Jan 09, 2024 
17 min read
Explore an in-depth Cars and Bids review, revealing how it stands against online car auction competitors. Discover its unique features, fee structures, and user experiences.
As someone with a keen interest and seasoned background in car auction sites, I recently explored Cars and Bids for its unique approach in the car auction market. From the get-go, what struck me was its clear focus on modern collectible cars. Unlike many other sites where you might find a wide array of vehicles, Cars and Bids zeroes in on cars from the 1980s to the present; a sweet spot for enthusiasts like me who appreciate modern classics.
Founded by Doug DeMuro in 2020, the website has a range of cars that impressed me with the detailed information provided for each vehicle. This surely makes it a reliable platform for both buying and selling cars. Their social media presence also deserves a mention. It’s robust and engaging, which is a good indicator of the platform’s popularity and credibility in the car enthusiast community.
Exploring Cars and Bids, we’re here to see how it measures up against other car auction sites. In this thorough Cars and Bids review, I’ve looked at what users say about Cars and Bids. Is it a good platform for car lovers? Can you trust it? I’ve personally gone through all the information to give you a complete review of Cars and Bids. Stick with me as I cover everything you need to know, helping you understand if this is the right platform for buying or selling auctioned cars.
Cars and Bids has streamlined the process of buying and selling cars online, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it works from both a buyer’s and seller’s perspective.
Cars and Bids distinguishes itself with a user-friendly interface, streamlined processes, and a vibrant community, making it appealing for both buyers and sellers. The platform is particularly noteworthy for its focus on modern enthusiast cars, setting it apart from competitors like Bring A Trailer.
When evaluating the legitimacy of Cars and Bids, several factors come into play that support its reliability as a premier car auction website. Firstly, Cars and Bids has a substantial following on various social media channels, with over 38,000 followers on Facebook, 26K followers on Twitter, and more than 7.3 Lakh subscribers on YouTube. This level of social media engagement indicates a significant degree of trust and interest from the car enthusiast community.
Another aspect highlighting the platform’s credibility is its founder, Doug DeMuro. Known for his extensive following of over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, DeMuro’s reputation in the car community lends significant credibility to Cars and Bids. The platform is described as more than just a website; it’s considered a community of automobile enthusiasts. It offers features like low fees, a complete vehicle history for each car, and the autonomy for both buyers and sellers to set prices.
The platform is generally seen as a legitimate and worthwhile option for buying and selling modern enthusiast cars. In my opinion, Cars & Bids stands as a 100% legit and trustworthy platform for online car auctions. Its superior interface facilitates an intuitive user experience, something I greatly appreciate. The quick turnaround times add to its efficiency, making the buying and selling process smoother and more reliable. The absence of listing fees and the lower buyer fees enhance its appeal, offering a cost-effective solution for enthusiasts like myself.
Cars and Bids introduces a straightforward approach to fees for both buyers and sellers on their platform. The platform caters particularly well to sellers, offering a free listing service. This is a notable benefit, especially when compared to similar platforms where listing fees can significantly increase the cost of selling a vehicle.
For buyers, Cars and Bids implements a buyer’s fee structure of 4.5%. This fee is applied to the winning bid amount, ensuring transparency in the cost to the buyer. Importantly, this fee is capped, with a maximum limit set at $4,500. This cap provides a sense of predictability and fairness in the auction process, especially for higher-priced vehicle transactions.
In addition to these basic fees, Cars and Bids offers optional services to enhance the selling experience. One such service is professional photography, catering to sellers who want to showcase their cars with high-quality images. The platform offers two photography packages: a one-hour session for $159, delivering 50 professionally edited images, and a more extensive two-hour session for $259, providing 100 professionally edited images. These services, while optional, add significant value for sellers looking to attract potential buyers with visually appealing listings.
This fee structure aligns with Cars and Bids’ commitment to transparency and affordability. By eliminating listing fees for sellers and maintaining a capped commission for buyers, the platform makes the buying and selling of cars more accessible and cost-effective. This approach not only simplifies the transaction process but also builds trust among users in the competitive car auction market.
A genuine Cars and Bids review won’t be complete without comparing it with notable competitors. So, while a notable player in the car auction industry, isn’t the only option out there. Here’s how it stacks up against some of its competitors:
Peddle operates differently by offering a direct purchase of your car. You provide details about your vehicle, and Peddle makes a cash offer based on demand within their buyer network. Accepting the offer leads to a straightforward process where Peddle arranges vehicle pickup, usually in a few days.
Whereas Cars and Bids is an online auction platform requiring interaction with potential buyers, giving a traditional auction experience.
eBay offers flexibility in listing types: local listings visible within 200 miles, or national listings with a higher seller fee ($125) but broader exposure.
Like Cars and Bids, eBay allows setting a reserve or opting for a no-reserve auction. Both platforms require seller engagement in answering questions and arranging test drives.
eBay provides options for customizing the listing duration, ranging from a few days to a month.
When considering the fee structures of Cars and Bids and Bring a Trailer (BaT), key differences emerge.
BaT offers three service levels for sellers: Classic at $99 for basic listings, Plus at $429 including professional photos and videos, and the customizable White Glove service with variable pricing. After a sale, BaT charges a 5% buyer’s fee, with a minimum of $250 and a maximum cap of $5,000.
Conversely, Cars and Bids offers free listings for sellers, providing a more cost-effective approach. While both platforms charge a percentage fee to buyers, the contrast in seller costs is notable, with BaT offering tiered services at various costs and Cars and Bids focusing on affordability through free listings.
If you need further details, here is a comprehensive review on Cars and Bids vs Bring a Trailer.
Cars and Bids presents a mix of benefits and drawbacks, as noted in our detailed review. Here are some pros and cons:
The car auction market is rapidly growing, making building car websites an increasingly lucrative endeavor. The US vehicle auction market is forecasted to reach $3.23 billion in 2023 and set for further growth to US$3.82 billion by 2028. The prospect of building car websites is more promising than ever.
For those interested in building their dream car website, modern car auction software like Ultimate Auction Pro makes it feasible. This software includes features such as:
These features collectively equip you with the tools needed for building a successful car auction site.
In my Cars and Bids review, I discovered it’s a unique and promising platform for buying or selling cars online. Its focus on modern collectible cars and user-friendly approach make it stand out. The site’s fee structure is especially favorable for sellers, offering free listings and reasonable fees for buyers. While Cars and Bids is still growing, it has a huge potential given its current popularity and supportive community.
The future of Cars and Bids seems bright with potential for significant growth in the car auction industry. As highlighted in my cars and bids review, the platform caters to a broader range of car lovers. It can potentially expand its vehicle categories with a focused approach on user experience and community engagement. Based on my honest review, Cars and Bids stands out as a superior choice when compared to rivals like Bring A Trailer, eBay, and Peddle. As it continues to evolve, Cars and Bids could become an even more pivotal car auction website worldwide.
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