Dealer Group Acquisition Strategies for 2025

For dealer groups operating multiple rooftops, used car acquisition is no longer just a store-by-store process it’s a scalable operation. In 2025, the most successful dealer groups are centralizing sourcing, standardizing their tools, and using smarter strategies to stay ahead in a highly competitive market.

This post breaks down how modern groups are adapting their acquisition strategies to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and keep inventory flowing.

Why Dealer Groups Need a New Acquisition Strategy

Running multiple rooftops comes with unique challenges fragmented data, inconsistent sourcing standards, and a constant pressure to keep inventory balanced. Traditional methods like auction sourcing or inbound leads don’t scale well across a group. That’s why forward-thinking groups are shifting to centralized acquisition operations backed by modern tools.

Learn how scalable sourcing tools can drive volume.

Centralized Acquisition Teams

Many dealer groups now operate a dedicated acquisition team or regional buy center. These teams:

• Handle sourcing for multiple rooftops
• Prioritize vehicles based on demand, location, and sales velocity
• Use shared data and tools to operate at scale

This approach turns sourcing into a coordinated effort, not a siloed task.

Standardized Software Across Stores

Uniform acquisition software across rooftops eliminates guesswork. With tools like VETTX's vehicle sourcing platform, groups gain full visibility into:

• Lead activity by store
• Inventory needs across the network
• Deal flow status in real time

This level of insight helps optimize purchasing decisions, reduce duplicate outreach, and streamline sourcing.

Data-Driven Inventory Allocation

Data is the backbone of modern acquisition. Dealer groups are leveraging software that:

• Highlights underperforming vehicles in certain regions
• Suggests high-turn units for specific rooftops
• Recommends sourcing based on actual lead history and market pricing

This approach ensures every unit is strategically placed for maximum ROI.

Scaling Without Adding Headcount

Instead of hiring more buyers, top groups are doing more with less. The right acquisition software allows one sourcing rep to:

• Monitor thousands of listings daily
• Automate outreach to private sellers
• Get notified of vehicles that meet store-level preferences

See how a single buyer can 3x their performance.

Final Thoughts

Dealer groups in 2025 need more than volume they need visibility, consistency, and control. By adopting centralized sourcing teams and group-wide acquisition software, they’re not just filling lots they’re building scalable, data-driven operations.

Looking to modernize your acquisition strategy across all rooftops? Schedule a demo with VETTX to see how we help dealer groups build smarter sourcing systems.

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