How Auctions Work | User Guide

Do you have auctions in person?

There are no in-person auctions—all of our auctions are 100% online.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

What is preliminary bidding?

A preliminary bid (pre-bid) allows members to place their maximum bid on a vehicle up until one hour before the live auction begins. The highest bid placed during this period will become the starting bid in the live auction. 👉 Learn more about preliminary bidding

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

What is live bidding?

Live bidding allows members to present their bids live while the vehicle is up on the auction block. During the live auction, members place bids in real-time from the comfort of their homes. 👉 Learn more about live bidding

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

How do I place a preliminary bid?

You can place a pre-bid from the vehicle listing page. Enter your desired pre-bid amount, click the “Bid Now” button, then confirm your pre-bid. 👉 Learn more about preliminary bidding

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

How do I place a live bid?

To place a bid live you will need to join the live auction before your desired vehicle is scheduled to be up for sale on the auction block. You may access the live auction directly through the vehicle listing page or from the auction dashboard. Once your vehicle is up on the auction block, place a live bid. If outbid, continue increasing your bid up to the maximum amount that you’re willing to pay for that vehicle. 👉 Learn more about live bidding

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

When will the vehicle go to live auction?

Each vehicle listing has a “Sale Date," which is the day it will go up for live auction. If a vehicle is not yet ready to be sold, it will have a sale date listed as “Future Sale” or "Upcoming Lot." Here is an example of where you can locate the "sale date" for a vehicle.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

How do I find a vehicle on live auction?

The easiest way to find a vehicle in the live auction is to click on the “Join Live Auction Now” button, which will be displayed one hour before the scheduled start time. It will take you directly to the live auction dashboard where you can select the corresponding auction location and lane for your desired vehicle. The vehicle will appear in the “Upcoming Lot” list along with the approximate time until live bidding.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

Can I buy a vehicle without participating in the auction?

Yes, some vehicles are listed with a “Buy It Now” option. This allows you to buy a vehicle instantly at a set price (plus all applicable fees) instead of waiting to participate in the live auction.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

How do I buy a “Buy It Now” vehicle?

In order to buy a vehicle that has the “Buy It Now” option, make sure you have enough buying power—at least 10% of the vehicle's listed “Buy It Now” price. Click on the "Buy It Now" button, then confirm your purchase. 👉 Learn more about "Buy It Now" vehicles

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Can I pre-bid and participate in the live auction at the same time?

If your pre-bid is the highest starting bid for the live auction, you will not be able to increase the bid if you are outbid during the live auction. Therefore we suggest that you either place the maximum pre-bid that you are comfortable with, or you do not place any pre-bid and bid live instead.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

How will I know if I won the vehicle?

If you won the vehicle, you will see it in the “Won Bids” section in your account, and you will receive an invoice by email.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Can I find out the final sale price of a vehicle?

The sale price is not available to anyone except the seller, and once the sale ends, it becomes available to the buyer.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Can I cancel or lower my bid?

No. Once a bid is placed, you will not be able to cancel or lower it.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

How long does it take for the seller to accept my bid on a vehicle with a sale status of “On Approval” or “Minimum Bid?"

The seller has until 8 p.m. PST two business days after the sale to accept, reject or counteroffer your bid for a vehicle with a sale status of “On Approval” or “Minimum Bid." You will receive a notification by email and in your account with the seller's decision.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

How do I accept, keep the current bid, or counterbid the seller's reserve?

After the seller's counteroffer, go to your Current Bids and select the appropriate vehicle. You will be able to review the seller's counteroffer and decide whether you want to accept the reserve, keep the current bid, or offer a counterbid. Despite any counteroffers made by the seller, the highest bid will remain valid until 8 p.m. PST two business days after the auction. Additionally, your deposit will remain locked, and you will not be able to bid on another vehicle until the sale of this vehicle is complete.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

Can I find out the seller's “Minimum Bid” reserve?

The seller’s minimum bid reserve is not known prior to or during the live auction. However, if you are the highest bidder, the seller's minimum bid reserve will be revealed to you once the live auction ends.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Why is there no “Sale Date” indicated on some of the vehicle listing pages?

