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13 Best Online Car Auction Sites for 2024

If you are in the market to sell or buy your next vehicle through an online car auction, then you are one of the many that have found they can easily access both new and used cars, as well as salvage cars with the whole process from beginning to end being completed online.

In fact, many auctions are available to the general public, regardless of what state they are in. Dealerships that will have great vehicles and good prices are very likely purchasing them from the the biggest car auction houses in the USA. But you can too!

Lots of individuals are not aware that as a buyer or seller you are not limited to car inventory from different car dealerships or private sellers. You can bid online and from afar, as you can always get auctions cars shipped to you, right to your door. Even salvage cars can be shipped. This makes it very simple, safe, and convenient instead of going to bid in person. So that's why so many auctions are now online.

Sit back as we guide you through the 13 best online car auctions sites of 2024!

What Types of Vehicle can be Located Through Online Car Auction Sites?

Online car auction sites typically feature a variety of vehicles, including:

  1. Used Cars: As expected, these are "pre-owned" vehicles that individuals or dealers are looking to sell off. They can vary in age as well as condition.
  2. Salvage Cars: Salvage cars are vehicles that have damage that the cost of repair exceeds or is very close to the vehicles repaired value, vehicles that have been natural disasters such as floods and are no longer safe, or other incidents. e
  3. Repossessed Cars: Repossessed or "repos" are vehicles recovered by lenders from those who failed to make loan payments. Repossessed cars are usually sold to recover the debt.
  4. Fleet Vehicles: Some online auction sites may feature vehicles once owned by companies, government agencies, or rental companies. These vehicles may have higher mileage but are generally very well-maintained.
  5. Luxury Cars: High-end and luxury vehicles may also be available for auction. These cars could be simply repossessed.

Also find at online car auctions:

  1. Classic Cars: Though not the focus of this article, Enthusiasts may find vintage or classic cars available for auction. Visit our classic car auction mega list!
  2. Motorcycles: Many online auction sites feature motorcycles, offering a range of great brands for prospective buyers.
  3. RVs and Trailers: Recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers may also be foiund on certain auction platforms, providing options for those looking for mobile homes or camping equipment.
  4. Boats and Watercraft: In addition to land vehicles, some auction sites extend their offerings to include boats, jet skis, and other watercraft.

Here Are The 13 Top Online Car Auctions for 2024!

Without further delay, here are the best car auctions to bid online in the country.

#1 - Copart

copart online auction site

No doubt, Copart is the heavy hitter auction on this list, having over 200 locations and thousands upon thousands of vehicles on hand.

Specializing in the sale of vehicles on behalf of various entities like insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, and individuals. They are the self proclaimed leader in this space, and they very well may be.

These guys have over 150,000 vehicles sitting on over 8,000 acres of land in 200 locations across 11 countries. Copart is accessible for dealers, dismantlers, rebuilders, exporters, and the yes, the general public too, offering a diverse range of vehicles every day. They have been at it for 42 years.

#2 -Insurance Auto Auctions

iaa online auction site

The name says it all. Focused Though it's in their name, the are not exclusively focused on insurance auctions. IAAI sells plenty of undamaged vehicles, lightly

Catering to a diverse range of buyer preferences and needs, their inventory is top notch with even plenty of vehicles that run and drive off the lot .IAA takes advantage of their highly technical platform to bring live bidding right to your fingertips, making it one of the best online auto auction sites.

They also have a ton of locations. As of 2024, they have 190 auction centers throughout the USA hosting hundreds of live online auctions every week.

#3 - Cars and Bids

cars and bids online auction site

As you may already know, Cars and Bids are the self proclaimed "modern enthusiast car" auction. However, they do live up to the name with fun and exciting cars from 1980 and up. They also have low fees. There is no charge for sellers to list cars. Buyers pay a 4.5% commission, minimum $225, but the fee is capped at $4,500. Great if purchasing that Bugatti Chiron this week.

They provide vehicle history reports on every car they list and they don't take a very long time to get your car on the site as a seller, as they have super streamlined process.

Founded by automotive enthusiast and reviewer Doug DeMuro, the platform offers an excellent selection of vehicles that appeal to the pickiest auto enthusiasts.

#4 - Auto Bid Master

auto bid master online auction site

If looking to tap into exclusive auctions meant strictly for dealers, AutoBidMaster‘s online auto auctions have a wide range of online vehicle auctions featuring many repairable vehicles, including luxury, sports, classic, and even exotic cars that the general public would normally find out of reach.

How do they do this? AutoBidMaster is a Copart broker.  One of the few that are approved by the auction house. Once you set up a quick account, you instantly have access and since they are licensed in various states, you can get nearly any dealer only auction car through them for a modest fee.

AutoBidMaster online auto auctions provide access to over 150,000 potential vehicles for you to choose from. They specialize in providing exclusive dealer-only auctions throughout North America. Customers can purchase both clean and salvaged vehicles.

#5 - A Better Bid

abetterbid online auction site

A Better Bid has around 300,000+ repairable, wrecked & salvage title vehicles This auction also provides access to exclusive dealer auctions to regular buyers as they are also a Copart broker. So that means you do not need a dealer license.

