I want to take the guesswork out of selling your car. I analyze market data, decode DMV title laws, and test out online car buyers to give you a straight answer on whether it's worth holding out for a higher price or if you're better off taking the most convenient offer and moving on.
Published:Nov 2, 2025
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2026
✓ Fact Checked:Mar 17, 2026
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The bottom line: Classic cars don’t fit the normal used car market. Most dealers skip anything older than 10 years, and most instant-offer services won’t touch them at all. Getting a fair price means finding a platform with the right audience for your specific car.
We looked at 7 options: online auction platforms like Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids, dedicated marketplaces like Hemmings and ClassicCars.com, the broad audience of eBay Motors, Classics on Autotrader, and live auction events like Barrett-Jackson.
For most sellers, an online platform gets you the most money with the least risk. Enthusiast cars made after 1979 do best on Cars & Bids or Bring a Trailer. Pre-1980 classics tend to find their buyers on Hemmings or ClassicCars.com. Barrett-Jackson is worth considering only if your car has a compelling story and strong live-crowd appeal.
Key Takeaways
is the strongest starting point for enthusiast cars made after 1979. It charges sellers nothing, accepts about 40% of submissions, and has completed over 32,000 auctions with an active bidding community.
gets the strongest prices for rare and collector-grade vehicles, but approval takes 1 to 3 weeks and you’ll spend 2 to 3 hours a day managing the comment section during your 7-day auction.
is the top choice for pre-1980 classics. Its 400,000+ monthly visitors are serious collectors, and it’s the only platform here that puts your listing in a print magazine.
requires no approval and lets you list immediately, making it the easiest platform to start with. The trade-off is that you manage every step of the sale yourself.
ClassicCars.com and Classics on Autotrader are the best options when you’re willing to wait for the right buyer. Listings stay active until the car sells with no time limit and no renewal fees.
Barrett-Jackson only makes sense for cars with a compelling story or strong live-crowd appeal. For most sellers, the 8% to 12% commission means an online platform will net more money.
If you’re unsure where to start: Cars & Bids reaches the most targeted buyers for modern enthusiast cars, while Hemmings covers the dedicated collector market for traditional classics.
Approval required; up to 3 weeks to go live; 7-day auction
Bring a Trailer
Online auction
All eras (selective)
$99 to $429
Approval takes 1 to 3 weeks; 7-day auction
Hemmings
Auction + Classified
Pre-1980 classics
$99.95 to $189.95
Up to 2 weeks to go live; 7-day auction or 6-month listing
eBay Motors
Auction + Fixed price
All eras
$19 to $79
No approval; list immediately
ClassicCars.com
Classified
All eras
$129.99 to $349.99
No approval; listed until sold
Classics on Autotrader
Classified + Auction
All eras
~$29.95
No approval; listed until sold
Barrett-Jackson
Live auction
All eras (exceptional cars)
8% to 12% commission + fees
Apply months in advance
Best For Modern Enthusiasts: Cars & Bids
Our take on Cars & Bids:Cars & Bids focuses exclusively on modern enthusiast vehicles from the late 1970s to today. If you have a sports car, a rare truck, or a tastefully modified car, this is where serious buyers are looking. Sellers pay nothing to list and keep 100% of the sale price.
Submit your car through their online form. Their team reviews every submission within one business day and approves about 40% of what comes in. If approved, auctions run for seven days starting at $0. Buyers pay a 5% fee on the winning bid.
The platform has completed over 32,000 auctions. Their community is active in the comment section, which builds buyer confidence and competitive bidding. SafePay handles payment and title transfer securely if you choose to use it.
Our take on Bring a Trailer:Bring a Trailer started as a blog in 2007 and grew into one of the most respected collector car auction platforms online. They have over 700,000 registered users and sold over $1.5 billion worth of vehicles in 2024. Not every car gets listed. Submissions go through an approval review that can take 1 to 3 weeks.
Sellers choose between the Classic plan at $99 (you provide your own photos) or the Plus plan at $429, which includes professional photography. There’s also a White Glove service for major collections with custom pricing. Buyers pay a 5% fee with a $250 minimum and $7,500 cap. Sellers pay no commission on the sale price.
