Are you a car enthusiast looking for a curated selection of modern and future classic vehicles to bid on? Or perhaps you have an interesting car you‘d like to sell to a community of passionate collectors and hobbyists. Cars and Bids is an online car auction platform that caters to both buyers and sellers of enthusiast vehicles from the modern era.
In this in-depth Cars and Bids review, we‘ll take a close look at how this relatively new player in the online car market works, the kinds of vehicles you can expect to find, what the buying and selling experience is like according to real users, and how it compares to other options. By the end, you‘ll have a clear idea of whether Cars and Bids is worth checking out for your classic car needs.
What is Cars and Bids?
Founded in 2020 by Doug DeMuro, a well-known automotive writer, reviewer and YouTuber, Cars and Bids aims to be the go-to online auction site for modern enthusiast cars. DeMuro saw a gap in the market for a curated platform focused specifically on interesting cars from the 1980s up to the present day.
Unlike broad classifieds sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, Cars and Bids hand-selects the vehicles that get listed to maintain a certain quality standard. And compared to traditional auction sites that tend to feature classic cars from the 1960s and earlier, this site specializes in more modern cars that are on their way to becoming the classics of the future.
As the name suggests, Cars and Bids uses a bi-directional auction format. This means that buyers can bid on cars they‘re interested in, but sellers can also accept offers below their reserve price if they choose. The site collects a 4.5% commission fee (capped at $4,500) from the buyer when a vehicle sells.
How Buying a Car on Cars and Bids Works
The Cars and Bids buying process is fairly straightforward. Here‘s a quick step-by-step overview:
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Create an account on the site and add a valid credit card and phone number. This allows you to place bids.
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Browse the current auction listings to find a vehicle you‘re interested in. Take time to read through the detailed description, view all the photos, and check the VIN history report.
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If you have any questions, you can leave a comment for the seller on the listing page. You may also be able to arrange to see the car in-person if you‘re located nearby.
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When you‘re ready to place a bid, you can enter an amount in set increments or choose the "Bid or Buy" option to match the reserve price and purchase the vehicle immediately.
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If you‘re the highest bidder when the auction ends, congratulations! The final sale price will be the winning bid amount plus the 4.5% buyer‘s fee. Cars and Bids accepts wire transfer, PayPal, and financing through LightStream.
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You can arrange vehicle shipping through one of the site‘s preferred providers, but shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Cars and Bids is not involved in the process of delivering the vehicle to you.
Overall, buying a car on Cars and Bids is a pretty intuitive process thanks to the site‘s clean interface and useful features like the "Bid or Buy" option. Of course, as with any used vehicle purchase, you‘ll want to thoroughly review the details and ask questions before placing a bid.
How to Sell Your Car on Cars and Bids
Have a cool enthusiast car you‘re looking to sell to an audience of collectors and hobbyists? Cars and Bids could be the perfect platform to list your vehicle. Here‘s a rundown of how the selling process works:
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Submit your car for consideration by providing photos, VIN, key details, and a thorough description. Cars and Bids is selective about which vehicles make it onto the site, so not every submission is accepted.
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If your car is selected, the site may ask you to improve your listing by removing other ads, retaking clearer photos, and putting together a comprehensive ownership history.
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Set your reserve price, or the minimum amount you‘re willing to sell the vehicle for. You have the ability to accept a lower offer, but you aren‘t obligated to sell if bidding doesn‘t meet your reserve.
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Cars and Bids will set an auction date for your vehicle. Typical auctions run for 7 days, giving potential buyers plenty of time to spot your listing.
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Throughout the auction, you can respond to questions and comments from prospective buyers to provide more information and generate interest in your car.
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If bidding meets or exceeds your reserve by the end of the auction, the sale proceeds to the buyer and the transaction is completed. Cars and Bids will collect the 4.5% buyer‘s fee.
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You‘re responsible for coordinating with the buyer to complete the sale and arrange transportation. Cars and Bids provides support for the secure transfer of funds and title.
Compared to selling on general classifieds sites, listing your vehicle on Cars and Bids connects you with a more curated audience of enthusiasts who may be willing to pay a premium for the right car. But it‘s not the right fit for every vehicle – your submission has to be accepted first.
Cars and Bids Reviews from Real Buyers and Sellers
To get a sense of what the actual experience of using Cars and Bids is like, I dug through hundreds of reviews from buyers and sellers across sites like Google, Reddit, and auto forums. Here are some key takeaways:
Positives:
- Most users praise how easy and intuitive the site is to navigate as either a buyer or seller
- Sellers appreciate that the site attracts a qualified audience of enthusiasts for certain vehicles
- Buyers like the curated selection of interesting enthusiast cars that would be hard to find on other platforms
- Users generally had positive things to say about the site‘s customer service and support throughout the process
- The detailed vehicle histories, extensive photos, and community discussions help buyers feel more informed
Negatives:
- Some sellers felt the site was overly selective in which vehicles it approves for listing
- A few buyers noted discrepancies between a vehicle‘s condition and how it was represented in the listing
- Some complained about the 4.5% buyer‘s fee, although it‘s relatively low compared to other auction sites
- Because Cars and Bids isn‘t a local service, a few reviewers had issues coordinating transportation and completing the final transaction
Overall though, the vast majority of Cars and Bids reviews I could find were quite positive about the experience of buying and selling enthusiast vehicles through the platform. Users seem to appreciate the site‘s focus, curation, and community aspects.
