• Bid Garage doesn’t require a submission fee to list your vehicle. Instead, sellers are responsible for a percentage of the sales commissions which can range between 1% and 4% determined at their discretion with the buyer covering the remainder of the 5% overall commission.
• Bid Garage offers complimentary, professional photo services for all qualifying vehicles. A picture is worth a thousand words, and part of ensuring your vehicle realizes maximum market value is having great imagery to tell the story about why your car is special.
• Bid Garage provides a complimentary vehicle history report for every vehicle listing. Transparency is important to make potential buyers feel confident about their online vehicle purchase—and that’s why we do more than simply highlight the flaws.
Click the “Join/Login” tab on the far right of the main menu at the top of this page or click here
It costs nothing to register an account. Registering provides the ability to comment on auctions, though you will need to register a valid credit card to bid (see “Fees” and “Bidding” sections for further information).
The comments section is located toward the bottom of the vehicle auction page, just below the “Latest Bids” box. You can also click the ‘Comment’ tab at the top of the page to be taken there.
First, make sure to register for a Bid Garage account. Once signed in, you can type in the text box. Press the “Comment” button once finished and it will be posted.
If you type @username in your comment, that user will be tagged and notified. (Example, if you want to reply to a user named PeteyPorsche, type @PeteyPorsche followed by your comment).
Comments can be edited or deleted within five minutes of posting by using the “edit” or “delete” buttons below the comment itself. After five minutes have passed, the comment is permanently displayed (unless it is flagged or removed for being inappropriate, see below).
Bid Garage is an open community and encourages constructive questions and comments. If a comment seems inappropriate, users can flag the comment (one flag per user). If enough users flag the comment, it will be automatically removed. If you feel a comment is inexcusable, please initiate contact with us immediately.
Please use common sense and keep comments focused on the vehicle being offered. We do not tolerate personal attacks, name-calling, abusive and/or foul language, and other obvious violations of productive communication.
Bid Garage buyer’s premiums range from between 1% and 4% of the hammer price and are clearly stated within every auction listing
Bid Garage charges a total commission fee of 5% for every sale. This commission fee is split, with sellers having the option of paying between 1% and 4% of the hammer price, and buyers responsible for paying the remainder. We believe this gives buyers and sellers greater flexibility in the nature of their transaction.
Currently, Bid Garage only auctions vehicles located in the United States or Canada.
Yes. Once you’ve logged in to your Bid garage account, click the Contact Seller button on the vehicle’s auction page. This will send a direct message to the seller.
While the auction is live, vehicles are for sale exclusively through Bid Garage’s online auction platform. We do not tolerate “side deals” and will act accordingly if a seller or bidder attempts to engage in a transaction outside of Bid Garage.
First, you will need to register for a Bid Garage account here. Next, a valid credit or debit card must be added to your account
Yes. If you have a valid credit card registered to your account, you can bid from anywhere in the world. Note that it is 100% the buyer’s responsibility to arrange shipping and follow all applicable importation laws, and regulations.
While on the vehicle’s auction page, click the “Place a Bid” tab, which will take you to the Latest Bids box. Enter your desired bid amount, confirm, and you’re done
The price of the vehicle will immediately proceed to your bid amount. You will also receive an email confirmation that your bid was placed.
After placing your bid, an initial hold is placed on your credit card for the corresponding buyer’s fee (1% to 4% of your bid amount), to ensure your commitment. If you win the auction, the charge will be completed and posted. If you do not win the auction, the hold is released upon the conclusion of the auction.
If a bid is placed within the final two minutes of an auction, the countdown timer is immediately reset back to two minutes. This prevents “sniping” and allows bidders time to place their next bid.
Bid Garage uses a two-step bid confirmation process to ensure bids are entered correctly. All bids are final, unless there was an obvious mistake (such as bidding $100,000 instead of $1,000). Please contact us (Contact Us link) if clarification or assistance is needed.
As mentioned above, all bids are final. If you feel the need to see the vehicle in person or have it inspected, please make arrangements with the seller and do so prior to placing your bid.
As mentioned above, all bids are final. We take this very seriously. If a buyer fails to complete the transaction, they will be permanently banned from all future use of Bid Garage. The full 5% commission fee will be charged to the buyer and is non-refundable in this case.
No. We do not allow sellers to bid on their own vehicle.
This practice is referred to as “shill bidding,” and it is not tolerated on Bid Garage. If you suspect someone is engaging in faithless bidding such as this, contact us immediately and we will take appropriate action as we see fit.
Once the auction ends and your credit card is successfully charged the stated % of the buyer’s fee on the auction detail page, you will receive the seller’s contact information to complete the transaction. We recommend wire transfers as the safest form of payment, but it is ultimately up to the buyer and seller to complete the sale as they see fit.
Unless an auction says “No Reserve” in the title, the vehicle has a reserve.
Reserves are always kept private. If you are interested in buying a vehicle, we recommend being the highest bidder!
Bid Garage’s Auction Specialists will work with two of the top bidders on your auction lot and the seller to try and help facilitate a successful sale.