Rare cars, air-cooled Porsches, Japanese sports cars, and European exotics tend to do especially well here. The 2-minute extension rule stops last-second sniping and keeps bidding fair. Be ready to spend 2 to 3 hours a day responding to the comment section during your 7-day auction.
Our take on Hemmings:Hemmings has been in the classic car business since 1954 and reaches over 400,000 collector car enthusiasts every month. Their audience is made up of serious buyers, not casual browsers. You can sell three ways: Auction ($99.95), Make Offer ($99.95), or Classified Ad ($129.95 to $189.95).
The Auction option runs for 7 days with a professional writer creating your listing. If your reserve isn’t met, your listing automatically moves to a free 6-month Make Offer period. Classified Ads appear both online and in the Hemmings Motor News print magazine, which is the only print exposure of any platform on this list. Buyers pay a 5% fee on top of the sale price.
One thing to know: Hemmings connects you with buyers but steps back after that. You handle payment, title transfer, and shipping on your own. If your car is worth less than about $15,000, the fees may not justify the platform.
Our take on eBay Motors:eBay Motors isn’t a dedicated classic car platform, but it draws about 11 million monthly car shoppers, including international collectors looking for American classics. You pay a flat listing fee of $19 to $79 with no percentage taken from your sale price. You can run a traditional auction or set a fixed “Buy It Now” price.
The downside is you handle everything yourself. Photos, descriptions, buyer questions, and shipping are all your responsibility. The massive audience means your car competes with thousands of others, so great photos and an honest description matter more here than anywhere else.
Our take on ClassicCars.com: ClassicCars.com runs one of the largest classic car marketplaces online, with over 37,000 vehicles listed at any given time. The biggest advantage here is that your listing stays up until the car sells. No time limits, no renewals. That can matter a lot when you’re waiting for the right collector to come along.
Listing packages run from approximately $129.99 for a basic placement to $349.99 for top placement and homepage features. The site reaches over 2 million monthly visitors, with about half from international markets. There are no seller commissions, only the upfront listing fee.
Best For Live Auction Events: Barrett-Jackson
Our take on Barrett-Jackson: Barrett-Jackson is the largest classic car auction company in the world. Their Scottsdale event draws large crowds every January, and they hold events in several other cities throughout the year. Your car crosses the block in front of a live crowd, which can push prices up for truly exceptional vehicles.
Seller fees are typically 8% for cars under $150,000 and 12% for cars over $150,000. If you want a prime time slot at the Scottsdale event, scheduling fees range from approximately $350 to $1,000 extra. Cars under $150,000 must run without a reserve. You also have to transport your car to the venue, which adds cost and risk.
Barrett-Jackson works best for the kind of car that makes people stop and stare: numbers-matching muscle cars, celebrity-owned vehicles, or fully restored pre-war classics. For most classic cars, online platforms will net you more money after fees.
Best For Budget Entry Point: Classics on Autotrader
Our take on Classics on Autotrader: Classics on Autotrader brings brand recognition to the classic car space. Basic listings start at approximately $29.95, making this one of the more affordable options for getting in front of buyers. The platform reaches about 2.9 million unique monthly visitors who are searching specifically for classic vehicles.
You can run a standard classified listing or enter an auction format. For auction listings, buyers pay approximately 5% of the winning bid. Listings stay up until the car sells, similar to ClassicCars.com. This platform works well if you want broad reach without a large upfront fee.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Classic Car
The right platform depends on your specific car and situation. A few questions will help narrow it down fast.
Consider Your Car’s Age and Type
Pre-1980 traditional classics do best on Hemmings, ClassicCars.com, or Classics on Autotrader. These platforms attract buyers who are specifically shopping for older vehicles.
Modern enthusiast cars from the 1980s to 2000s belong on Cars & Bids. A clean E36 M3, Integra Type R, or Porsche 964 will find its audience there. High-value rarities and truly exceptional cars are good candidates for Bring a Trailer or Barrett-Jackson.
Modified or customized cars do well on Cars & Bids if the work is documented and tasteful. Traditional platforms tend to prefer stock examples.
