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How it Works

For Sellers

The time has come for a safe, easy, and effective online Auction. Powered by ClassicCars.com, we have the expertise and wide market exposure to get your car seen by millions of visitors. Join us today and see what award-winning customer service is all about.

Learn More About Selling Submitting a vehicle for review is free $99.99 listing fee upon acceptance

For Bidders

Enjoy the excitement of finding the perfect car. Our no nonsense, informative and easy to use site is waiting for you. It's easy to register. Just add your profile information and a credit card for bidding. We charge a flat fee of 6.5% of the winning bid (minimum fee of $325, maximum fee of $10,000). Simple and effective.

Learn More About Bidding Bid on curated, pre-vetted vehicles.

For Enthusiasts

We are more than just an auction, we're a community of car lovers. Your comments and questions are encouraged. We feel they can be informative and supportive to the auction process. Got something to say? Join our community today. To register, just add your profile information and you're ready to go.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs
Seller FAQs
Bidder FAQs

User Guides

Bidder Best Practices
Get yourself ready to bid:
Before you bid, make sure you are a registered as a bidder on AutoHunter. To Register is free, but a credit card will be needed prior to bidding.
Do your homework:
For your car of interest, thoroughly read through the vehicle listing description and inspect all the photos. If you have any seller questions or would like to get in touch with the seller you can ask them in the comment section or through the "contact seller" feature. If the car is 1981 or newer, study the CARFAX car history report.
Vehicle inspections:
In some cases, it may be helpful to obtain a pre purchase inspection (PPI). If you have friends in the area where the car is located, you could send them to take a look at the car. Other popular PPI alternatives are a mobile inspection service, a local repair shop, or even a local dealership. Knowing exactly what shape the car is in will give you the ammunition you need to negotiate intelligently.
Stay engaged:
Keep an eye on the comment section of the vehicle listing page. Important information about the car can surface in this section that may influence your bid. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments section of the listing.
Get ready to jump in with your bid:
It's best to locate yourself where you are not distracted and can stay focused. Make sure other apps are closed on your device so that random alerts and popups don't interfere. Test internet connectivity in advance and ensure that your speeds are responsive. Get familiar with where to bid so you're not scrambling to find it when the time comes. Bidding can reach a high pace as the auction draws to a close. Some bidders stay on the side lines purposely until the closing minutes. Be alert, and place your bid when you are ready.
You won!
These are some of the most exciting words you can hear. It's fantastic news, and you are eager to press on. Once you win the auction, AutoHunter will virtually introduce you to the buyer. Reach out immediately and introduce yourself.
Dot the "Is" and cross the "Ts":

Discuss the exact time, place, and method to transfer funds, receive your title, and receive your new vehicle.

If you are planning on picking the car up in person; cash, certified bank check, or a wire transfer are common payment methods. A wire transfer is preferred for speed and easy transactional confirmation. If buyer and seller happen to bank at the same bank, account transfers are very effective and can be executed through your mutual bank managers. Just get all parties together and gain agreement on what needs to occur. It's also a good idea to draft a simple "Bill of Sale". There are many samples on the internet. Make plenty of copies for your records.

Another popular method to exchange the title, vehicle and funds is through a neutral escrow company. For a fee, these companies will hold the funds until the exchange is complete. This is very effective, easy, and is set up specifically for these types of vehicle transactions. There are many to choose from and can easily be found as a search on the internet. These services typically charge a service fee based on the selling price of the car.

Verify and communicate:

Ensure that you are getting what you paid for. Be specific on the times and dates that handoffs are to occur. Make sure all keys, manuals, car matts, tools, spare parts and extras are included as described. If you are not sure about anything, ask. Make sure the title has been signed off by the seller. In some states, the newly signed title may need to be notarized. If a Bill of Sale has been created, make sure to obtain it, and that it has all necessary signatures.

Give the vehicle one more final visual inspection. If you're having the vehicle picked up by a transporter, ask the seller to take additional photos of the car prior to it being loaded, and to document any damages like scratches, dents, dings, etc. for comparison when the car arrives. If you find any undocumented damages, contact your shipper immediately to get the issue resolved.

