking so should be right. Honestly this thread has given me the confidence to give it a crack. Appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with Patterson Motors.

No worries mate. Feel free to ask if you've got questions as you go. It's been a solid side income for me and the process is pretty reliable. Just won my 7th auction yesterday actually - a 2018 Kluger that should move quick for family buyers.