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If you’re researching classic car auctions, you’re likely looking for the right balance of value, transparency, and confidence.

STRAIGHTFORWARD
GUIDE TO
CLASSIC CAR
AUCTIONS
A clear, honest guide to how classic car auctions work — and how to choose the right platform.
Classic car auctions have become one of the most effective ways to sell specialist and collectable vehicles. Unlike traditional classified adverts or dealer sales, auctions allow real buyer demand to determine value – provided the car is marketed properly and shown to the right audience.
This guide explains how classic car auctions work, what separates strong platforms from weaker ones, and how sellers can achieve the best possible outcome.
Classic cars are valued on far more than age and mileage. Buyers focus on:
A well-run classic car auction creates competition, transparency, and urgency – often resulting in stronger prices than fixed listings.
Physical auction houses can work well for certain vehicles, but often involve transport, entry fees, and limited online reach.
Modern specialist platforms combine:
The difference lies in how actively cars are marketed beyond the platform itself.
Clear photography and honest descriptions build confidence and encourage bidding.
Results depend on reaching genuine buyers, not just page views.
Disclosing condition issues often increases trust and final values rather than reducing them.
Classic car auctions work best when sellers let the market speak. Sensible reserves:
The strongest results usually come from confidence in the process rather than rigid expectations.
When comparing classic car auctions, consider:
Platforms that combine enthusiast audiences with wider marketplace distribution tend to deliver the most consistent outcomes.
If you’re exploring classic car auctions, the goal is not speed – it’s confidence.
A properly presented car, placed in front of serious buyers, through a transparent auction process, will almost always find the right new home.
The best auction platforms don’t overpromise – they let results speak for themselves, like our sold results you’ll see here.
Our no hassle curated service takes the stress out of selling your car whilst returning you more money.
Tell us about the car you’re looking to sell.
Our no hassle curated service takes the stress out of selling your car whilst returning you more money.
Tell us about the car you’re looking to sell.
★ Read Our Reviews on Trustpilot
SEE REVIEWS
★ Read Our Reviews on Trustpilot







Our auctions is a no hassle service returning you more money than traditional auctions.
Our auctionsis a no hassle service returning you more money than traditional auctions.

Your car stays with you – we visit to professionally photograph it at your convenience – we even handle buyer questions on your behalf.

We achieve market price by publishing the most thorough listings – confident buyers bid higher.

We produce the most detailed listings, meaning 90% of cars we sell don’t undergo viewings. However, when they do, we ID check everyone before they visit you.
Trusted by Thousands of Sellers
We’ve sold over £25m worth of classic cars – check out our 5* Google Reviews.

We run weekly auctions & most sales are completed within two weeks. You don’t have to wait for quarterly sales from traditional auction houses.

We’ll share your car with our 72k strong community & promote to 13 million enthusiasts on eBay, Pistonheads, Gumtree, Cazoo, Facebook & Instagram.

No seller entry fees or commissions – we only charge the buyer an industry low 6% + VAT buyer’s premium on our Curated Auctions.
Recent Review on Google
“Everyone that works at Trade Classics has a genuine passion for cars & it shows. The valuation guideline was spot on. The best bit was that I wasn’t charged a penny for the sale. Only the buyer paid a 6% + VAT fee. I can’t recommend them enough.”
Grant Parker – see review.
We don't charge our sellers any sales commissions or listing fees.
We don't want any barriers to getting good quality cars from genuine sellers and the 6% + VAT we earn in buyer's commission for Curated Auctions is how we make our money.
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You really have nothing to lose as we manage everything for you including:
- All professional photography of your vehicle with over 200+ images and ~45mins of video*
- The car stays with you so there's no transportation to organise, or risk of your car getting damaged.
- We produce the most detailed & transparent listings in the industry.
- We market to buyers in the UK & mainland EU to get the very best price.
- We even speak to buyers on your behalf so you don’t have to.
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* we charge this at cost price and will work it out based on your location - we have 15 trained automotive photographers around the country. Professional photography is very important to showcase your car to the best of its potential resulting in higher returns to you.
