Are you looking for a great deal on your next car? Then you’re definitely going to want to check out our picks for the best online car auction sites.
These websites offer you the chance to place bids on a wide variety of vehicles, from family sedans to luxury sports cars and more. Whether you’re searching for something reliable or just want to add a little bit of excitement to your life, these online auctions have something for everyone.
Read on to find out which ones are the top contenders and why. Who knows — you just might find the perfect car for your needs.
Are Online Auctions Legitimate?
If you’re looking to buy a car online, an online auction could be the way to go. But you might be wondering, are they legitimate?
The answer is yes! Online auctions have been around since the early days of the internet and remain a popular means of car buying and selling today. In fact, many dealerships that sell used cars probably sourced those vehicles from an online or in-person auction.
There are plenty of reputable websites that offer secure transactions through equally secure payment methods. Plus, there are a variety of options to choose from, depending on your needs and budget.
As such, you can trust that there are plenty of online car auctions and licensed dealers out there that will get you the vehicle of your dreams—or close to it. And with our stamp of approval on our top picks, you can rest assured that they are legal, secure, and offer great deals.
Be sure to keep reading to learn more about online auctions and how you can make sure you’re investing in a quality vehicle from a quality auction house.
Why Use Online Car Auction Sites?
Online car auction sites make it easier than ever to find the vehicle of your dreams for a great price. With the help of these websites, you can quickly and easily compare prices from auctions across the country. Additionally, many online or in-person auto auctions feature wholesale prices.
You’ll be able to narrow down options according to your budget and needs, so you won’t waste time searching for cars that don’t meet your criteria. Plus, you can bid from the comfort of your own home.
Thanks to online car auction sites, you can now become the master of your own destiny — or at least, your next car. It’s easier and more convenient than ever to find the right car for the right price.
If you’re ready to find the car you’ve always wanted without spending a fortune, let’s look at the five best online car auction sites you should check out.
What Are the Best Online Car Auction Sites?
There’s a good selection of variety when it comes to online car auctions. Whether you’re looking for luxury sedans, classic cars, or something in between, you can find it quickly and easily with the help of these top-rated online auction sites.
In our search for the most trusted and reliable car auction websites, we carefully weighed the pros and cons of each one to bring you what we feel is the best list of online car auctions.
Here are our top five picks:
IAAI
With more than 190 branches across the United States, IAAI is one of the largest vehicle auction websites. Hosted by Insurance Auto Auctions, this platform is a great source for buying and selling cars, trucks, RVs, ATVs, boats, trailers, heavy equipment, motorcycles, and more.
Founded in 1982, IAAI certainly has the experience and reputation to back up the platform. What’s more, the auction site is known for offering some of the lowest prices and the most diverse selection of vehicles.
There’s a yearly fee of $200 if you plan on bidding on cars, but if you’re just looking to browse, there’s no cost involved, nor do you need a dealer license.
IAAI is a well-designed platform with lots of features, making it a great choice for buyers and sellers alike. Whether you’re experienced with auctions or just getting your feet wet, you’re sure to appreciate all that IAAI has to offer.
Copart Auto Auctions
Another well-known platform in the car auction world is Copart. It has more than 135,000 vehicles in its inventory, so you know you’re in a good place to find the perfect car.
Copart offers everything from classic collectibles to salvage cars and new vehicles, so you’re sure to find something that suits your needs. Plus, its selection of luxury cars is second to none.
The bidding process is simple and straightforward, and there’s a helpful customer support team available if you need any help. Furthermore, you can get some great discounts if you sign up for a membership.
Also founded in 1982, Copart has only grown since its inception, and it’s now one of the best online car auction sites in 11 countries.
eBay Motors
When it comes to online auction sites, eBay Motors is one of the first names that comes to mind. After all, the eBay platform and name are synonymous with great deals.
The popular eBay Motors platform is simply an extension of the main auction website, offering a wide variety of cars and other vehicles. Whether you’re looking for a BMW, Honda, Toyota, a vintage Porsche, salvage vehicles, trade-in cars, or new cars, chances are that you’ll find it on eBay Motors.
