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carsandbids.com

December 15, 2025

What CarsandBids.com Actually Is

Cars & Bids is an online auction marketplace focused on enthusiast-type vehicles — cars that appeal to people who care about performance, heritage, quirky appeal, classics, collector potential, and fun driving — not just basic commuter cars. Regular daily cars can show up too, but the emphasis is on interesting vehicles. (Cars & Bids)

It was launched by Doug DeMuro, the automotive YouTuber and writer, around 2020 as a way for enthusiasts to buy and sell vehicles in a format that feels more like a community than a generic classifieds site. (Wikipedia)

Core numbers as of late 2025:

  • 1M+ registered members

  • 32,000+ auctions completed

  • Over $700M in vehicles sold

  • ~80%+ auction sell-through rate
    These are from the company’s own published stats. (Cars & Bids)

It’s similar in concept to other auction sites like Bring a Trailer or eBay Motors — but with a clear niche toward the enthusiast crowd.

How It Works — Buyer Side

  1. Browse Auctions
    You can browse listed vehicles. Listings are detailed, with photos and a comment area where potential buyers can ask questions or see seller responses. (AmeriFreight Auto Transport)

  2. Create an Account & Bid
    Bidding requires an account and a valid credit card. When you place a bid, a hold equivalent to the buyer fee (typically about 5% of the bid) is placed on your card — it’s only charged if you win. (Cars & Bids)

  3. Auction Format
    Auctions run for a set period. The platform includes sniping protection, meaning if someone bids near the close, the auction can extend slightly to let others respond. (AmeriFreight Auto Transport)

  4. Winning and Contacting Seller
    If you win, you’re given the seller’s contact info. You can complete the payment and title transfer manually, or use Cars & Bids SafePay, a secure service that handles funds and title transfer. (Cars & Bids)

  5. Shipping & Logistics
    Buyers arrange pickup or shipping. Cars & Bids also offers a shipping service to help handle this step. (Cars & Bids)

How It Works — Seller Side

  1. Submit Your Car
    You start by submitting basic info (make, model, year, VIN, photos, etc.). The Cars & Bids team reviews submissions to decide if your car fits the site’s “enthusiast” focus. (Cars & Bids)

  2. Listing & Auction Launch
    Once accepted, Cars & Bids crafts your listing with your photos and description. Sellers don’t pay a listing fee and receive 100% of the final sale price — no commission taken off the top. (Cars & Bids)

  3. Reserve vs. No Reserve
    You can set a reserve (minimum acceptable price) or run it no-reserve. No-reserve often attracts more bidders, but you are committed to sell to the highest bidder. (Cars & Bids)

  4. Payment and Title
    After auction end, you connect with the buyer. SafePay is recommended to securely handle payment and title transfer. (Cars & Bids)

Fee Structure

Buyers

Sellers

  • No listing fee.

  • Sellers receive the full sale amount (100%). (Cars & Bids)

This fee setup is a big reason some enthusiasts choose Cars & Bids over other auction sites.

What Sets Cars & Bids Apart

Niche Focus on Enthusiasts
It’s not a general vehicle marketplace. The listings aim at people who want cars with character: sports cars, older performance cars, oddballs, trucks with personality, etc. (Cars & Bids)

Community Interaction
Comment areas on listings let buyers and sellers talk before the auction — ask questions, request photos, mics in real life. That’s something regular classifieds usually don’t offer. (AmeriFreight Auto Transport)

Seller Support
Their team helps with listing creation, photos, and presentation. That’s more than many DIY auction sites provide. (Cars & Bids)

Sniping Protection
Auctions automatically extend slightly if bids come at the last minute, which aims for fairer bidding. (AmeriFreight Auto Transport)

Pros and Cons Based on Real User Feedback

Pros

  • Easy to Use: Users often say the UI feels modern and intuitive. (Trustpilot)

  • Good for Enthusiasts: People looking for special cars tend to find a more engaged audience here than on broader marketplaces. (Nick's Car Blog)

  • Strong Support: Sellers report responsive support and help through listing and post-sale. (Trustpilot)

  • Free to Sell: Getting 100% of your sale price is a compelling reason owners list here. (Cars & Bids)

Cons / Things to Watch Out For

  • Not Always Perfect Cars: Some users on forums report issues where cars didn’t match expectations; Cars & Bids doesn’t guarantee condition but will refund fees in certain cases. (Reddit)

  • Niche Audience: If your car isn’t an enthusiast type, you might get less interest than on broader markets. (AmeriFreight Auto Transport)

  • After-Auction Work: Buyers still handle inspection, pickup, transport, and payment — the platform doesn’t handle end-to-end logistics unless you opt into services like shipping or SafePay. (Cars & Bids)

Key Takeaways

  • Cars & Bids is an online auction site for enthusiast cars — mostly performance, quirky, collectible vehicles. (Cars & Bids)

  • Owned and launched by YouTuber Doug DeMuro with a strong focus on community and experience. (Wikipedia)

  • Sellers pay no fees and keep 100% of the sale price, buyers pay a fee on top of the winning bid. (Cars & Bids)

  • The platform supports comment threads, sniping protection, SafePay secure transactions, and shipping services. (Cars & Bids)

  • It’s well-reviewed by many users, but practices due diligence with condition checks and post-sale arrangements. (Trustpilot)

FAQ

Q: Is Cars & Bids legit?
Yes. It’s a legitimate online auction platform with real completed sales and a strong community of buyers and sellers. Many users praise the process and support. (Trustpilot)

Q: Do I need to be in the U.S. to use it?
Cars & Bids only lists vehicles located in the United States and Canada. International sellers aren’t supported yet. (Cars & Bids)

Q: Can I cancel a bid?
No. Once you place a bid it’s a binding commitment. You should bid only if you’re ready to buy. (Cars & Bids)

Q: What kinds of cars are listed?
*Mostly enthusiast vehicles from the 1980s onward — sports cars, unique SUVs, classics, and special trucks — though since 2025 they’ve expanded to include pre-1981 classics too. (Carscoops)

Q: What is SafePay?
It’s Cars & Bids’ secure payment system that handles funds and title transfer to reduce risk for both buyers and sellers. (Cars & Bids)