The standard transaction fee is $299 or 7% of the purchase price, whichever is greater. But if you are a premium member (which would be good to do if you buy often) pays $250 or 5% of the purchase price, whichever is greater. Pro is $199 or 2.5% of the purchase price, whichever is greater. The Premium Membership for example, is $150 a year .

Buy vehicles from insurance companies, rental agencies, repossessed cars from lenders, fleet cars, dealer overstock, and even abandoned vehicles.

#6 - Bring A Trailer

bring a trailer online auction site

Also known as BAT makes a couple of our lists including classics, but they have a lot going on. They are so diverse in inventory, pricing, and quality. The site launched in 2007 and was brought to life thanks to co-founder's Randy Nonnenberg's hobby of sifting through classified car listings that has grown to 50-plus a day, sold Monday-Friday.

They feature all kinds of vehicles, and their daily features are a cool mix of not only some rare vehicles, but quite a bit of nostalgic cars that have rules the over the decades. Great for classics and just cool stuff in general.

#7 - Ebay Motors

eBay online auction site

This one really needs no introduction. eBay is the ultimate vehicle site for the private seller but a dealer can easily market cars here as well. eBay Motors does not offer the same kinds of vehicle inventory found on other online auction sites because the sellers are individuals putting up their personal vehicles or dealers who already are looking a sale.

eBay has a lot of reach, so, as a result finding that hidden gem of a deal is not possible like it was in the early days. Still, it makes the list because of it's easy point of entry and buyer protections.

#8 - Capital Auto Auction

capital auto auction online site

This is another venue open to the public for anyone to bid. Everyone is welcome. Capital Auto Auction is considered a safe consumer auction in business since February 4, 1989.

By 1999, they had three locations. Their selection is frequently updated to their Auto Auction Inventory page for which they have vehicles for every budget .

They take inventory that is in great shape, and by hand picking the vehicles they choose to have you bid on. Capital Auto Auction has auctions every week, every Saturday. They also take vehicles on consignment.

Aside from being a great online car auction, they do a lot for charity, which gives them a bump up in our book.

#9 - Manheim

manheim online auction site

When it comes to online bidding, Manheim is the more refined of the bunch, providing high quality vehicles dealers are looking for, such as selling off undesired trade-ins, power sport vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, and more.

This auction is a one-stop-shop for a range of services and even offer reconditioning vehicles for resale. This includes detailing to light mechanical repairs.

Many big corporate dealers use Manheim, but smaller ones find deals here as well.

#10 - Adesa

adesa online auction site

Adesa also boasts a full range of services and caters themselves to dealers needing a full range of services. To join, you must be a licensed dealer.

They cater to Manufacturers, Banks, rental companies, fleet companies, insurance companies. Their platform caters primarily dealer consignments.

Adesa has great inventory and expansive reach. ADESA has great resources to help market older cars and other vehicles that are considered high-mileage.

#11 - Salvage Bid

salvage bid online auction site

Salvage Bid is your stop for collision, fire damage, recovered-theft, repossession, clean title, and other types of vehicles. They are an approved broker for Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA)

They don't disappoint as they have direct access to this inventory since everyone gets the same advantages as fully licensed dealers. Check out our full review on Salvage Bid.

Salvage Bid offers a few membership options, including a limited guest membership. It is then followed by the Starter membership, and finally, Premium,and VIP membership, with the lowest fees.

#12 - ACV Auctions

acv online auction site

ACV Auctions is an online car auction site specifically designed for auto dealers. It offers a range of services for buying and selling preowned vehcles through its platform

Dealers can access a diverse range of vehicles through the platform, and the auction process is designed to be transparent and fast.

ACV Auctions works a hard to make the process of buying and selling used vehicles far more efficient and profitable for dealers by providing an online auction that is focused on trust, being transparent, and boldstered by data-driven insights.

#13 - Purple Wave

purple wave online auction site

Purple Wave is an online auction site that specialized more on heavy equipment, focusing primarily on construction, agriculture, and fleet vehicles. They operate through a no-reserve auction, which is attracts buyers. This approach makes Purple Wave unique in the field of online equipment auctions.

In October 2023, Purple Wave announced a strategic investment and partnership with Copart. This is aimed at expanding Purple Wave's reach from a regional business to a global one.

The buyer's premium is approximately 10%, and sellers are charged 5%. For this reason, it's a little lower on the list. However, according to customers their customer service is excellent. For more information on Purple Wave's auctions and services, you can visit thtm at Purple Wave.

#14 - Auto Auction Mall (No Longer on This List )

Auto auction is closed. This site was a powerhouse of vehicle inventory. Auto Auction Mall allowed people without dealer licenses to bid on vehicles, considered brokers. They had access to a multitude of auctions. However, due to financial hardships, they are temporarily closed, as per their website.

Remember to factor shipping costs!

There are many times we've had customers that bid at an auction that's far from home, only to find out the shipping slashed their profits. Be sure to use our car shipping calculator before bidding.

Carl has a decade of experience in the car shipping industry. He has worked in nearly every aspect of the transport business since 2014, taking charge of various roles in the company such as dispatching, sales, and customer service.

During those years, Carl amassed an invaluable amount of experience which has contributed to his writing of every article and and guide on NX since taking over content in 2015.