Factor In Your Timeline
Online auctions run for 7 days on Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids, and 7 days on Hemmings. You’ll know your result within a week.
Willing to wait for the right buyer? ClassicCars.com and Classics on Autotrader listings stay up until the car sells. Some cars take months, but patient sellers often get closer to their asking price. Traditional auction houses like Barrett-Jackson plan consignments months in advance.
Calculate Total Costs
Don’t just look at listing fees. Add up everything you’ll spend, including scheduling and transport costs for in-person events.
Platform
Listing Fee
Seller Commission
Other Costs
Total For $50,000 Sale
Bring a Trailer (Classic)
$99
$0
$0
$99
Bring a Trailer (Plus)
$429
$0
$0
$429
Cars & Bids
$0
$0
$0
$0
Hemmings
$99.95 to $189.95
$0
$0
$99.95 to $189.95
ClassicCars.com
$129.99 to $349.99
$0
$0
$129.99 to $349.99
Classics on Autotrader
~$29.95
$0
$0
~$29.95
Barrett-Jackson (under $150k)
$0
8% ($4,000)
$350 to $1,000
$4,350 to $5,000
These numbers assume you handle your own transport. If you use professional services for photos or shipping, add those costs too.
Think About Your Target Buyer
Who is most likely to buy your car? A younger enthusiast looking for their first project Miata shops differently than a 60-year-old collector hunting for a numbers-matching muscle car.
Cars & Bids attracts younger buyers comfortable buying online. They want cars they can drive and enjoy. Hemmings draws older collectors focused on originality and provenance. They want stock, documented vehicles. Match your platform to your buyer.
Evaluate Fee Structures
Some platforms charge sellers nothing. Others take a cut of your sale price. Think about which model works better for your situation.
If your car is worth $200,000, paying $99 to $429 to list on Bring a Trailer looks very smart compared to 8% at Barrett-Jackson. But if your car is worth $10,000, a $350 listing fee starts to feel heavy relative to what you’ll net.
Tips for Selling Your Classic Car Successfully
Prep Your Car Before Listing
Clean everything, not just a quick wash but a full detail. Buyers judge condition by what they see in photos, and first impressions in the listing matter as much as the in-person inspection.
Fix obvious problems. That cracked taillight lens or torn weather stripping costs you hundreds in perceived value but very little to fix. Change fluids, fix leaks, touch up small paint chips, and clean the engine bay before any photos are taken.
Take Quality Photos
Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids both work with photographers who can come to your location. Cars & Bids offers professional photography as an optional add-on. Consider this if photos aren’t your strength.
If you’re taking your own photos, use natural light on an overcast day to avoid harsh shadows. Take at least 40 to 50 shots covering every angle. Include close-ups of any damage or wear, the VIN plate, engine bay, and all documentation.
Write an Honest Description
Start with the basics: year, make, model, mileage, and VIN. Then tell the car’s story. How long have you owned it? What work have you done? What’s its history before you?
Be honest about flaws. That small door ding you’re hoping buyers won’t notice? They will find it during inspection and wonder what else you’re hiding. Mention it upfront and nobody worries.
Emotional attachment doesn’t add value. Your car is worth what someone will actually pay for it today. Check completed sales on Bring a Trailer for comparable vehicles and use those as your reference point.
For auction listings, consider going no-reserve if you’re confident in your car’s appeal. No-reserve auctions attract more bidders and often end higher than reserved auctions, because buyers know they have a real chance to win.
Gather All Documentation
Buyers want proof. The more documentation you have, the more confident they’ll be, and the higher your sale price tends to go. Gather a clear title in your name, service records and receipts, the original owner’s manual, and any photos of restoration work.
Bonus documentation that can add real value includes previous owner contact information, magazine features, show awards, dyno sheets for performance builds, and a professional appraisal for high-value cars.
How much does it cost to sell a classic car online?
Online auction platforms charge $0 to $429 depending on the plan. Cars & Bids is free, Bring a Trailer charges $99 for the Classic plan or $429 for Plus. Hemmings runs $99.95 to $189.95 depending on listing type.