The car always stays with you - we come out and take all the professional photos of your vehicle with over 200+ images and 1hr of video.
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We produce the most detailed & transparent listings in the industry - no one goes to the lengths we do. This gives buyers confidence in the sale meaning 80% of cars we sell don’t have viewings. So the cars don't need to be in one central location.
Yes that's right - our service is all about trust and transparency backed up with the most thorough listings in the industry. This means buyer's trust our service and value the accurate / transparent way we photograph and describe the vehicles we sell. Ultimately, confident buyers bid higher.
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Also, remember we just charge a 6% + VAT buyer's premium on Curated Auctions which is the lowest in the industry too. So we take just 6% + VAT total share of the cost of the vehicle to the buyer. Other auctions services take up to 30% of the value of the vehicle - ultimately this means a lot less money back to you.
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We've reviewed the top 10 classic car auctions in the UK and our service will return you up to 22% more money when compared to using those traditional auction houses. And it's a good deal for the buyer too as they don't pay any more money than they would by using a traditional auction - isn't that amazing.
Not necessarily - the first step is for you to submit your car for valuation via the form on this page.
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We will then review the car and provide you with an accurate market valuation - we may need to speak to you to discuss the condition and history of the vehicle.
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During the valuation process we may then offer to handle the sale of the vehicle on your behalf - we will talk you though this process to make sure it's the right decision for both of us.
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Ultimately we are interested in consigning good quality and fresh-to-market vehicles from genuine sellers, that will appeal to our buyers and bidders at auction.
A reserve is the minimum price that you will let the car sell for. This is a secret price agreed between us: we never disclose it and we ask you not to either. Disclosing the reserve price undermines the auction process.
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We'll work with you to set a realistic reserve in line with market pricing. This is important because a key benefit of our auction service is that if the high bid is above the reserve price, the buyer is legally contracted to complete the sale of the car.
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We also take a non-refundable deposit from their stored credit card, so the buyer is financially tied to the sale.
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However, if the the highest bid received is below your reserve price, the car is not sold.
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Therefore, a reserve that’s too high means you will miss out on a sale.
We take this process very seriously, to start off with we begin by understanding your vehicle, for example factory options, condition and mileage. Once we have this information we analyse the market to gauge your vehicle against recent sales and talk to our team of professionals to estimate any remedial work required.
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We will put together a valuation and may personally talk you through it. At this point we will mutually agree a reserve price for your vehicle.
Absolutely, we are an established service since 2011 within the classic vehicle industry with 10,000's of visitors a month looking to buy their next classic.
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Our service is all about trust and transparency backed up with the most thorough listings in the industry. This means buyer's trust our service and value the accurate / transparent way we photograph and describe the vehicles we sell. Ultimately, confident buyers bid higher.
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However, the genius comes with how we market your car for sale. We list details of your vehicle on all the top classified sites in the UK and mainland EU, linking back to the auction listing. Serious buyers / collectors have alerts on these sites, so they will visit the auction listing and view your vehicle.
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Importantly, we've developed auto-extending bidding that mimics traditional auction house bidding; it’s a key feature to make sure vehicles achieve their true worth. Bids placed in the last one minute automatically extend the auction by a one further minute.
It's traditional for auction houses to charge seller and buyer fees. Our overheads are much lower and this means we can offer our premium Curated Auctions service with just the 6%+ VAT Trade Classics Fee (Buyer Premium).
Yes - but only if you notify us the day before the scheduled visit.
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Before the day of the visit: yes, we will refund the photography fee in full, as no costs have been incurred to us yet.
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On the day of the visit: no, the fee is not refundable - this is because our photographers are freelancers and they would have planned their working week and would lose out on earnings. We still pay them for the service and as such this means the fee is non-refundable to you.
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After the visit: no; if you decide to not go ahead with the process at any point after our photographer has visited then the fee is also non-refundable - this is because we had to pay the photographer for their services and the price you pay us is the actual charge for photography, i.e. we make no money from this service.
The security and safety of our community is our top priority.
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Before a person is allowed to bid they must submit a credit or debit card for us to validate.
