Cars & Bids
Cars & Bids is an online auction site for enthusiast cars, trucks and SUVs, mostly from the 1980s to today, listed by private sellers and dealers. This page covers what it sells, how bidding and payment work, and every buyer cost we could find, with a straight link to carsandbids.com.
- Founded
- 2020
- Founder
- Doug DeMuro
- Buyer's fee
- 5%, $250 to $7,500
- Auction length
- 7 days
Go to Cars & Bids →How buying worksFees
About Cars & Bids
Cars & Bids was founded in 2020 by automotive reviewer Doug DeMuro. It focuses on modern enthusiast vehicles, mainly from the 1980s onward. In February 2025 it moved its buyer's fee from 4.5% to 5% and raised the cap from $4,500 to $7,500.
Every listing runs as a seven-day online auction. In the final minute, each new bid resets the clock to one minute, so sales can run past the listed end time. Sellers answer questions in public comments, and the site offers shipping quotes on each listing. After the sale, the buyer pays the seller directly or through the site's SafePay service.
What's sold on Cars & Bids
How buying works at Cars & Bids
- Make an accountSign up and add a valid credit card and phone number before you can bid.
- Read the listingCheck the photos, the history and the seller's answers in the comments. Get a shipping quote from the listing if you need one.
- BidWhen you bid, the site places a hold on your card for the buyer's fee. A bid in the last minute resets the clock to one minute.
- Add the costsThe winner pays 5% of the final price, at least $250 and at most $7,500, charged to the card. SafePay adds $198 if used.
- Pay and collectPay the seller in full within a week, then pick up the car or have it shipped once payment clears.
What it costs
These are the buyer costs Cars & Bids publishes for 2026.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Buyer's fee (since Feb 2025) | 5% of the winning bid |
| Minimum buyer's fee | $250 |
| Maximum buyer's fee | $7,500, reached at a $150,000 winning bid |
| Card hold while bidding | 5% of your bid, with the same $250 minimum and $7,500 maximum; released if you lose |
| SafePay (optional online payment and title service) | $198 buyer fee |
| SafePay with a seller loan payoff | Extra $99 |
| Registration | Free |
| Shipping | Quoted per car on the listing; quotes last 14 days |
| Old buyer's fee (before Feb 25, 2025) | 4.5%, minimum $225, maximum $4,500 |
A worked example: a $40,000 winning bid adds a $2,000 buyer's fee, so the car costs $42,000 before tax, title and shipping, or $42,198 if you pay through SafePay.
Paying, pickup and storage
| When to pay | Pay the seller in full within one week of the auction end. |
| Payment | SafePay online transfer, wire transfer, cashier's check or USDC. Sales over $50,000 through SafePay must be paid by wire. |
| Deposit | No deposit; the card hold covers the buyer's fee. |
| Hold release | Holds for losing bidders drop when the auction ends, though some banks take up to 7 business days to show it. |
| Pickup | The car and title are released after the seller receives full payment. Confirm the seller's pickup timing before you bid. |
| Storage | No site storage. Some sellers may hold the car for a short time if asked. |
| Title | With SafePay, the title is reassigned and shipped to you with tracking. In a direct sale, timing depends on the seller's state. |
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UX Search is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cars & Bids. Bidding, payment and delivery all happen on the house's own site under its own terms. Information checked October 22, 2026 from carsandbids.com (FAQ, What Is page) and The Autopian (Feb 2025 fee change) and Motorious, Complete Guide to Auction Fees (Sept 2026); fees and rules can change, so confirm them on the sale page.