Car Buying Concierge in Santa Monica

Santa Monica has something most cities don't: a real auto row a few minutes from home. That sounds like an advantage for buyers. In practice, it's an advantage for whoever negotiates better, and the stores do this every day.

We even the odds. You tell us what you want, we deal with the dealers, and you get a written out-the-door number before you commit to anything.

The Santa Monica Boulevard row, up close

Within a short stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard you'll find BMW of Santa Monica, Audi Santa Monica, Lexus Santa Monica, Volvo Cars Santa Monica, Toyota Santa Monica and Honda Santa Monica. W.I. Simonson, the Mercedes-Benz store, is in Santa Monica too.

Here's the thing about a row like this. Shoppers assume that because the stores are next door to each other, they compete hard on price. Sometimes they do. More often each store competes with the other dealers of its own brand across the county, not with its neighbors, and it knows a walk-in from 90405 rarely drives to the South Bay or the Valley to compare. We do compare. Same car, same options, several stores, in writing.

   

What Santa Monica drives

Parking is tight and a lot of trips are short, so compact SUVs and efficient sedans make sense: Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Q4 e-tron, Lexus NX and RX, Volvo XC40 and XC60, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V hybrids. Electric and plug-in models come up a lot here, especially for people with home charging. We'll give you a straight answer on whether an EV lease or a hybrid purchase fits how you live.

Lease or buy?

Many Santa Monica drivers put on fewer miles than they think. If you take the E Line downtown or work close to home, a lower mileage cap can shave real money off a lease. If you commute east on the 10 every day, it's the opposite, and we'll size the cap so turn-in doesn't sting.

Leasing also suits EV shoppers who don't want to bet on battery tech or resale value three years out. Buying fits if you'll keep the car a long time, or if you just don't want a payment that never ends. We'll lay out both, with the selling price, money factor and fees on paper, not just a monthly number.

   

Who negotiates for you

John Ricci spent about 30 years inside dealerships, including time as a Finance Director. About 20 years ago he switched sides, and now he only works for buyers. He knows the playbook because he used to run it.

How it works

 
1. You tell us the car, budget, and timeline. One short call covers it. Torn between two models? We'll help you think it through.
 
2. We shop dealers and negotiate. We contact the stores, compare real inventory, and get the out-the-door number in writing. You don't take sales calls.
 
3. You approve the deal and drive. You see every line before you sign. Say yes, and we set up the signing, or delivery when the dealer offers it.

Price and guarantee

 
• $997 flat for a new-car purchase or lease.
 
• $497 to add your trade-in.
 
• Guarantee: if our savings don't beat the fee, you pay nothing.
 
• Our clients save about $3,200 on average.

No commissions and no dealer money. You're the only one paying us, so you're the only one we work for.

Your Santa Monica Questions, Answered

The most common questions Santa Monica buyers ask us before we get to work.

Since the dealers are all on one street, can't I just shop them myself?

You can, and some people do fine. The difference is that we shop the same car across the whole region, not just the row, and we know which fees and add-ons to strike. Most stores also treat a buyer with a professional negotiator differently than a walk-in.

I want an EV but have nowhere to charge at my apartment. What would you suggest?

Be honest with yourself about charging first. If home charging isn't possible, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid from Toyota, Lexus, Volvo or Honda may fit better than a full EV. We'll talk it through before we shop anything.

Can the dealer deliver the car to my place in Santa Monica?

Many stores on the row will deliver nearby for signing, and some will even bring the car to your office. We'll ask for it as part of the deal. If a store insists on an in-person signing, it's short, because the numbers are already agreed.

Get your number in writing

Want the full picture first? Read how our car buying concierge service works, or see every city on our areas we serve page. Nearby: Brentwood, Beverly Hills.

Get started for $997 or call or text (949) 270-3307.