Independent Car Buying Advice — Melbourne

We're in
your corner.

Independent advice for one of life's biggest purchases.

Seven years inside dealerships across New Zealand and Australia — Holden, HSV, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, GWM HAVAL. I know how deals are built, where margin hides, and what you should never agree to. Now that knowledge works for you.

Book a Free 15-Min Call See Pricing
Why clients trust Before You Sign
$0
Received from dealers. Ever.
7
Years inside NZ & AU dealerships
100%
Client-funded. Zero dealer affiliation.
F&I
Accredited — Angle Automotive Finance
Flat fee agreed before I lift a finger. No percentage. No surprises.
F&I Accredited — Angle Automotive
Zero Dealer Kickbacks
Flat Fee — Agreed Upfront
Melbourne West, Central & Inner SE
What I Know From the Inside

Four areas where
unrepresented buyers lose.

These aren't theories. I spent seven years on the other side of the desk across eight brands.

No Dealer Kickbacks

Most "free" broker services are paid by the dealer — meaning they're not working for you. I charge you directly and accept nothing from dealers. Full stop.

F&I Contract Review

The finance office is where buyers lose thousands without knowing it. With F&I accreditation, I review your contract and give you an honest opinion on every product offered.

Trade-In Maximisation

Dealers love a trade-in — it's their biggest margin opportunity. I know every tactic they use to undervalue your car and how to counter them effectively.

The Process

Simple. Transparent.
Done for you.

From first call to driving away — no surprises, no confusion.

01
Book a Free Call

Tell me what you're looking for — new or used, trade-in, budget, timeline. 15 minutes to understand your situation and decide if I'm the right fit.

02
Lock In Your Service

We agree on the right tier. You pay a $100 booking fee (credited to your final fee) and I get to work. Everything is clear before money changes hands.

03
I Do the Heavy Lifting

Dealer research, calls, negotiations, price comparisons, trade-in strategy. I handle all of it so you don't set foot in a showroom until the deal is done.

04
You Sign with Confidence

I'm available by phone during your finance office meeting. If they try to add something you don't need, I'll tell you. You drive away knowing you got the best deal.

Client Results

Real outcomes.
No fluff.

What previous clients have to say about calling Before You Sign.

"I was about to sign on a used Mazda CX-5 for $4k more than I needed to. One conversation with my advocate and we found the same spec, lower km, for significantly less at a dealership I'd never have tried."

Saved on purchase price
S
Sarah M.
Used car — Melbourne West

"The F&I review alone was worth the fee. I was about to agree to paint protection and an extended warranty that would have added over $3,000 to the deal. He explained exactly why neither was necessary for my situation."

Avoided unnecessary F&I products
J
James K.
New car — Inner South-East

"First time buying a car in Australia. Having someone who actually knows how the dealership works — from the inside — on your side is worth every cent. I didn't have to negotiate a single thing myself."

Stress-free first purchase
P
Priya R.
New car — Central Melbourne
Pricing

Transparent fees.
No surprises.

Everything is agreed upfront, locked in, and credited against your $100 booking fee. Pick your vehicle type, then choose your tier.

All tiers include a $100 non-refundable booking fee payable upfront, credited against your final fee. Balance is due when you sign the purchase agreement.
Negotiate
Price Negotiation
$400 flat

I handle the negotiation and make sure the deal is genuinely competitive — not just the number they want you to see.

  • Price negotiation across multiple dealers
  • Dealer fee and add-on challenge
  • Delivery condition check guidance
  • Available by phone during handover
  • Trade-in counter-negotiation
  • F&I contract & aftermarket review
Full Protection
Complete Advocacy
$800 flat

The full service. Negotiation, trade-in, and an F&I accredited review of your finance contract and every aftermarket product they put in front of you.

  • Price negotiation across multiple dealers
  • Dealer fee and add-on challenge
  • Delivery condition check guidance
  • Available by phone during handover
  • Trade-in counter-negotiation
  • F&I contract & aftermarket review

Finance & Aftermarket Review Disclaimer: This service constitutes an informed opinion based on F&I accreditation and dealership experience — not financial advice. I am not a licensed financial adviser or credit provider. For formal financial advice, please consult an appropriately licensed professional.

