How to analyze exit strategies and profit potential
AccuTrade helps you make smarter decisions about whether to retail, wholesale, or liquidate each vehicle on your lot. Instead of relying solely on age-based metrics like Market Day Supply, you can evaluate every VIN based on real-time performance signals and projected profitability.
In this article, you’ll learn how to use AccuTrade’s exit strategy tool to evaluate projected outcomes for retail, wholesale, and instant offer options — and choose the path that maximizes profit.
To get started
Go to the Cars.com Hub, and click on AccuTrade.
1 Select the vehicle from your inventory
Click the Inventory tab to search for and select the vehicle you want to view.
2 Select Market Pricing
Click the Market Pricing tab.
3 Review your exit options
AccuTrade provides projected outcomes across three exit paths for the vehicle, highlighting the option that delivers the highest projected profit:
- Retail
The Retail profit projection estimates your expected front-end gross if the vehicle sells through your lot at current or adjusted pricing. This calculation factors in your cost basis, market comps, and projected days to sale. Retail typically delivers the highest margin for vehicles with strong market demand and alignment with your typical buyer profile. - Wholesale
The Wholesale profit projection is AccuTrade’s wholesale estimate based on current auction data. This tells you what the vehicle would likely bring at auction today. Clicking the Wholesale Outlook tab will show you a timeline of estimated profit, including target Days on Market and when the vehicle is projected to go underwater (costs more than it’s worth to hold). - Instant Offer
The Instant Offer provides immediate, guaranteed liquidation through AccuTrade. If a vehicle needs to move now, you can accept AccuTrade’s guaranteed buyback offer and convert the unit to cash without waiting for auction cycles or buyer negotiations. This option eliminates uncertainty and stops holding costs immediately.
The Instant Offer is particularly valuable for at-risk vehicles where every additional day on your lot erodes margin. Rather than hoping for a retail buyer or waiting for wholesale bids, you can exit the vehicle today at a known value.