"I‘m a return customer to Cars and Bids, having sold one vehicle and purchased two through the platform. The experience has been smooth each time thanks to an easy to use site, helpful support team, and awesome community of car lovers. This is my go-to spot when I‘m on the hunt for something fun and unique to drive." – Google review
Cars and Bids vs. the Competition
Of course, Cars and Bids isn‘t the only online platform for buying and selling used vehicles. Here‘s a quick overview of how it compares to some of the other major players:
Cars and Bids vs. Bring a Trailer (BaT) – BaT is probably Cars and Bids‘ closest competitor, with a similar auction model and focus on enthusiast vehicles. The key differences are that BaT accepts older classic cars and charges both buyers and sellers a 5% fee. Many users cross-post their listings to both sites.
Cars and Bids vs. Hemmings – Hemmings is one of the biggest names in classic car sales with a longstanding print publication and classifieds site. It tends to focus on older collector vehicles, while Cars and Bids is more specialized in modern cars from the 1980s through present. Hemmings doesn‘t offer an auction format.
Cars and Bids vs. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay Motors – These are all general classifieds sites with a much wider selection of everyday vehicles. In comparison, Cars and Bids is highly curated and targets a specific audience of enthusiasts. The auction format also creates a different buying and selling dynamic vs. haggling with local (and potentially anonymous) buyers.
Is Cars and Bids Legitimate and Safe to Use?
If you‘re wondering whether Cars and Bids is a legitimate operation, the short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that it‘s still a relatively new site, but it has quickly built a solid reputation among car enthusiasts thanks to its experienced founder and commitment to providing a curated, transparent platform.
Some of the factors that make Cars and Bids a reputable place to buy and sell include:
- Detailed listings with extensive photos and background info to help represent vehicles accurately
- Partial licensing of dealers and pre-screening of submissions to maintain quality standards
- Secure transactions through third party payment partners to protect buyers and sellers
- History reports and community discussion on each listing to uncover any potential issues
- Hands-on customer support to help smooth the process and resolve conflicts
- Founder Doug DeMuro‘s established credibility in the automotive media world
As with any peer-to-peer vehicle transaction, there are always certain risks involved, but Cars and Bids seems to go above and beyond to create a safe and legitimate experience for its users. The site‘s overwhelmingly positive reviews back that up.
Cars and Bids FAQ
Still have questions about how Cars and Bids works? I‘ve rounded up answers to some of the most common ones:
What types of vehicles are listed on Cars and Bids?
The site specializes in modern enthusiast cars from the 1980s to the present, with a focus on performance, luxury, and rare/exotic models. Some popular brands include Porsche, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, Acura, Lexus, and Saab.
How does Cars and Bids make money?
The company collects a 4.5% buyer‘s fee on completed sales (capped at $4,500). There are no listing fees for sellers.
Does Cars and Bids offer financing?
Yes, you can finance your purchase through the site‘s partnership with LightStream. Rates can vary depending on the buyer‘s credit situation.
How does shipping work on Cars and Bids?
Shipping is coordinated directly between the buyer and seller. Cars and Bids has partnerships with shipping providers like Preowned Auto Logistics and EazyAutoShip to help facilitate the process, but costs are the responsibility of the buyer and seller.
Can I see a car in person before bidding?
In some cases, yes. If you live near the seller, you may be able to arrange an in-person viewing before placing a bid. Check the listing and contact the seller to find out if it‘s a possibility.
What is the return policy for cars bought on Cars and Bids?
All vehicle sales are final and as-is. Once a buyer takes possession of the car, they assume responsibility. That‘s why it‘s crucial to review the listing details carefully and ask thorough questions before bidding.
How do I contact Cars and Bids customer support?
You can reach the Cars and Bids team by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-858-900-2080. The site also offers a live chat feature for logged in users. Response times can vary but are typically within one business day.
Final Thoughts on Cars and Bids
After an exhaustive look at how Cars and Bids works, the types of vehicles it offers, real user reviews, and comparisons to competitors, I believe this online enthusiast car auction is absolutely legitimate and worth checking out if you‘re in the market for a cool modern or future classic ride.
With its curated, high-quality selection and intuitive bidding process, Cars and Bids provides an experience that you simply can‘t get on general classifieds sites and local dealer lots. Founder Doug DeMuro and his team have managed to quickly build a reputable platform and passionate community of buyers and sellers.
Of course, shopping for a used vehicle always comes with inherent risks, so it‘s critical to thoroughly review the details of each listing, ask questions, and arrange an inspection if possible before placing a bid. And if you‘re located far from the seller, be prepared to deal with the potential challenges of shipping and transferring ownership across state lines.
But if you find the right vehicle at the right price, Cars and Bids is a fantastic place for enthusiasts to take their shot at automotive bliss. After all, the site‘s tagline is "Rad. Modern. Classic." – and that sums it up pretty perfectly.