Why Choose Independent

Not all car buying
services are equal.

Most broker services in Australia are paid by the dealer — which means their loyalty is divided.

What you get Before You Sign Dealer-paid Broker Going Direct
Works exclusively for the buyer
No dealer referral fees or kickbacks
F&I contract review & opinion
Trade-in counter-negotiation Sometimes
Inside knowledge of dealer margins Varies
Fee agreed & locked in upfront Varies N/A
Available during finance office meeting
Covers new & used vehicles Usually new only
Who I Am

Seven years inside.
Now entirely yours.

I've spent seven years working inside dealerships across New Zealand and Australia — as a sales consultant, in the F&I office, and across aftermarket. Holden, HSV, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, GWM HAVAL. I've been the person on the other side of the desk.

I know how dealer load works. I know what margin exists in finance products, paint protection, and extended warranties. I know how trades are undervalued and how that number gets buried in a changeover figure. I know every tactic because I was trained to use them.

This service exists because most buyers go in alone against people who do this every day. Before You Sign gives you someone in your corner who's been on the other side of the desk.

F&I Accredited — Angle Automotive Finance Qualified to review finance contracts, rates, and aftermarket products and provide an informed opinion on their value.
Melbourne Based — NZ & AU Dealership Experience Seven years across 8 brands in both New Zealand and Australian dealerships — volume, prestige, new and used.
100% Client-Funded — Zero Dealer Affiliation I am not enrolled in any dealer referral program, spotter fee arrangement, or volume incentive scheme.
7
Years working inside NZ & Australian dealerships across sales, F&I and aftermarket
$0
Received from dealers, ever. My only income is the flat fee you agree to upfront.
8
Brands worked across — Holden, HSV, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, GWM HAVAL
Common Questions

Straight answers.
No spin.

For the most part, no. I handle all research, calls, and negotiation remotely. You'll typically only visit once — to sign and take delivery. For used cars, I'll advise you on what to inspect before signing. I'm available by phone during your finance office meeting so you're never in that room alone.
That's fine — the fee structure is the same regardless of who found the vehicle. Even if you've identified a specific car, there's almost always room to negotiate price, challenge extras, improve trade-in value, or find a better specification elsewhere. Finding the car and getting the best deal on it are two very different things.
No. Not a referral fee, not a spotter fee, not a volume incentive, not a commission. Nothing. This is the single most important distinction between what I do and what most "free" broker services offer. My only income is the flat fee you pay me directly. That's the only way I can genuinely work for you.
I'll review your proposed finance contract — rate, term, balloon payments, comparison rate — and give you an honest opinion on whether it's competitive. I'll also go through any aftermarket products offered (paint protection, tinting, extended warranties, GAP insurance etc.) and tell you plainly whether each one represents fair value. This is an informed professional opinion based on my F&I accreditation — not financial advice.
The $100 booking fee is non-refundable — it covers the initial consultation and early research work regardless of outcome. The balance is only payable when you sign the purchase agreement. If a deal falls through through no fault of your own, we'll discuss the situation fairly. The goal is always to get you into the right car at the right price — not to rush you into a bad deal.
Primarily Melbourne's western suburbs, central Melbourne, and the inner south-east corridor. Most of the negotiation work is done by phone so geography matters less than you'd think — I can contact dealers across Melbourne and source vehicles from anywhere. If you're outside these areas, get in touch and we can discuss whether I'm the right fit.
Before You Sign Anything

The dealer has a professional
negotiator. Now you do too.

Book a free 15-minute call. No obligation, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about what I can do for your situation.

Book Your Free Call

We're in your corner — from first call to keys in hand.

Get in Touch

Call before
you sign.

Fill in the form and I'll be in touch within a few hours. The more detail you can give me upfront, the more useful our first conversation will be.

Melbourne — West, Central & Inner South-East
Typically responds within a few hours
Initial call is always free
Your information is used only to respond to your enquiry. I don't share your details with dealers or any third party — ever.
Call Before You Sign