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During the bidding process the buyer's stored credit or debit card is used to authorise the Trade Classics Fee (Buyer Commission). If this authorisation fails then the bid will not be made. At the end of the auction this fee is charged to the stored card automatically.
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We use a trusted payment provider called Stripe (to read more on their security click here) to manage the authorisations and charges we request on our bidder's stored cards.
Our terms and conditions are very straightforward and what you'd expect for a typical auction company.
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For example, the sale is between the buyer (winner at auction) and you (the seller). It's on a 'Sold as Seen' basis with no warranties. Essentially like a private sale - we are in the middle making sure it all goes through smoothly and take a 6% + VAT fee from the buyer on Curated Auctions.
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Honesty and transparency are important to us so we don't have anything unusual in our terms and conditions - we do ask you to give us exclusivity during the sale period, i.e. you don't advertise it anywhere else. This is to protect us as it takes a lot of time and money in advertising to complete a sale. It also makes sure we get the most money back for you - duplicate sales can confuse buyers.
Absolutely not - we have invested a lot of time and resources into the sale to bring the car to market and consider this a serious breach of our Terms and Conditions in Section 8.0.
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During Auction Period (by this we refer to the time from when a listing becomes live until the auction subsequently closes - generally a 7 day period) - under no circumstances should private sales be requested or offered by any party during the auction period. We take reasonable steps to monitor this process including but not limited to the communications sent between buyers and sellers via our auction service.
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Post Auction Close (by this we refer to the period after the item sale is finalised) - under no circumstances should private sales be requested by registered Users of our service (Accounts active at anytime during the auction period) or their immediate families, networks and affiliates to any Seller against a vehicle that was not sold due to not making the reserve price set. This clause is effective for 8 weeks after the auction end date. We take reasonable steps to monitor this process including but not limited to the communications sent between Buyers and Sellers via our service.
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Breach of Agreement; if we ascertain reasonable evidence that a breach to these terms above then the SELLER will be charged 7.2% of the agreed reserve price or of the final bid, whichever is the greater sum. This is to cover our costs of consigning the vehicle during the auction preparation process, which includes but is not limited to our time invested to appraise the vehicle, consider its market position, cover any travel and subsistence costs to view the vehicle and incurred marketing costs. If we believe there has been a breach of this agreement, and liability from the Seller has not been disclosed, then we will investigate and produce evidence for legal proceedings, for example to supply directly to the small claims court; more details on this process can be found on the UK Government website.
No - we do ask you to refrain from doing so.
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We have chosen your car as we believe an online auction route is the best process to achieve the highest possible price.
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If in the unlikely event you wish to remove the car from sale then you will be charged 7.2% of either the starting bid or current bid at that time, whichever is greater.
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This is to cover our costs of working with you during the auction preparation process.
No - after we agree consignment of the car with an associated reserve price then this is set for the duration of the process / auction.
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However, you could cancel the contract with us, but then you would be liable for 6% + VAT of the initially agreed reserve price - please see Section 6.1.21 of our terms for more info.
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This rule is in place to protect our service, as if you decide to move the reserve up then naturally it will decrease the chances of sale - which is a key factor for us when deciding to take your car into our service.
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You are free to lower the reserve - please see 'Can I change the reserve price down?' for more information.
Yes - you are free to lower the reserve at any time - we just need at least 2 hours notice before the end of the auction, e.g. if your auction ends at 7.30pm then you have up until 5.30pm on the day of the auction to write to us saying you want to reduce the reserve.
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Naturally there is no restriction on lowering the reserve as it will increase our chances of a successful sale. However, we do need the direction in writing on email or instant message to one of the team you are working with.
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IMPORTANT NOTE - As we have spend considerable time and money bringing your car to market, you can't under any circumstances increase the reserve that we initially agreed - this is because of course raising the reserve reduces our chances of selling your car. We make about a £250 loss for every unsold car when you count up the work we do, and the marketing spend for each car. So out of fairness, it's not right to reduce the chances of sale.
No - if you decide to authorise a lower reserve to us for any reason, at any point in the process, then we will not make up the difference to any previously agreed reserve price. This is because you have decided to reduce the lowest price for the car that you are willing to accept. This decision may have been by your own accord or recommended to you by us - either way it is your decision.