Yes. Bid Garage may decide, at our sole discretion, to make up the difference between the highest bid and the reserve in order to sell the vehicle, just like a traditional auction house. This is referred to as making the seller “whole.” Sellers agree to this practice when submitting a vehicle for auction consideration.
Bid Garage seeks to offer great vehicles with realistic reserves. We collaborate with sellers during the submission process to set a reasonable number. Ultimately, we want to help sellers sell their vehicle, not simply advertise it.
Yes. Once your auction is live you can lower your reserve in the Latest Bids box on the auction page itself, just above the comments section. If you need assistance with this, reach out to your Auction Specialist or contact us (Contact Us link)
Once we have agreed upon a reserve amount during the submission process, it cannot be raised. This is to keep the system fair for all parties involved.
- Regularly check the comments section and your email inbox to stay up to date with questions, comments, requests, and other inquiries.
- Be an active commenter! Keeping in touch increases confidence in your vehicle.
- Be willing to take additional photos or provide further information. Seriously interested bidders may want to know more. Going that extra mile could be what sells your car! Above all stay positive, be kind, and enjoy the auction!
- Should you need assistance with anything, reach out to your Auction Specialist or contact us.
Bid Garage is different from other auction houses and platforms, and does not charge sellers for listing or submitting vehicles. Instead, sellers are responsible for paying between 1% and 4% of the hammer price. The buyer pays the remaining portion of the 5% total commission fee. If your car does not sell, you pay nothing.
The amount of the total commission fee sellers choose to cover directly affects the buyer’s premium. Every Bid Garage auction is subject to a 5% total commission fee, which is split between buyers and sellers. Sellers who choose to lower the buyer’s premium by covering a larger portion of the total commission fee may see more interest in their listings and potentially gain access to an expanded pool of potential buyers.
Splitting the 5% total commission fee between buyers and sellers can benefit both. Splitting the commission means Bid Garage doesn’t have to charge submission or listing fees, providing a risk-free experience for sellers. If your car does not sell, you pay nothing.
Bid Garage’s team of automotive specialists will review your vehicle details and pictures to determine if your vehicle is the right fit. If we accept your listing, an Auction Specialist will reach out to you, and you will be asked to submit additional details to assist our teams in composing your listing. If we do not accept your submission, we will alert you via e-mail and share why your vehicle may not be right for us at this time.
Once your submission has been accepted, your Auction Specialist will reach out to you to discuss additional information that will help us tell bidders what makes your car special in addition to coordinating a professional photo shoot of the vehicle.
Yes. Once your dedicated Auction Specialist has completed the listing, they will provide a final draft for you to review. If alterations are needed, we will work with you to dial things in.
Once the auction begins, registered users can bid, comment, contact the seller, and ask questions about the vehicle. In our experience, sellers that check the comments often and respond quickly get more bids.
Some bidders are willing to purchase a car sight unseen, while others may request an in-person inspection. Sellers are encouraged to make their vehicle available for viewings during the auction, though this is solely at their discretion. To keep weekends free for visits, our auctions never end on a Saturday, Sunday, or major holiday
You are welcome to advertise your car in other places with a link to the Bid Garage auction, however, you should not list a price. Listing a price outside of the auction only serves to discourage bidding in our experience
The seller and winning bidder’s payment methods are immediately charged their portion of the 5% total commission fee (maximum $5,000 in total fees between the buyer and seller). Once this is successfully completed, the buyer and seller are provided with each other’s contact information to complete the transaction. If any questions arise during the transaction, we’re happy to answer them. Reach out to your Auction Specialist or contact us.
We recommend wire transfers as the safest form of payment, however, it is ultimately up to the buyer and seller to complete the transaction on terms they see fit.
Bid Garage recommends releasing your vehicle and title only once you have been paid in full, with any deposits or transfers having been cleared and settled.
Bid Garage’s Auction Specialists will work with the seller and top two bidders to try and help facilitate a successful sale. If your car doesn’t successfully sell on Bid Garage, there is no cost to you.
Vehicles tend to perform best when auctioned for the first time. Therefore, Bid Garage does not re-list vehicles unless they have changed ownership since the previous auction. If you have a unique situation, feel free to contact us.
We take buying and selling very seriously. If a seller fails to meet their commitment, they will be permanently banned from all future use of Bid Garage and their credit card will be charged the full 5% total commission fee due on the auction.
All bids are denominated in the United States Dollar (USD).
Yes. Once they’ve logged in to their Bid Garage account, they can click the Contact Seller button on the vehicle’s auction page. This will send a direct message to the seller.
While the auction is live, vehicles are for sale exclusively through Bid Garage’s online auction platform. We do not tolerate “side deals” and will act accordingly if a bidder or seller attempts to engage in a transaction of this nature.
Bid Garage provides the online auction platform and support throughout the auction process. It is up to the buyer and seller to complete the sale. See the “Selling” and “Buying” sections below for more information. Should issues arise during the transaction, we are happy to assist; please contact us (Contact Us link) right away.
Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the buyer and seller.
Bid Garage’s Auction Specialists will work with the seller and top two bidders to try and help facilitate a successful sale. If your car doesn’t successfully sell on Bid Garage, there is no cost to you.
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