1stDibs Reviews

Vehicle Acquisition Network (VAN) is an automotive software platform built to help car dealerships acquire high-quality used vehicles directly from private sellers—without relying on auctions. As wholesale prices rise and vehicle availability tightens, VAN empowers dealers with tools to source inventory faster, more profitably, and with greater control. VAN aggregates local FSBO (for-sale-by-owner) listings, applies real-time market data to assess profitability, and automates communication with sellers at scale. Buyers can manage leads, track seller conversations, and streamline acquisition workflows through an intuitive CRM-style dashboard designed specifically for dealership teams. For dealers who don’t have dedicated acquisition staff, VAN offers a Managed Buyer program, pairing stores with expert buyers who actively source, engage, and negotiate with private sellers on their behalf—saving time and boosting acquisition volume without internal hiring. VAN is trusted by hundreds of dealerships across North America—from independent rooftops to franchise groups—looking to beat Carvana and CarMax at their own game. It's the smarter way to buy cars.

Since 2012, AuctionMethod has provided white-label auction software and custom auction software development for the auction industry. Based in Massachusetts, serving the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. AuctionMethod serves auctioneers, estate liquidators, farm and heavy equipment, industrial, salvage and recycling, non-profit, corporations, retail liquidators, auto/car dealers, real estate, arts and collectibles, and single-use auction businesses. AuctionMethod is the winner of the SourceForge Spring 2026 Top Performer Award in Auction Software, and is rated 4.9/5 on Capterra and SourceForge. AuctionMethod's model includes no commissions, no per-lot fees, no platform skim, and no contract, so clients keep the revenue from every sale instead of splitting it with the platform. Clients keep 100% ownership of their bidder lists, seller lists, item data, images, and transaction history on a fully white-label auction website. The platform covers catalog and lot management, consignor setup, bidder registration, invoicing, payment processing, tax handling, and reporting in one system. Auction event types include timed online auctions, simulcast auctions, blind timed auctions, catalog-only, fixed-price, and perpetual events. AuctionMethod includes a mobile app for iOS and Android, and reports a 94% renewal rate. For operations whose workflows fall outside the standard product, AuctionMethod also builds custom auction software development solutions at a fixed rate. AuctionMethod's pricing starts at $100/mo with a $250 one-time setup charge. AuctionMethod offers a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.