Vehicles that do not list a “Sale Date” have not been scheduled for a live auction. Instead, these vehicles are listed as “Future Sale” or "Upcoming Lot."

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

What does “Future Sale” mean?

Vehicles that have the sale date listed as “Future Sale” have not been scheduled for a live auction and are not available for pre-bidding. Members can add "Future Sale" vehicles to their watchlist to receive a notification once the vehicle becomes available.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Can I bid on all vehicles?

To place a bid on a vehicle located in Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri or Wisconsin, or on a vehicle with biohazard damage, you will need to request our assistance so that we may place the bid manually on your behalf.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

What are Night Cap Sales (NCS)?

Night Cap Sales are auctions held in the evening for vehicles that did not sell during their originally scheduled time. They provide a second opportunity to bid live, especially if you are not available during the day or live internationally. There are often fewer buyers, which gives you an upper hand to purchase vehicles at better prices. Night Cap Sales are grouped by region: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific, and they are held Monday through Thursday, at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST/7 p.m. MST/6 p.m. PST.

Last updated on Feb 19, 2026

Car Auction Getting Started Guide

Create an Account: Create an account from scratch or sign up using a social account such as Facebook or Google. Register Now 👉 Learn more about how to create an account Choose a Membership Type: We offer 4 memberships, so members can choose what fits their needs: Starter Membership (FREE), Standard Membership ($49 Annually), Premium Membership ($199 Annually), and Pro Membership ($549 Annually). 👉 Learn more about choosing a membership type 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. 👉 Learn more about buying power Upload Your ID: Before you can bid live, make sure to upload your government-issued ID. 👉 Learn more about how to upload your ID Fill Out Your Contact Information: To complete the registration process, make sure to add your phone number and address. 👉 Learn more about filling out your contact information 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. 👉 Learn more about how to use the vehicle finder Save Your Searches: Save your customized search results to get notified of new arrivals and to quickly view available vehicles the next time around. 👉 Learn more about how to save your searches Watchlist: See something you like? Save it to your watchlist and get notified when it will be up for auction. 👉 Learn more about how to add vehicles to your watchlist 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. 👉 Learn more about previewing a vehicle Vehicle History Reports: Prior to purchasing a vehicle, check whether it has potentially hidden issues or undisclosed damage. 👉 Learn more about vehicle history reports 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. 👉 Learn more about preliminary bidding 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! 👉 Learn more about live bidding Buy It Now: Some vehicles offer a “Buy It Now” option. This allows you to purchase the vehicle immediately at a set price before it goes to live auction. 👉 Learn more about “Buy It Now” Paying for the Vehicle: Once you win an auction, we will email you an invoice with payment instructions. 👉 Learn more about how to pay for your vehicle 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. 👉 Learn more about the shipping process

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

You Must Familiarize Yourself with the Auction Process & our Services

Before purchasing a vehicle, you must become familiar with our services and the auction process. You must review the following: - Policy Guidelines - Terms & Conditions - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy - Help Center If you need further assistance in understanding the transaction or auction process, please contact us at info@abetter.bid or at +1 (302) 613-1026.

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

Conduct Your Own Research

Auctions are a great way to get a vehicle at an excellent price, however, auctions come with inherent risks. You must take the time to do your own research to make sure you are comfortable with the risks before purchasing a vehicle. The vehicle information provided by our website is for convenience only—A Better Bid does not independently review or confirm any of the information provided, and we do not offer any guarantee that the information provided is accurate or complete for any vehicle. Before purchasing a vehicle we strongly encourage you to get a vehicle history report and preview the vehicle in person in order to assess its condition and evaluate the extent of the repairs that will be needed to restore the vehicle to the desired condition.

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

Your Bid is Binding Even if there is a Counter Offer

If you placed a bid on a vehicle and received a counter offer from the seller, your bid is still valid and binding even if the seller does not immediately accept your bid. For sale types designated as “On Minimum Bid” or “On Approval,” the seller has until 8 p.m. PST two business days after the sale to accept, reject or counter offer.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

Bids Cannot be Lowered or Withdrawn

Once your bid is successfully placed, it cannot be lowered, canceled or withdrawn. You are obligated to pay the amount of the winning bid plus all applicable fees if you are the highest bidder and you win the vehicle.

