Flipping repo cars from AMB Groups as a side hustle

25 answers 3.24k followers Asked days ago
Hey everyone, I've been lurking here for a while and wanted to share my experience. I started buying repo vehicles from AMB Groups about 8 months ago as a side income project. So far I've flipped 4 cars and made modest but consistent profits. My margins have been between $800-$2200 per vehicle after all expenses. Just wondering if anyone else is doing this and what kind of results you're seeing? Is ambgroups.com your main source or do you use other auction sites too?
Nice work! I've done 6 flips through AMB Groups in the past year. My average profit is around $1500 per car. The key is really knowing your local market and what sells fast. I focus on Honda and Toyota sedans because they move quickly in my area. The bidding process on their site is straightforward once you get the hang of it.
I've been doing this for almost 2 years now with AMB Groups. Flipped about 15 vehicles total. My biggest win was a 2018 Chevy Silverado that I got for $12,400 and sold for $16,800. Profit after detailing and minor repairs was around $3100. The title transfer was smooth - got the clear title delivered with the truck and had it registered in my name within a week. That's crucial for flipping because you can't sell what you don't legally own.
This is a solid side hustle if you know what to look for. I'm a mechanic so I have an advantage when inspecting the condition reports on ambgroups.com. Most of the repos I've seen listed are honestly described. My advice is to factor in about $300-500 for detailing and minor cosmetic fixes. That investment usually doubles your selling price increase.
One thing to watch out for is transport costs if you're not local. I won a great bid on a Ford Escape last month from AMB Groups but the shipping ate up almost $650 of my expected margin. Still made $900 profit but it was less than I calculated initially. Just make sure you factor in those logistics costs before you bid.
@budget_builder - yeah that's a good point. I'm lucky because I'm only about 45 mins from where AMB Groups stores most of their inventory so I just rent a trailer and pick them up myself. Saves a ton on transport. For anyone starting out, definitely add that cost into your calculator before bidding.
I've flipped 9 cars from AMB Groups and honestly it's been one of my better side income streams. Average profit is about $1800 per flip. The key is patience - don't overbid just because you want to win. I passed on probably 30 auctions before finding the right deals. Also the title situation has never been an issue for me. Clear titles arrived with every vehicle I purchased.
Been thinking about trying this. How much capital do you guys typically need to get started? And how long does it usually take from purchase to sale?
@DieselDan I started with about $8k in capital for my first flip. That gave me room to bid on something in the $6-7k range and still have money for repairs and detailing. Turnaround time varies but I usually sell within 2-3 weeks of listing. The fastest was 4 days lol. Just price it right and have good photos.
This thread is motivating! I've done 23 flips total, 18 of them from AMB Groups. My total profit over 18 months has been around $31,000. It's not quit-your-day-job money but it's a solid second income. I reinvest most profits back into the next purchase so I can handle 2 vehicles at once now. The website ambgroups.com makes it easy to track your bids and see new inventory daily.
@FlipKingRaj that's impressive! Do you have any specific strategies for the actual resale? I've been using Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist but wondering if there are better platforms.
I tried this last year and made about $2400 on 2 cars from AMB Groups. Stopped because my main job got busier but I'm thinking of starting again. The process was legit - no issues with paperwork or titles. One thing I did was get a pre-purchase inspection done by my buddy who's a mechanic, even though the condition reports were accurate. Just gave me extra peace of mind.
@AutoFlipMike I use FB Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist. Also found success with AutoTrader for slightly higher-end vehicles. The key is good photos in natural light and being responsive to messages. I usually get 15-20 inquiries per listing and convert about 3-4 of those to actual test drives.
I focus mainly on trucks and SUVs from repo auctions. Got a 2017 Ram 1500 from AMB Groups three months ago for $15,200 and sold it for $19,400. After detailing and fixing a small dent it was about $2800 profit. Trucks hold value really well and sell fast in Texas. Highly recommend this niche if you're in the right market.
Update on my situation - even with the higher transport cost I mentioned earlier, I still cleared $900 and learned a valuable lesson about calculating all expenses upfront. My second flip just sold yesterday for a $1650 profit and this time I factored everything in properly. Definitely a learning curve but worth it.
I've been researching this for weeks and this thread is super helpful. One question - how do you handle the registration and insurance during the flip period? Do you register it in your name or use dealer plates or something?
@MariaD Good question. I register everything in my name with standard registration. For insurance I have a special policy that covers vehicles I'm flipping - it's called dealer's insurance but you can get it as an individual if you're doing regular flips. Costs me about $140/month and covers up to 3 vehicles at a time. Worth every penny for the liability protection during test drives.
Just wanted to give an update - I closed on my 5th flip yesterday. 2020 Nissan Altima that I got from AMB Groups for $9100. Put $220 into detailing and sold for $11,800. Net profit of $2480. I'm really happy with how this side hustle is going. The key is patience and doing your homework on market values before bidding.
Been flipping cars part-time for 3 years, started using AMB Groups about a year ago. They've become my primary source because the inventory is consistent and the condition reports are honest. I average about $1600 per flip and do roughly one per month. It's not huge money but it pays for my kids' activities and vacation fund. The paperwork side has always been smooth - titles arrive on time and everything is documented properly.
This is really encouraging to read. I'm thinking of starting this but nervous about making a mistake on my first purchase. Any tips for absolute beginners?
@NewbiNate Start small with something under $7k so if you make a mistake the learning cost isn't too high. Research the market value of whatever you're bidding on using KBB and local listings. Set your max bid before the auction starts and stick to it - don't get emotional. And read the condition reports on ambgroups.com carefully. They're detailed and accurate in my experience. If you have a mechanic friend, have them look at the report with you.
@NewbiNate Also don't forget to factor in your time. The actual profit number is just part of it - you're also spending time on detailing, listing, answering messages, doing test drives, and handling paperwork. I spend about 12-15 hours per flip total. So if you make $1500 that's like $100-125/hour which is still great but just be realistic about the time investment.
Alright you all convinced me. I just won my first auction on ambgroups.com - a 2019 Honda Civic for $8750. Seems like a solid first flip based on what I'm seeing them sell for locally. Wish me luck!
@DieselDan Congrats! Civic is a great choice for a first flip. They're reliable and in high demand. You should do well with that one. Keep us posted on how it goes!
Love seeing people jump in! This thread has been awesome. Just remember the golden rule - buy right and you'll sell right. If you overpay at auction there's no way to make it up on the backend. I learned that the hard way on flip #2 where I barely broke even lol. But overall this has been a great income stream and AMB Groups has been solid to work with.