Cars & Bids is an online auction site for modern enthusiast cars, founded by car reviewer Doug DeMuro. Its pitch to sellers is simple: listing is free, and you keep the full sale price. The buyer pays the site's fee.
Key numbers
- Seller's fee
- None. Sellers list for free and receive 100% of the sale price.
- Buyer's fee
- 5% of the winning bid, with a $250 minimum and a $7,500 maximum.
- What changed
- The buyer's fee rose from 4.5% (capped at $4,500) in February 2025.
- Best for
- Modern enthusiast cars from the 1980s on.
Cars and Bids fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | Free | — |
| Commission on the sale | None | — |
| Buyer's fee | 5%, minimum $250, maximum $7,500 | Buyer |
| Vehicle history report | Free, provided by Cars & Bids | — |
From Cars & Bids' own site, checked October 2026.
Until February 2025 the buyer's fee was 4.5%, with a $225 minimum and a $4,500 cap. The Autopian reported that Cars & Bids raised it to match Bring a Trailer's.
How the buyer's fee affects your price
Bidders know they'll pay 5% on top of their bid, so they budget for it. The $7,500 cap is reached at a $150,000 bid, which means the fee is a smaller share of the price on more expensive cars.
| Winning bid | Buyer's fee |
|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,000 |
| $100,000 | $5,000 |
| $150,000 or more | $7,500 |
How selling on Cars and Bids works
- Submit your car for free. You give the VIN, some photos and a short description, and choose a reserve or no reserve. Cars & Bids says it tries to answer within a business day. Not every car is accepted.
- Prepare the listing. You add detailed photos, service and ownership history, and a walk-around and cold-start video. The car can't be advertised for sale anywhere else.
- Approve and schedule. Cars & Bids drafts the listing for your approval and schedules the auction with you.
- Run the seven-day auction. All auctions start at $0. Answer comments and questions promptly. Bids in the final minute reset the clock to one minute, so there's no last-second sniping.
- Complete the sale. The buyer is expected to pay in full within a week. You can use the site's SafePay service to handle payment and title transfer, including paying off a loan.
If a reserve isn't met, Cars & Bids says it will contact you and the highest bidder to try to help make a deal.
Reserve or no reserve?
A reserve is the minimum price you'll accept. It's hidden from bidders. Cars & Bids says no-reserve auctions get more bids and more attention, and that it may ask for a lower reserve than you suggest before accepting a car.
No reserve is a real risk on an expensive car. It makes most sense when the car is the kind enthusiasts compete for and you're confident about demand. If you need a certain number, set a reserve.
Is Cars and Bids the right route for your car?
Cars & Bids focuses on enthusiast cars from the 1980s onward, from Porsche 911s to modern Ferraris and Lamborghinis. It suits cars with a story or a specification that enthusiasts want. For an ordinary specification, or if you need a quick, certain sale, a specialist buyer may serve you better.
See Bring a Trailer's fees, the side-by-side comparison, or how all five ways to sell compare.
Common questions
How much does it cost to sell a car on Cars and Bids?
Nothing. Cars & Bids says sellers list for free and receive 100% of the sale price.
What is the Cars and Bids buyer's fee?
5% of the winning bid, with a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $7,500.
Did Cars and Bids raise its fees?
Yes. The buyer's fee rose in February 2025 from 4.5% (capped at $4,500) to 5% (capped at $7,500), according to The Autopian.
How long is a Cars and Bids auction?
Seven days. Bids placed in the final minute reset the clock to one minute.
What happens if the reserve isn't met?
Cars & Bids says it will reach out to you and the highest bidder to try to help make a deal.
Sources
- Cars & Bids: What's Cars & Bids?
- The Autopian: Cars & Bids raises its buyer fees to match Bring a Trailer (February 24, 2025)
Figures were checked against these sources in October 2026. Prices change, so confirm before relying on them.