The buyer is contractually bound to purchase the car from you within 7 days of the auction end.
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We automatically deduct our non-refundable 6%+ VAT Trade Classics Fee (Buyer Commission) for Curated Auctions from the buyer's credit card at the end of the auction, so they are financially tied to the transaction.
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If the buyer still doesn't complete then you can either choose to take no action, or issue legal proceedings to recover the money. This is the same process as any other auction sale - traditional or online.
YES - VIP Auctions - we offer a fully managed service, meaning we will collect the car, prepare the car and also store the car during the auction, plus we'll also manage all viewing requests - more info here.
If your car doesn't sell at auction then we'll try our best to sell it post-auction at a price you're happy with.
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However, of course we can't guarantee a sale, like any other service, but we do try our very best to get you that sale.
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If the car doesn't sell at auction or post-auction, then we'll let you know and give you feedback on the process. Rest assured, due to our own extensive buyer network and the unique way we advertise your car across other platforms, e.g. eBay, Cazoo, Pistonheads, Motors.co.uk, Facebook and Instagram, it does mean all potential interested parties will have seen the car.
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If we think your car could sell in the future then we may offer a re-run of the auction, however, that has to be at least three months from the date of the last auction - it's just there is no point re-auctioning a car sooner as we will have marketed it to all interested parties at that time. We'd need to wait for a new group of people that may be interested in the car, or economic situations to change, in order to stand a chance of sale at the price you're looking for.
An awesome car and the ~420 bhp Mezger 3.6L twin-turbo flat-six is a fantastic engine.
This example represents a fine opportunity to own one of the last true Defenders.
A charming and well-presented example of the final-edition Beetle.
Probably one of the prettiest silhouette cars ever produced, made even prettier with a huge whale tail.
A WRC hero for the everyman.
One of the most beautiful cars ever made, the E-Type gained a V12 with the arrival of the Series III.
One of the true great icons from the 90s era of hot hatches and hot saloons; the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth.
The F-Type is a driving experience animal - a snarling 5.0L supercharged V8.
Pure muscle wrapped up in a blend of elegance and aggression - a supercharged V6.
A fantastic little Spider that's ready to be adored.
Iconic E-Type beauty with added comfort and subtle evolution - classic Jaguar style, refined for a new era.
An iconic piece of motoring pop-culture history.
A rare example of the 911, this M491 is one of 17 C16 cabriolets, and is in excellent condition.
The 996 promises a blend of accessible all-wheel-drive grip.
A collector quality example of the visceral V8 powered Ferrari F430 spider, excellent condition, provenance and miles.
One of the worlds most beautiful cars restored to a high standard.
As one of the all-time greats, the E-Type's legendary status endures.
A one family-ownership MKII which has been in storage for over 50 years!
The Exclusive E-Type - 1974 Jaguar E-Type V12 Commemorative
A lovely usable TVR that's ready to be enjoyed.
A refined XK8 Coupe, offering V8 performance and classic Jaguar elegance.
An underrated and affordable entry into Classic Ferrari ownership.
Everything a sports car should be, lightweight and agile with added comfort from previous generations of the Lotus Seven.
A charming, long-owned Bay-Window Campervan that carries its history with honesty.
A project Maserati that needs some care and attention.
There’s something quite special about the 30th Anniversary edition.
With a more modern feel over the 996, the new 997 also has the larger 3.8-litre flat-six engine.
The MK2 is a true British classic design that will always look on point.
The 520i SE is a perfect snapshot of early-’90s Bavarian engineering.
A quality 205 GTi with no sunroof - the one to have.
The stunning metallic blue colour really highlights the great lines of the R129.
Silky smooth power in a comfortable effortless crusier.
A true family heirloom, this Capri is a great example.
The first of the six-cylinder Healeys, its driving experience is unique.
A turbo-charged mid-engine layout with a lick of red paint: you'd be forgive for thinking the Turbo Esprit HC is Italian.
A well maintained example of a JDM supercar.
An alternative take on the classic MGB Roadster.
A lovely 'splitty' that's ready for a new home.
The perfect blend of luxury and performance, offering timeless styling.
