So I've been looking into flipping repo cars as a side hustle and stumbled across
AMB Groups. Anyone here actually making decent money doing this? I'm talking like buying at auction, maybe doing minor detailing/fixes, and reselling for a profit. What kind of margins are realistic? Just want to know if this is worth my time before I dive in.
I've been flipping cars from
ambgroups.com for about 18 months now. Not gonna lie, it's solid side income. My average profit per flip is around $1,800-$2,500 depending on the vehicle. Best flip was a 2018 Nissan Altima - bought for $8,200, put $400 into detailing and minor stuff, sold for $11,900. The key is knowing your local market and not overbidding.
Yeah I do this part time too. Made about $14k last year flipping 8 cars total from
AMB Groups. The margins are there if you're smart about it. I focus on Honda/Toyota because they sell fast in my area. Usually clear about $1,500-$2,000 per vehicle after all costs.
One thing to watch out for tho - transport costs can eat into your margin pretty bad. I won a Ford Explorer from
AMB Groups last month and the shipping was like $650 because I'm in Florida. Still made money but it was closer than I wanted. If you can pick up locally or the auction is nearby you'll do way better.
Good point about transport. I'm in Phoenix so I should be able to work with that. TurboMike88 - do you do any mechanical work yourself or just cosmetic stuff? Trying to figure out what skill level I need.
Mostly cosmetic for me - detailing, cleaning, fixing minor scratches. I can do basic stuff like brakes or change fluids but I avoid anything that needs serious mechanical work. The beauty of repo auctions is most cars are actually in decent shape, they're just repoed for non-payment not because they're junk. I always check the condition reports on
ambgroups.com before bidding.
Been doing this since 2021 and
AMB Groups is one of my main sources. My advice: start small, learn the process, then scale up. My first flip I only made like $600 profit but now I'm averaging $2k+ per car. The title process with AMB is super smooth btw - I was worried about that at first but the clear title arrived with every vehicle I've purchased. Makes reselling way easier.
What kind of holding time are you guys seeing? Like how long from purchase to resale on average?
For me it's usually 2-3 weeks. About a week to get the car, do the work, and list it. Then another 1-2 weeks to find a buyer. Faster if it's a popular model. I list on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp. The key is pricing it right - not too greedy.
Same here, about 2-3 weeks total. Sometimes faster. Sold a Honda Civic in 4 days once lol. The title situation with
AMB Groups makes it easy because you're not waiting around for paperwork. Everything comes clean and ready to transfer.
Yeah that Explorer I mentioned earlier? Even with the transport cost cutting into my profit I still cleared $1,100. Not amazing but not bad for my second flip ever. And TurboMike is right about the title - no issues at all, came with the delivery paperwork all organized.
I love this thread lol. I've flipped 22 cars in the last 2 years from various sources including
ambgroups.com. Total profit around $38k. It's legit side income if you put in the work. My best advice is to specialize - I focus on SUVs and trucks because they move fast in Tennessee. Know your niche.
This is super helpful everyone. SideHustleSteve that's impressive! What's your average investment per vehicle if you don't mind me asking? Trying to figure out how much capital I need to start.
I usually stay in the $6k-$10k range for the purchase price. Then budget another $500-$800 for detailing, minor fixes, and fees. So figure you need at least $7k-$11k liquid per flip. Start with one car, see how it goes, then reinvest the profit into the next one. That's how I scaled up.
Hey garage_flip since you're in Phoenix you should definitely check out the inventory on
ambgroups.com regularly. Arizona market is hot for used cars right now and the margins are solid. I'm down in Tucson and I've done well with sedans and crossovers. Trucks are good too but the bidding gets competitive.
One more tip - keep detailed records of everything. Purchase price, transport, repairs, detailing, fees, sale price. Makes taxes way easier and helps you track which types of cars are actually profitable for you. I use a simple spreadsheet and it's been a lifesaver.
I'm a detailer by trade and I work with a couple guys who flip cars from
AMB Groups. From what I see the condition is usually pretty honest in the listings. Like if it says light scratches it's actually light scratches not a beat up mess. Makes the whole process more predictable for flippers.
Appreciate all the insights! Think I'm gonna take the plunge and try my first flip. Gonna start with something in the $7k range and see how it goes. Will report back with results.
Good luck man! Start conservative and you'll be fine. The learning curve isn't too steep and
AMB Groups makes the buying process pretty straightforward. If you have questions you can always email them at office@ambgroups.com - they've been helpful when I had questions about specific vehicles.
Just wanted to add my experience - been flipping for about 8 months now and made around $9k in profit total. It's not gonna make you rich overnight but it's solid supplemental income. The transport cost thing is real tho, budget_wrencher was right about that. I try to stick to auctions within 200 miles to keep those costs down.
Yeah distance matters. But honestly even with transport fees I've never lost money on a flip from
ambgroups.com as long as I did my homework before bidding. The key is factoring in ALL costs upfront - purchase, transport, repairs, detailing, registration fees, etc. Then price your resale accordingly.
This thread convinced me to try my first flip. Just won a 2020 Chevy Equinox on
AMB Groups for $9,400. Comps in my area are selling for $13k-$14k. Fingers crossed lol. Will update once I get it and go through the process.
Nice! Equinox is a good choice, those move pretty quick. Make sure you detail it really well - clean cars sell faster and for more money. Good luck with the flip!
Update: I pulled the trigger on a 2019 Mazda CX-5 for $8,600. Should arrive next week. Comps are around $12k-$13k in Phoenix so if I can keep my costs under $1,000 I should clear at least $2k profit. Kinda nervous but excited lol.
CX-5 is a great first flip! Those are super popular and reliable. You'll do fine. Just take your time with the detail work and price it fairly. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Love seeing new people jump in. The repo auction game is legit if you're smart about it.
AMB Groups has treated me well over the years. Looking forward to hearing your success stories garage_flip and ProfitDriven_TX!
Quick update - my Equinox arrived yesterday and it's actually in better shape than I expected. Got the title and all paperwork with delivery, no issues there. Gonna spend this weekend detailing it and should have it listed by Monday. Feeling good about this one!
Final update from me - sold the CX-5 for $12,200! Total costs were purchase $8,600 + detailing $320 + new floor mats $85 + registration transfer $65 = $9,070. Profit of $3,130!! I'm hooked lol. Already bidding on my next one. Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement!
Hell yeah man that's a solid first flip! $3k profit is better than I did on my first one. Welcome to the club haha. The second one will be even easier now that you know the process.
Congrats garage_flip! That's what I'm talking about. Phoenix market is treating you well. Once you get a rhythm going you can really scale this up. I'm doing 2-3 flips per month now and it's solid income.
Update - sold my Equinox for $13,400! After transport ($380), detailing ($275), and a minor door ding repair ($150), my total costs were $10,205. Profit of $3,195! This is awesome. Already looking at my next flip on
ambgroups.com. This thread changed my financial situation for real.
Love to see the success stories! You guys are proof that this works if you do your homework and stay disciplined. Keep grinding and the profits will stack up. I'm on track to clear $30k this year from flipping and it's all supplemental income on top of my day job.