Plus, with its huge user base, there is always a good chance of finding great deals. So if you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, make sure to check out eBay Motors. You might just find the perfect car.
ACV Auctions
ACV Auctions is a car auction site that gives you access to thousands of vehicles at every turn. With their easy-to-use platform, you can quickly find the cars you want and bid on them with confidence.
They also provide detailed vehicle history reports, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before placing a bid. In fact, the online auction site lets you listen to recordings of ACV Auctions’ different vehicles.
These recordings are of the vehicle’s engine, and it’s delivered to you in high definition. That way, car-savvy bidders can really get an idea of what they’re bidding on.
Accompanying the audio are pictures — which are equally high-quality — of the car’s interior, exterior, and other features. So if you want to get a feel for a vehicle before bidding, ACV Auctions is your best bet.
One of the features that makes ACV Auctions stand out is its snappy live auctions. At just 20 minutes each, you can bid and win in no time. Plus, they give you access to over 1,000 car dealers around the country, so you’re able to shop for vehicles in any area that interests you.
The bottom line? ACV Auctions is a great online car auction site for those who want a fast and reliable way of finding the perfect vehicle.
Capital Auto Auction
Capital Auto Auction is the place to find great deals on online car auctions. They make it easy to bid and buy, with an array of payment options that ensure you get the vehicle you want at a price you can afford.
There are a variety of vehicles to choose from, including sedans, trucks, SUVs, and a whole lot more. Capital Auto Auction also offers an impressive certified used car selection, so you can be sure you’re getting a reliable ride.
Plus, they offer warranties on most vehicles along with their helpful customer service team, who will walk you through every step of the process. With Capital Auto Auction, you can find the best online auto auctions around.
How Do You Sell a Car at an Online Auction?
Selling a car at an online auction is surprisingly easy. All you need to do is find one of the five best online car auction sites, register with them, and put in your bidding information.
Whether you go with one of our top five sites or other reputable sites like A Better Bid, Cars & Bids, or dealer-only auctions like Auto Auction Mall, make sure you do your research and pick a site that you’re comfortable with.
The process begins when the auction house takes pictures of your vehicle, along with any additional information they need. You’ll then be asked to list the vehicle’s features, both inside and out, including mileage, make and model, year of manufacture, and condition.
Once all the details have been added to the listing, the house will put a price on your car with an amount that they feel is fair based on its current condition — mileage, undercarriage, body, engine, etc. — and whether anything is repairable.
Other factors include whether you have a clean title or a salvage title. But the auction site will go over all of these things with you.
Your car then goes to the auto auction mall lot, where it remains until bidding is over and your vehicle is sold.
Next, the same auction house will put your car up for auction on the chosen online site. This should include a starting bid and an ending date, plus any additional terms or conditions you may have for potential buyers.
Once the automotive auction has started, interested bidders will start putting in their bids until the closing date arrives.
If your car is sold, the auction house will contact you and provide you with the arbitration details and the buyer’s information. You can then arrange payment from them or set up a pick-up time for the car.
The Bottom Line
Whether you buy or sell your car through an online auction, you will need to arrange transport — and Carvaygo makes that easy.
At Carvaygo, we specialize in auto transport from any auction site so you can buy (or sell) with confidence, knowing that your car will be picked up and delivered to your destination.
We’re affordable, efficient, and reliable, so you can rest assured that your car is safe in our hands. Regardless of whether you require transport due to a successful auction or any other reason, you can count on us to get your car to its destination safely and securely—every time.
Choose Carvaygo for the ultimate peace of mind when buying or selling a car through an online auction site. Be sure to get in touch with us today to arrange your car transport.
Let us do the hard work for you so all you have to do is enjoy your new ride!
Sources:
IAAI | IAAI
eBay Motors: Auto Parts and Vehicles | eBay Motors
A Guide To Selling Your Car In An Auction | Buy My Car
