Used Vehicle Buyer / Wholesale Appraiser (Cross-Border)
Division: AEC CanAm (Auto Export Corporation)
Reports To: Associate Director, AEC CanAm
Location: Ontario, Canada (hybrid, field-based; in-office a couple of times per month)
Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Read this first
This is a buying role rather than a sales role. Day to day, you will appraise and purchase pre-owned vehicles at wholesale rather than sell to retail customers. If most of your experience is in showroom sales or F&I, this role works a little differently from what you may be used to, and that is worth knowing before you apply. What matters most to us is that you know how to value a car, spot condition issues, and negotiate a purchase that hits a margin target.
About AEC CanAm
AEC CanAm is the cross-border wholesale vehicle trading division of Auto Export Corporation, a Canadian company with over 30 years of experience in international automotive distribution. We source competitively priced pre-owned vehicles from the Canadian market and sell them wholesale to franchised and independent dealer partners across the United States. We operate at the intersection of automotive wholesale, cross-border trade, and dealer relationship management, with an established dealer network and proprietary sourcing workflows.
What you will actually do
Based in Ontario, you will source and buy competitively priced pre-owned vehicles from Canadian dealerships, wholesale auctions, lease-return and rental channels, and online remarketing platforms, for resale into our US dealer network. You will spend most of your week on the road: appraising cars, building warm sourcing relationships, and negotiating purchases that support our target margins. You will work closely with the Associate Director and the Wholesale Sales Representative to make sure what you buy matches live US dealer demand.
Key Responsibilities
Vehicle Sourcing and Buying
- Source and buy pre-owned vehicles from Canadian franchised and independent dealers, wholesale auctions, lease-return channels, rental fleets, and online remarketing platforms.
- Appraise vehicles accurately using industry valuation tools and negotiate purchase prices that support target gross margins.
- Build and maintain a network of warm sourcing relationships with Canadian dealers and wholesale contacts across Ontario.
- Spend significant time on the road visiting dealer lots, attending auctions, and meeting trade contacts to identify and secure inventory.
- Inspect or coordinate inspection of vehicles so condition aligns with wholesale standards and US buyer expectations.
Market Analysis and Pricing
- Monitor US wholesale and retail pricing daily so Canadian purchases are made at price points that support profitable cross-border resale.
- Track CAD/USD exchange rate movements and factor currency spreads into every purchase decision.
- Identify trends in US demand by vehicle segment, model year, mileage band, and region to guide sourcing priorities.
- Maintain awareness of Canadian market conditions, including auction run rates, seasonal supply, and OEM lease-return volumes.
Coordination, Documentation and Compliance
- Align purchasing activity with active US dealer demand by communicating availability, pricing windows, and condition details to the sales team in real time.
- Flag high-demand and time-sensitive purchasing opportunities to maximise margin and turnover.
- Ensure all purchased vehicles carry complete documentation: ownership history, lien searches, vehicle history reports, and condition disclosures.
- Coordinate with the operations team on title transfer, transport logistics, and export preparation for cross-border shipment.
- Keep accurate, up-to-date records of all purchases, costs, and vehicle status in the CRM system.
Reporting and Performance
- Contribute to a monthly team target of 50+ units purchased and sold cross-border.
- Provide weekly purchasing reports to the Associate Director: units acquired, average cost, sourcing channel mix, and pipeline status.
- Attend in-office team meetings a couple of times per month for performance reviews, pipeline alignment, and coordination.
- Help improve sourcing processes, dealer outreach, and purchasing workflows over time.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum 2 to 3 years of hands-on experience in automotive wholesale buying, used vehicle acquisition, dealer trade-desk appraisal, or dealer-to-dealer trading. Retail showroom sales on its own does not meet this requirement.
- Strong understanding of used vehicle valuation, wholesale pricing dynamics, and the pre-owned market.
- Proven ability to build and maintain sourcing relationships with dealers and wholesale contacts.
- Excellent negotiation skills and a sharp eye for vehicle condition and market value.
- Comfortable spending significant time on the road visiting dealers and attending auctions.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently in a target-driven environment.
- A valid Ontario driver's licence.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and online vehicle valuation tools.
Preferred
- Familiarity with wholesale auction platforms (ADESA, Manheim, TradeRev / OPENLANE, and similar).
- Familiarity with valuation tools such as Canadian Black Book, AccuTrade, vAuto, or MMR.
- An existing network of Canadian dealer and wholesale contacts (a significant asset).
- Understanding of cross-border vehicle trade, including how US market pricing and FX rates influence Canadian buying decisions.
- Experience with vehicle inspection and condition-grading standards.
- OMVIC registration, or willingness to obtain it.
Compensation and Benefits
Expected annual earnings: $70,000 to $120,000 per year. This is a commission role with a base salary of $35,000 to $45,000. The range reflects historical earnings at this dealership; actual earnings vary based on individual performance and business volumes.
Minimum earnings: In accordance with the Employment Standards Act, commission-paid employees will be paid at least the applicable Ontario minimum wage for all hours worked. Any minimum-wage top-up paid may be reconciled quarterly in accordance with the compensation plan.
- Base salary of $35,000 to $45,000 commensurate with experience.
- Performance-based commission tied to units purchased and contribution to team volume targets.
- Vehicle allowance or company car for dealer visits and auction travel.
- Extended health and dental benefits.
- Opportunity for growth within a rapidly expanding cross-border automotive operation.
Working Conditions
- Ontario-based hybrid role, with significant time on the road visiting dealers and attending auctions across the province.
- In-office attendance a couple of times per month for team meetings and performance reviews.
- Standard business hours with flexibility to accommodate auction schedules and dealer availability.
- Occasional travel to the US may be required but is not a regular part of the role.
About Auto Export Corporation
Auto Export Corporation is the Canadian parent entity of the AEC Solutions Group, a multinational automotive business with over 30 years of experience in vehicle distribution, homologation, and cross-border trade. Our core values are Adaptability, Growth, Kindness, Leadership, Professionalism, and Reliability.
Hiring Process Disclosure
This hiring process does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants. All applications are reviewed by our hiring team.
AEC CanAm is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.
How to Apply
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected]. In your cover letter, tell us the valuation tools you use and where you currently source and buy inventory.
Pay: $70,000.00-$120,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- How many years of hands-on used-vehicle appraisal or wholesale buying experience do you have (not retail showroom sales)?
- Which vehicle valuation tools do you use regularly? (Canadian Black Book, AccuTrade, vAuto, MMR, other, or none
- Have you bought vehicles at wholesale auction (Manheim, ADESA, TradeRev / OPENLANE)? (Yes / No)
- This is a buying-focused role, not a sales role. Your primary responsibility is acquiring inventory, not selling to customers. Are you comfortable with that? (Yes / No
- Do you have a valid Ontario driver's licence and are you comfortable spending most of your week on the road visiting dealers and auctions across Ontario? (Yes / No)
- Do you have an existing network of Canadian dealer or wholesale contacts you could source vehicles from? (Yes / No, briefly describe)
Work Location: Remote
