Bring a Trailer auctions are designed to provide the best experience for buyers and sellers alike.
The auction process starts with sellers submitting their cars through the website. We select the most interesting and work with the seller to compile a thorough listing for the vehicle. Auctions typically run for 7 days.
What makes BaT different?
How do I submit a vehicle?
How do live auctions work?
How does bidding work?
What is the post-auction process?
What are BaT’s buyer and seller fees?
Want to head straight to our FAQ? Click here.
What makes BaT different?
We represent each car in a thorough and straightforward fashion
using comprehensive information and photo galleries provided by sellers.
Each seller works with a team dedicated to their listing,
who provide continual support throughout the auction process.
Comment threads on each listing let buyers and sellers share knowledge
and communicate constructively about the vehicle.
Sniping protection extends the auction clock by two minutes
each time a bid is placed, giving everyone a fair chance to place their maximum bids.
After an auction closes, we put the seller in contact with the winning bidder to complete the transaction.
Submitting a Vehicle for Auction
You can launch a submission through the vehicle submissions page.
We offer three levels of service based on the needs of a seller—
Classic, Plus, and White Glove.
Classic
Our tried-and-true service. Get a custom-written listing and a 7-day Bring a Trailer auction for just $99.
Plus Photography
A professional photographer will capture inspirational and detailed listing photos and videos that show your vehicle at its best — available as an add-on to Classic service for an additional $330.
White Glove Service
Concierge and comprehensive service for sellers with significant cars and collections.
The Submission Process
After choosing a service on the Vehicle Submissions Page, sellers answer questions about their vehicle on the submission form and upload photos so our auctions team can evaluate if it’s a good fit for our audience.
If a vehicle is accepted, the seller pays the listing fee and we work with the seller to gather all necessary information (including videos, maintenance records, vehicle history, and service documentation).
With the information and photos provided by the seller, our auction specialists craft a thorough and informative listing for the vehicle.
How our Live Auctions Work
Every auction goes live with an informational listing, photo gallery, and additional seller features that help ensure a great result.
- Each auction has a comment thread where the BaT community discusses the vehicle and asks the seller questions. Sellers are encouraged to be active participants in the comments section—answering questions and engaging with the community increases bidder confidence.
- Potential bidders can use the Contact Seller button to ask the seller questions, schedule a viewing, or set up a test drive.
- Each seller has the ability to lower their reserve while the auction is live.
How Bidding Works
You must register to bid to place bids on BaT.
- All bids are verified by a credit card hold to ensure the commitment of potential buyers. When a bid is placed, we place a hold on the credit card on file for 5% of the bid amount. When the auction closes, the hold is released for all bidders who didn’t win the vehicle.
- The bid box will indicate the minimum required bid amount.
- Sniping protection extends the auction clock by two minutes each time a bid is placed in the auction’s final moments. The auction isn’t over until two full minutes have elapsed since the highest bid was placed.
- We encourage all potential bidders to read the listing and review the entirety of the comment section before placing a bid. It is important that bidders carry out their due diligence to understand all the details of the car and insights offered by members of the community.
The Post-Auction Process
If the auction reserve is met when the listing ends (or the auction is no reserve), BaT provides the seller and winning bidder with each others’ contact information.
The buyer and seller then work together to complete the transaction and arrange for shipping if necessary. In general, buyers are responsible for shipping, applicable taxes, registration fees, and other costs associated with vehicle ownership. The BaT Verified Checkout process, where available, arranges many of these aspects of the transaction between two private party sellers. BaT staff are also happy to provide assistance or answer questions during the transaction.
If the auction reserve is not met when the listing ends, the highest bidder will have 24 hours to make their best offer in a secure portal on the BaT website. The seller then has 24 hours to accept, decline, or make one counteroffer.
We encourage buyers to take advantage of Bring a Trailer Verified Checkouton eligible listings, each of which is clearly marked above its bid box. Thisdigital transaction service enables buyers and sellers to quickly and securely handle title transfer, payments, and shipping by checking out online.These features are beneficial to both buyers and sellers in helping to complete smooth and organized transactions.
Our Customer Service team is happy to provide assistance or answer questions during this part of the process, whether it is carried out using Bring a Trailer Verified Checkoutor not.
How Our Fees Work
- Sellers pay a $99 listing fee, with the option to add our Plus photo service for an additional $330. There are no other seller fees on BaT.
- Buyers pay a 5% fee on top of the final sale price to BaT, with a minimum of $250, and capped at $7,500.
- Contact us for pricing of our White Glove Service.
Still curious about something? We have the answers to most common questions in our Frequently Asked Questions