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

How to Place a Preliminary Bid

A preliminary bid (aka pre-bid) is a type of bid that allows members to place a bid on a vehicle before it goes up on the auction block during the live auction. Pre-bidding is available up until one hour before the live auction starts. You can either place a pre-bid that is one increment above the current pre-bid, which will become the new highest pre-bid, or you can set your bidding reserve by placing a pre-bid that is higher than one increment above the current bid. The highest pre-bid placed during the pre-bidding period will be the starting price during the live auction. Setting a pre-bid reserve is perfect for those who can’t participate during the live auction. When you place a pre-bid reserve our system will automatically bid for you during the live auction up to your maximum bid amount. It will only place a bid within your allowed amount in order to outbid someone else. Related Topics - Learn about live bidding - Learn about “Buy It Now” - Learn how to pay for your won vehicle Next Article ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ← prev next→

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

How to “Buy It Now”

Here at A Better Bid we offer tons of vehicles with the “Buy It Now” option. This allows you to purchase the vehicle immediately at a set price (plus all applicable fees) before it goes to live auction. Buying a “Buy It Now” vehicle is easy and only takes a few minutes. View "Buy It Now" Vehicles Related Topics - Learn about live bidding - Learn about preliminary bidding - Learn about how to pay for your vehicle Next Article ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ← prev next→

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026

How to Bid Live

During the live auction, members place bids in real time from the comfort of their home and compete against other members to become the highest bidder! To bid live you need to join the live auction before your chosen vehicle is up for sale on the auction block. You may access the live auction directly through the vehicle listing page or from the auction dashboard. Once your vehicle is up on the auction block, place a live bid. Continue bidding up to the maximum amount that you’re willing to pay. Join Live Auctions Related Topics - Learn about preliminary bidding - Learn about “Buy It Now” - Learn how to pay for your vehicle Next Article ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ← prev next→

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

How do I place a Max Bid during the live auction?

If you want to place a Max Bid during a live auction, you will go to "Live Auctions" and find the appropriate location and lane where your desired lot will be available for bidding. Once you locate your desired lot in the queue, you can increase the Max Bid amount by clicking the "+" button until you have reached your desired Max Bid amount. When you reach that amount, you will select "Max Bid" to set the amount. Watch Video

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

How do I complete the eSign documents?

Once A Better Bid has received the title or reassignment document for your purchase, you will receive an email requesting your electronic signature on a few sale documents. First, you will need to log into your account. At the top of the page, you will see a banner informing you of the pending documents. You will select "E-SIGN NOW." You can also find this section by selecting your profile, going to Document Center and selecting "New E-sign." You will be taken to a page listing your new e-sign(s). Select the blue "Sign Now" button. You will need to verify that your information is correct. Note: The buyer's address will list your permanent address instead of your mailing address. Continue to step 3. You will need to scroll down and select continue to acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Adobe Terms of Use. Select "Click here to sign" under "Purchaser's Signature." You will then type your name or draw a signature, and click "Apply." You will need to go through and add your signature to all the pages before selecting the blue "Click to Sign" button at the end of the last document. Watch Video

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

How do I look up a vehicle history report?

If you would like more information on a vehicle's history, you may obtain a vehicle history report through EpicVIN. In a full report you will have access to information on history events, any safety recalls the vehicle may have, any reported accidents, the last known mileage, the sales history, and information on the previous owners. You can access the report by selecting “Get Vehicle History Report” under the “Vehicle History” section of any listing. As a Standard, Premium or Pro Member with A Better Bid, you will automatically receive login details and receive a credit of 10, 20 or 50 vehicle history reports, depending on your membership type. Once you are logged in to your EpicVIN account, select “Order Report” and then “Use Prepaid Reports.” If you are a Starter Member, you will need to pay to see the full report. Watch Video

Last updated on Mar 25, 2026