A timeless classic, the Daimler V8 250 blends British luxury, elegant styling.
A supercar with grand touring abilities.
A thoroughbred British classic with an unrivalled charisma and charm.
The Defender 90 offers the best of both worlds, combining off-road ability with the practicality space.
A rare blend of British craftsmanship and performance, combining stately luxury with bespoke Mulliner touches.
A great '74 car with an upgraded engine to 3.2-litre.
Tiny but mighty, the Piaggio Ape is a classic three-wheeled workhorse.
Successor to the E-Type, the XJS carries Jaguar’s grand touring and racing pedigree into a new era.
A true icon - bold, muscular, and built for pure driving pleasure.
A sorted 325i Sport from very long ownership.
A rare special edition that's been owned a long time.
Smooth and reliable V8 power in one the world automotive icons.
The XJ-SC combines a rare blend of elegance and exclusivity with grand touring comfort.
A perfect improvement project to be had on this 'Splitty' camper.
A special 2000E with a drizzle of celebrity status.
A very original example of Jaguars flagship coupe.
The Turbo SE cuts a striking figure, with its sharp wedge profile.
A well-looked-after example of one of the finest cars of the Millennium.
The car has been ceramic coated, and every part fitted has been either new old stock or a correct specialist item. Looking over the car on our visit, it's apparent the Lotus sits among the very finest Esprit Turbos in the country.
A well looked after and ready to be enjoyed Tuscan.
Iconic '70s Datsun Coupe in a stunning colour-way.
A slice of 1960s Americana with British running costs.
A very rare Toyota Lift Top, complete with two full padded double beds, a rear kitchen, a double cooker with grill, and a fridge.
An elegant pillarless coupe with style and comfort.
Being the run-out Campaign edition, the Golf GTI features the Pirelli P-slot alloy wheels and the gorgeous Lhasa Green paintwork.
Utterly charming, with dashing good looks – and making it as a James Bond car in Dr. No.
An exceptional Karmann convertible that's found a new owner.
A classic bay window campervan with all the utilities for a getaway
Well-proven mechanics with practicality and style.
Very few, if any, cars offer the same handling and thrills for the money than a Caterham.
A low mileaged hand-built roadster with loads of character.
Rare professionally restored example of a iconic roadster.
With its wide stance and 'Guards Red' paint the Supersport grabs attention wherever it goes.
The Rubin Red paint really suits the Carrera 3.2, adding to it desirability.
Finished in British Racing Green – is there really a more fitting colour for a Triumph Stag?
Once of the rarest Fords to have been produced.
A lovely 190E coming to market from long term family ownership
Finished in Opalescent Golden Sand, the Mk2 Jag has stand out presence on the road.
A rare car, the model that arguably kickstarted the famous DB lineage
Basic and fun open top motoring in its most charismatic form
Highly original 80's hatchback
With A fully refurbished chassis, rebuilt engine, and rebuilt diff, this Griffith 500 is ready to hit the road.
Charismatic as it is practical, as entertaining as it is hard-working.
Dead cert to become a classic, this 2.8-litre Z3 with a hardtop is one of the best one the market.
A Gen 1 996 in manual configuration - going up in value!
A rare car on the roads today and comes fresh from ~24 years of ownership.
A 60s icon with a punchy power upgrade.
Sportscar performance with composed road manners and luxury.
The definition of a modern classic, even the "Fried Egg" headlights are gaining appeal
For the 60s purist with the convenience of the 1990s.
A well cherished XK8, only covering ~1,000 miles in the past ~10 years.
An icon of the 80s, the DeLorean carries a lot of nostalgia.
A legend amongst sports cars, the 911 is a sprited drive.
A good TR6 that needs a little finishing.
A fantastic opportunity to own a 328 from long ownership and recent belts.
A highly original example of the 964, coming from a ~30 year family ownership.
An original 993 coming from 22 year ownership - a sound investment.
A lovely XK150 subject to a recent restoration and engine rebuild.
A stunning low mileage example of the original 928, in a very period colourway
A high mileage but well cared for example of the "Big Turbo" RS Cossie
A 90s Californian import this MGB has been fitted with the SD1 3.5 V8.
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