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Car Auction Getting Started Guide
Car Auction Getting Started Guide

Getting started with A Better Bid is easy – follow these simple steps to get a great deal on your next vehicle

Stacy Denver avatar
Written by Stacy Denver
Updated over a week ago

Create an Account: Create an account from scratch or sign up using a social account such as Facebook or Google.


Choose a Membership Type: We offer 3 memberships, so members can choose what fits their needs: Standard Membership (FREE), Premium Membership ($199 Annually), and Pro Membership ($549 Annually).


Set Buying Power: Set your buying power by placing a fully refundable security deposit. The deposit should be a minimum of $400 or 10% of your maximum desired bid, whichever is greater.


Upload Your ID: Before you can bid live, make sure to upload your government-issued ID.


Fill Out Your Contact Information: To complete the registration process, make sure to add your phone number and address.

Vehicle Finder: We’ve made it easy for you to find a bargain; use our vehicle finder to specify your search by make, model, location, vehicle condition, and other parameters.


Save Your Searches: Save your customized search results to get notified of new arrivals and to quickly view available vehicles the next time around.


Watchlist: See something you like? Save it to your watchlist and get notified when it will be up for auction.


In-Person Vehicle Preview: We strongly recommend that you preview a vehicle in person or request a third-party inspection to make a sound bidding decision.


Vehicle History Reports: Prior to purchasing a vehicle, check whether it has potentially hidden issues or undisclosed damage.

There are 3 ways you can purchase a vehicle:

Preliminary Bidding (aka Pre-Bidding): Place a pre-bid, and our system will automatically bid for you during the live auction up to your maximum bid amount.


Live Bidding: Experience the excitement of our online, real-time live bidding from the comfort of your home. Compete against other members to become the highest bidder!


Buy It Now: Some vehicles offer a β€œBuy It Now” option. This allows you to purchase the vehicle immediately at a set price before it goes to live auction.


Paying for the Vehicle: Once you win an auction, we will email you an invoice with payment instructions.

We make shipping easy! We can deliver your vehicle to your door anywhere in the U.S. and to any port in the world. The shipping estimator can be found on every vehicle listing page. Use it to get an approximate quote or contact us via email or live chat to request an exact shipping quote.

After the vehicle has been picked up from the auction facility, we will begin processing your ownership documents.

Last Updated 8/28/23

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