Classified marketplace sites like ClassicCars.com range from $129.99 to $349.99, while Classics on Autotrader starts at approximately $29.95. None of these platforms charge seller commissions. Traditional auction houses like Barrett-Jackson are the exception, typically charging 8% of your sale price plus scheduling fees.
Do I have to pay fees if my car doesn’t sell?
On most online platforms, you pay the listing fee upfront regardless of whether your car sells. Bring a Trailer charges $99 or $429 whether your car sells or not. Cars & Bids is free regardless of outcome, though they only allow you to list the same car once per year.
Hemmings charges its fee upfront, but if your auction doesn’t hit reserve, your listing automatically moves to a free 6-month Make Offer period. ClassicCars.com and Classics on Autotrader charge upfront but keep your listing active until the car sells, so you’re not paying again each month.
What’s the difference between reserve and no-reserve auctions?
A reserve auction sets a minimum price you must receive before you’re obligated to sell. If bidding doesn’t reach your reserve, you keep the car. A no-reserve auction means the highest bidder wins regardless of price.
No-reserve auctions typically attract more bidders because buyers know they have a real chance. Barrett-Jackson requires all cars under $150,000 to be no-reserve. Most online platforms let you choose, but Cars & Bids and Bring a Trailer both push hard for no-reserve listings.
How long does it take to sell a classic car online?
Auctions on Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids run for 7 days. Hemmings auctions also run for 7 days. You’ll know the result within that window.
Classified listings on ClassicCars.com or Classics on Autotrader can take anywhere from a few days to several months depending on how desirable your car is and how you’ve priced it. Rare cars priced fairly often sell within a few weeks. Overpriced vehicles can sit for months.
Should I use a traditional auction house or an online platform?
Traditional auction houses work best if you have a truly exceptional car that benefits from in-person presentation and live crowd energy. Cars with interesting provenance, celebrity ownership, or major racing history can bring premium prices at events like Barrett-Jackson.
Online platforms work better for most classic cars because fees are lower, you avoid transport risks, and your car stays with you until it sells. If your car is worth under $100,000 and doesn’t have an unusual story, an online platform will typically net you more after fees.
What’s the best platform for a modified classic car?
Cars & Bids is the clearest choice for modified cars. They specifically welcome tastefully modified vehicles and their audience appreciates quality upgrades. Document everything: what brand parts you used, who did the work, and when.
Bring a Trailer also handles modified cars well if the work is documented and professionally done. Hemmings and ClassicCars.com lean toward stock, original vehicles. Their buyers often see modifications as negatives. Barrett-Jackson strongly prefers bone-stock examples.
Can I sell a classic car that needs restoration?
Yes, several platforms welcome project cars. Hemmings has solid demand for restoration projects. ClassicCars.com and Classics on Autotrader also list plenty of cars needing work. Be very honest about condition and price it accordingly.
Take detailed photos of rust, missing parts, and mechanical issues. Buyers shopping for projects know what they’re getting into, but they need accurate information to make fair offers. Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids are more selective and may not accept cars needing extensive work.
How do I handle payment and title transfer when selling online?
For cars over $10,000, use a bank wire transfer or an escrow service. Never accept a personal check for a high-value vehicle. Cars & Bids uses SafePay, which holds the buyer’s payment until title transfer is complete. Bring a Trailer uses Verified Checkout through Caramel for eligible sales.
Title transfer requirements vary by state. Some states require notarization, others don’t. Check your state’s DMV requirements before listing. Always file a release of liability with your state DMV right after the sale to protect yourself from future issues.
Do buyers pay fees when purchasing a classic car on these platforms?
Yes, buyers pay fees on most auction platforms. Bring a Trailer charges buyers 5% with a $250 minimum and $7,500 cap. Cars & Bids also charges buyers 5%. Hemmings charges buyers 5% on top of the sale price.
Classified listings like ClassicCars.com and Classics on Autotrader typically don’t charge buyer fees. The seller’s asking price is what the buyer pays. These buyer fees on auction platforms don’t come out of your sale proceeds, so they don’t affect your bottom line as a seller.
Article Update History
Fact-checked
The fees, listing processes, and platform details in this article were verified against current information from each platform.
