Where to Sell Your Car: Auction and Listing Platform Comparison
Summary
Bring a Trailer is the default for enthusiast cars, with 72,000+ sales in our data averaging $46K. Cars & Bids owns the modern-enthusiast niche ($28K average across 13,800 sales), while Collecting Cars and PCarMarket serve the premium end ($79K and $88K averages). Mecum remains the in-person heavyweight, and eBay Motors clears the volume segment at an $18K average. For marque-specific cars, Rennlist's classifieds put special Porsches in front of exactly the right buyers. Fees change often — verify current schedules before consigning.
Rankings
- 1
Bring a TrailerAvg $47,201 12-mo +14.1%n=72511 soldThe default enthusiast marketplace: unmatched audience depth and 72,000+ sales in our data
- 2
Cars & BidsAvg $28,280 12-mo +9.6%n=14134 soldThe modern-enthusiast specialist (1980s and newer), free for sellers with fast turnaround
- 3
PCarMarketAvg $88,414 12-mo -8.4%n=1388 soldPorsche-first audience that pays real money for special cars — an $88K average in our data
- 4
Collecting CarsAvg $79,106 12-mo +14.7%n=7427 soldGlobal curated platform with strength in European metal and a $79K sales average
- 5
ACC AuctionsAvg $36,626 12-mo +7.1%n=544 soldA collector-car auction platform with a 5% buyer premium capped at $5,000, no seller commission, and a $99 listing fee
- 6
Mecum AuctionsAvg $77,073 12-mo +74.0%n=20117 soldThe in-person heavyweight for American classics, with 20,000+ sales in our data
- 7
eBay MotorsAvg $19,923n=23454 soldMaximum reach for daily drivers and projects — the volume market clears here
- 8
SBX CarsAvg $168,773 12-mo -30.7%n=127 soldSupercar-tier consignment with a $171K average and a small but deep-pocketed audience
- 9
SomoAvg $164,061 12-mo -2.2%n=611 soldCurated high-end consignment averaging $166K in our data
- 10
HemmingsAvg $25,053n=582 soldThe classic car institution with deep reach into the traditional collector community
Comparison
| Model | Avg Price | Typical Range | Sales | 12-mo Trend | Avg Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bring a Trailer | $47,201 | $5,250 – $153,000 | 72,511 | +14.1% | 56,903 |
| Cars & Bids | $28,280 | $5,200 – $83,500 | 14,134 | +9.6% | 77,672 |
| PCarMarket | $88,414 | $9,000 – $266,387 | 1,388 | -8.4% | 49,073 |
| Collecting Cars | $79,106 | $12,235 – $244,905 | 7,427 | +14.7% | 46,649 |
| ACC Auctions | $36,626 | $7,000 – $79,615 | 544 | +7.1% | 41,740 |
| Mecum Auctions | $77,073 | $6,600 – $176,000 | 20,117 | +74.0% | 43,725 |
| eBay Motors | $19,923 | $750 – $58,500 | 23,454 | — | 99,268 |
| SBX Cars | $168,773 | $41,191 – $367,200 | 127 | -30.7% | 16,887 |
| Somo | $164,061 | $37,250 – $447,500 | 611 | -2.2% | 19,808 |
| Hemmings | $25,053 | $2,000 – $68,475 | 582 | — | 51,105 |
How to Choose
- Match the car to the audience: collector cars do best on Bring a Trailer or Collecting Cars, modern enthusiast cars on Cars & Bids, Porsches on PCarMarket or Rennlist, and volume dailies on eBay.
- Understand fee structures before consigning. BaT charges sellers a listing fee with no commission (buyers pay 5%, capped at $7,500); Cars & Bids is free for sellers with a 4.5% buyer fee; traditional houses like Mecum charge entry fees plus commission.
- Photo quality and write-up detail directly correlate with final price on all platforms.
- Reserve strategy matters: no-reserve listings attract more bidding activity but transfer the downside risk to you.
- The averages here reflect what each platform's audience buys, not what your car will fetch — use them to find where your car's price bracket is normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which auction site gets the highest prices?
- It depends on the car, not just the platform. In our data, SBX Cars ($171K average), Somo ($166K), and PCarMarket ($88K) sit highest because they consign expensive cars; Bring a Trailer's $46K average spans everything from projects to seven-figure collectibles. Match your car to the audience that buys at its level.
- What are Bring a Trailer's fees?
- BaT sellers pay a listing fee (starting at $99, more for upgraded packages) and no seller commission. The 5% fee is paid by the buyer, and its cap was raised to $7,500 in 2024.
- How long does it take to sell a car at auction?
- Most online auctions run 7 days. Including the application, review, and photography process, plan for 2-4 weeks from submission to sale on BaT or Cars & Bids.
- Should I set a reserve price?
- No-reserve auctions typically attract more bids and bidder engagement, and platforms promote them harder. If you have a firm minimum, a reserve protects you at the cost of some bidding energy.
- What sells best at online auction?
- Enthusiast vehicles with strong communities perform best: Porsche 911s, BMW M cars, Toyota Land Cruisers, classic American muscle, and Japanese sports cars. Generic luxury sedans and high-mileage SUVs tend to underperform.
Methodology and sources
Based on 140,895 sold listings from the last 2 years across Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, eBay Motors, PCarMarket, Collecting Cars, and other auction and marketplace sources. Prices are normalized to USD. Typical ranges show the 5th–95th percentile of sold prices. Stats update daily.