Enjoy:
Congratulate yourself on job well done. You deserve it.
Seller Best Practices
A little time now pays off later:
Spending a few bucks and a little elbow grease can help payoff big when it comes time to sell. Prior to submitting your car for auction at AutoHunter, please take the time to give it a good detail and fix any nagging issues like leaks, squeaks, worn items, scratches, etc. If you need some tips on how to detail your car you can check out our "Preparing your vehicle for Photography" section below.
Details, details:
When submitting your car, include as much information as possible. Be sure to cover areas like present condition, maintenance records, restoration history, ownership history, car shows, articles, awards, modifications/upgrades and any other points relevant to the car. If you're not sure if it's relevant, it's better to include it anyways to ensure our professional auction listing writers have as much information as they need to present your car in its best light.
You look marvelous:
Great photos of your car are an essential part of a successful listing. If you need some tips on how to take pictures of your car, you can check out our online guide . If you'd prefer to let the pros handle it, you can opt for our onsite photography upgrade and we'll send out a professional to take the pics. Hassel free.
Stay engaged:
Keep an eye on the comment section of the vehicle listing page. Important information about the car can surface in these sections that may require your prompt reply. Timely responses from the seller will help sell your car as effectively as possible. Be responsive. If you have opted in to receive SMS messages and/or email notifications in your user profile, you will automatically be messaged directly as new comments are posted.
The reserve price is only your business:
When you are a seller, the reserve price you set is private and confidential. Revealing your reserve price can negatively limit your car from reaching its bidding success. Never reveal your price, especially in public comments. If asked, simply refer the bidder to the auction and prompt them to bid a price that they are comfortable with.
Going once, going twice. Sold!
Once your car has sold, AutoHunter will virtually introduce you to the buyer. Reach out immediately and introduce yourself. The buyer will be eager to complete the transaction.
Show me the money:

If you are planning on transferring the car in person, it is common to receive payment in cash, certified bank check, or a wire transfer. A wire transfer is preferred for speed and easy transactional confirmation. If the buyer happens to bank at your same bank, account-to-account transfers are very effective and can be executed through your mutual bank managers. Just get all parties together and gain agreement on what needs to occur. It's also a good idea to draft a simple "Bill of Sale". There are many samples on the internet.

Another popular method to exchange the title and funds is through a neutral escrow company. For a fee, these companies will hold the funds until the exchange is complete. This is very effective, easy, and is set up specifically for these types of vehicle transactions. There are many to choose from and can easily be found as a search on the internet. As an example, we have received good reviews for a company called .

Delivery checklist:

Discuss with the buyer the exact time, place, and method to transfer funds, title, bill of sale, and of course the vehicle.

Organize all of your keys, manuals, car matts, tools, spare parts, touchup paint, history files, and extras are included as described. Leave a note in the car if there any tips about starting the car, connecting the battery, setting the brakes etc. Make sure the title has been signed off by the seller. In some states, the newly signed title may need to be notarized. If a Bill of Sale has been created, make sure to obtain it, and that it has all necessary signatures. Make copies of everything.

Discuss how the buyer plans to transport the car. If the buyer is shipping the car with a 3rd party carrier, document the condition of the vehicle before it gets loaded up for your own records. The carrier should make note of any dings, dents, scratches, etc. on the bill of lading, make sure to ask them for a copy as well. It's likely the buyer will need your help in scheduling vehicle pickup, access to the vehicle, and general help ensuring the car gets loaded up by the shipping company.

Wave goodbye!
Your old vehicle served you well. It's time to pass the torch on to the next enthusiast. Ensure that all stages of the transfer go as smoothly as possible. It always helps to be as supportive as possible, as your positive actions now can foster a strong reputation for your future transactions. Job well done!
Preparing Your Car for Photography
Taking great photos of your car is one of the big driving factors that will set your car apart from the rest. Here are some tips on getting your car prepped and ready to photo just like a Hollywood star!
Clean and neat:
Wash it like you never have before:

  1. Use a hose or a sprayer to rinse off all the loose dirt and grime from your paint. This will reduce the possibility of scratching your paint. Once finished, put your soap/water mix in a wash bucket or a foam sprayer. Using a microfiber wash mitt, wash each section of your car. Once you are done, rinse your car off, making sure to wash away all remaining soap. It's best to wash in the car in shade to prevent streaking.
  2. While your wheels are still wet, use a wheel and tire cleaner and apply directly to your wheels and the front face of your tires. Using a brush or mitt, clean your wheels. Be sure to not let the chemical dry and quickly rinse off once you are finished.
  3. Dry your car using microfiber towels, its good practice to open your trunk, doors and hood to get that sneaky remaining water. If you drop a towel on the ground, get a fresh one.
Details, details:
Now that your done washing your car, it's time to move on to detailing:
  1. Exterior: A quick detailer is a fast and effective way to make your car's paint look great. Spray some quick detailer onto a microfiber towel and wipe down your car. Remember to wipe each panel in the same direction, do not wipe in a circular motion. Stay in the shade. A soft bristle tooth brush can get those hard to reach places to remove built up wax.
  2. Wheels/tires: Everyone loves a nicely dressed tire! Choose a tire dresser, some great products to use are Adams Polishes Tire Shine, Griot's Tire Coating, or Meguiars Tire Shine. There are multiple levels of shine available, make sure to choose the product for the level you want and follow the application instructions on the product container.
  3. Interior: There are a few practices involved to get your interior clean. Start with vacuuming your carpets (in the same even direction), floor mats, and your seats to remove any debris. Use interior detail wipes or an interior cleaning spray with a microfiber to wipe your dash, steering wheel, console, door panels, etc.
  4. Glass: Clean your windows using a glass cleaner that is ammonia free. Spray product directly to your windows and wipe with a clean microfiber towel, or you can spray directly onto the towel and wipe clean with the dry side for those hard to reach areas. This will reduce any haze from your glass that may show in photos. Stay in the shade to prevent streaking.
  5. Chrome: Chrome polish not only removes surface contaminants but also lays down a beautiful shine that catches the light. Use sparingly.
  6. Engine bay: Cleaning your engine bay can really elevate the appearance of your car. However, many of the parts aren't designed to withstand direct contact with water so it's essential to protect those components before cleaning. Disconnect your battery and cover both battery cables along with any other wires and electronic components (like distributors, coil packs, computer modules etc.). If your car is carbureted, cover your air filter as well.

    Once everything is protected, use diluted Simple Green or a product like Adams All Purpose Cleaner. Spray the cleaner on everything and use a brush to clean all components. Once you are done, rinse the engine bay thoroughly with a hose. Use towels to wipe away all visible water and if available, blow compressed air into all the nooks and crannies to dry everything before removing the coverings on the electrical items. Last, use a plastic protector, like Armor All, on exposed plastic bits to really make the details pop.

A beautiful background for photos
Now that you have prepped your car perfectly, its time to show it off. Your car is the star! Do not make the mistake of picking an unflattering background for your photos. Garbage cans in the background, an uncut lawn, other vehicles in the shot, or debris around the car is a turn off, and ultimately can reduce the value…all because of a photo! Pick your background carefully. The front of a manicured home, a local landmark, a park, lakeside, interesting architecture (not overwhelming), or a public facility all make wonderful backdrops.
Seller Photo Guide
Best practices for auction photography
Photo Guide

The photographs of your vehicle are a critical component of your listing. Buyers from around the world who view your auction listing rely solely on your pictures and descriptions to help them decide and increase their level of interest in bidding on your car.

The more photos you have, the more interest they have

Without enough information on the vehicle to peak their interest,
they are less likely to get excited about owning it.
Tips Before Getting Started:
  • Take pictures outside in an open area
  • Position car in an area where you have 360 degree access to the car from 20 feet away
  • Make sure the background is acceptable and does not interfere or take away from the real subject of the photo, your car.
Step 1: Take Exterior Pictures


  1. Left front corner
  2. Front side
  3. Right front corner
  4. Right side of car
  5. Right rear corner
  6. Back side
  7. Left rear corner
  8. Left side of car

Stand in the position indicated at right to take the corresponding picture in the list.

photo guide top image view
Example:

Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Step 2: Take Interior Pictures
  • Open left door and take a pic of the driver's area, including steering wheel and instrument panel
  • Open right door and take a pic of interior, including right side of dash area
  • Trunk area (if applicable)
  • Rear seat (if applicable)
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Step 3: Take Pictures Under the Hood
  • Picture of engine from the front or top (depending on hood)
  • Picture of engine from the leftside
  • Picture of engine from the rightside
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Step 4: Special areas of interest pictures
Your car may have some special or interesting features that you find personally interesting. Take pictures of those features, chances are, others will find them interesting as well. Examples include: Custom wheels, unique hood ornament, glitzy instruments, interesting hubcaps, pictures of awards from car shows, pictures of media stories.
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography
Step 5: Additional Photos for added buyer interest
To ensure the true condition of the vehicle as described, collector car buyers like to see beneath the vehicle as well. Confirming there isn't any damage, rust, bondo, etc. increases the bidders confidence and probability of purchase. If unable to get car on a lift, a simple ground level picture from beneath the front & back bumpers, the left & right rocker panels and the wheel wells, will be sufficient.
Best practices for auction photography
Best practices for auction photography

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