Buying and selling cars online has become easier than ever, and one platform that stands out is Bring a Trailer. The website is popular for its wide range of unique and classic vehicles, as it has grown into a trusted space for car enthusiasts. This Bring a Trailer Guide will walk you through everything you need to know; from creating an account to bidding, selling, and completing a deal. You will also get to know the good and bad sides of using BaT, along with key tips for safe online transactions. It is important to understand how the process works before jumping in. Whether you want to sell your car to a global audience or find your dream ride at a fair price, stick till the end to know it all.
Bring a Trailer is a popular car auction website where classic, collector, exotic, and enthusiast vehicles are purchased and sold through an auction. The site’s unique point is to provide a large community where registered vehicle owners can offer support and have open discussion through live comments on car auctions. As a platform used by more than a million car owners, it paves the way for you to sell out your car without having to worry about attending physical car auctions that wastes your money and time.
It is super simple to use; register, and attend auctions in a few steps.
You can follow this 6 steps process to use Bring a Trailer properly:
When you go to the official page of Bring a Trailer auction, go to the signup option, create a login and password for yourself. You will be asked to enter your credit card details to verify your account, it is to make sure that you are a genuine car owner who wants to join auctions. This will also be used for future payments.
When you start browsing for car listings, you will get to see the cars will have complete details like well-versed description, detailed images, and an elaborate discussion section where you can find answers to your relevant queries. You can also submit your own queries if you don’t find relevant answers to them.
In order to bid, you need to set a price and then submit it at the auction. You will have to submit the maximum amount that you have decided to pay, now the platform will automatically arrange your bid accordingly. You can also subscribe to the auction notifications to remain updated on the happenings.
The auction time is extended by two minutes each time someone makes a bid. If there is no other bid, then the auction ends after two minutes.
So when your bid is the highest among others after the auction ends, Bring a Trailer platform will charge you a 5% of the total bid from your credit card information. The vehicle will count as yours after winning the bid, and you cannot back out from buying it at any cost. You will be allowed to get it inspected thoroughly.
At this point, further dealings will be between you and the seller including the complete transfers of payments to buy a car on Bring a Trailer.
If you are not in the same or close location with the seller, you will have to arrange a shipment service. Bring a Trailer shipping services are also available as professional auto transporters. Otherwise, you are allowed to hire a reliable car transport company to deliver your vehicle at your location at reasonable prices. You can further discuss with your seller as to how you can ship the car easily.
If you are planning to sell a car on Bring a Trailer, you can follow the below steps:
To sell a car on Bring a Trailer auction, you need to go to the listing page, choose the category for the listing; classic, plus, or whiteglove. Further, answer all the questions asked, and upload all the images of your car taken from all angles.
The Bring a Trailer management will review your submission, and they will determine whether your submission is eligible for listing or not. If it is approved, you will be asked to send more information, and your seller fee, which will be according to the BaT category you chose.
Classic is $99, while Plus is $429, and for Whiteglove you need to call.
In the Bring a Trailer guide for selling, you will be required to provide your vehicle maintenance records, service data, and some other information may be required to create a complete and better listing for you.
After the listing has entered the auctions, you will have to be available to answer real time comments from buyers. To increase your chances of selling the car at a higher bid, you must answer more comments. The car will be awarded to the highest bidder after the auction ends.
To finish the sale of your vehicle, the entire interaction will be between you and the buyer directly including the payment matters.
After you handover the car, it is up to the buyer how they handle the shipment, in case they are from another city or state. Bring a Trailer also has car shipping services that they can avail. While they can also hire an Open Car Transport or enclosed service with a local auto shipping service. You can also suggest to the buyer how to handle the car shipping smartly at your own will.
Additionally, Using an online Car Shipping Cost Calculator can help you find competitive prices.
All the auctions are transparent with proper descriptions, photos, and histories, making it easier to assess what you are buying.
You have a wide range of unique and classic or collector vehicles that are harder to find elsewhere.
You get to have an active community with live comment sections where users can ask questions, discuss conditions, get extra details.
With a global reach auctions attract buyers from many places, increasing potential exposure for sellers.
Buyers often face a buyer’s fee which is around 5%, and sellers also have listing costs.
Once the auction starts, sellers may not be able to adjust certain terms or withdraw listings easily.
In some cases buyers report that condition, issues, or title status were not fully disclosed or visible.
Buying a car online has a great environmental impact, because when you buy or sell used cars, this reduces the need to manufacture more cars. As a result there is less carbon emission, and land fill needs.
Buying a car on Bring a Trailer means you are keen about online car shopping. While it is a smart habit, you must be aware of prices in the market. It is important to find different online tools to help you find a true estimate of your car that is inline with current market trends. This will make sure you sell your car at a maximum price.
When buying or selling cars online, regulatory changes, tax and custom laws come into play when buying it from out of state. Every state may have different regulations laid out for certain car related transactions. It is always a good idea to skim through local laws to be aware. Bring a Trailer may not be fully helpful in sorting out those local regulations.
Yes, Bring a Trailer is considered a legit online marketplace for classic and collectible cars. The Bring a Trailer auction system connects buyers and sellers with a trusted platform and active automotive community.
Yes, winning bids are legally binding. When buying a car on Bring a Trailer, the winning bidder commits to purchase, and sellers agree to complete the sale under the auction’s rules and guidelines.
Bring a Trailer charges buyers a 5% fee on the winning bid, capped at $5,000. This applies whether you buy or sell a car on Bring a Trailer, making costs predictable compared to some marketplaces.
It is generally safe because listings undergo review and the community provides feedback. Buyers can research, ask questions, and verify vehicle history before buying a car on Bring a Trailer, adding transparency to transactions.
Bring a Trailer makes money by charging listing fees to sellers and a buyer’s fee after auctions close. This model supports the Bring a Trailer auction platform while keeping pricing straightforward for both parties.
Yes, for enthusiasts, it is worth it. The platform offers high visibility, serious buyers, and strong market prices, making it appealing to sell a car on Bring a Trailer or bid on unique vehicles.
