Car Dealer Inventory Software
How to Build a Vehicle Acquisition Program That Works
June 20, 2025
Inventory is the lifeblood of every dealership but many still treat acquisition like an afterthought. The truth is, a structured vehicle acquisition program can be the difference between hitting your sales targets and falling short. In this post, we’ll walk through how to build a sourcing operation that consistently delivers the right cars, at the right price, with minimal waste.
Step 1: Define What Inventory You Need
Every great acquisition program starts with clarity. What types of vehicles sell best at your dealership? Consider:
- Make/model/year
- Price range
- Vehicle condition
- Turn time and margin performance
Use your historical sales data to build a target profile. The more specific, the better.
Step 2: Identify the Right Acquisition Channels
Auction lanes and trade-ins are just the beginning. To scale your sourcing, consider:
- Private party listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp
- Existing customers in your CRM with vehicles to trade
- Local classified and community listings
Private party sourcing offers one of the best cost-to-value ratios when done at scale.
Step 3: Use Tools to Streamline Sourcing
Manual sourcing doesn’t scale. To build a real acquisition program, you need tools that:
- Aggregate listings across platforms
- Filter vehicles by your ideal profile
- Alert buyers to high-potential deals
- Track outreach and lead status
See how VETTX powers scalable sourcing operations.
Step 4: Build a Repeatable Process
Acquisition isn’t just about tools—it’s about people and process. Set clear steps for your team:
- Daily time blocks for sourcing
- Scripted outreach to sellers
- Lead follow-up cadence
- Criteria for making offers
Standardization helps you scale without sacrificing quality.
Step 5: Measure and Improve
Track your results:
- How many leads are being contacted?
- What’s the cost per vehicle acquired?
- Which sources deliver the best cars?
Refine based on real data. Your acquisition program should evolve as your lot and market shift.
Final Thoughts
The best dealerships treat acquisition as a core competency—not a backup plan. By building a structured, scalable program powered by the right tools, you’ll stay stocked, competitive, and profitable.
Want to build a program that works? Talk to VETTX to see how we help top dealers source smarter.
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See it in Action
Discover how VETTX can supercharge your vehicle buying center. Schedule a free strategy call with our experts today and take the first step towards dominating your market.
