Understanding auction fees is essential for calculating your true cost as a buyer or your net proceeds as a seller. Here's what every major platform charges in 2026.
Why Fees Matter
On a $50,000 car, total auction fees (buyer premium + seller commission) typically range from $3,500 to $8,000. That's 7–16% of the sale price — a significant cost that many first-time auction participants underestimate.
Online Auction Platforms
Bring a Trailer (BaT)
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Total cost on a $50K car: $5,099 (listing) + $2,500 (seller) + $2,500 (buyer) = ~$5,099 total, or ~10.2%
What you get: Largest audience in the online enthusiast space, comprehensive listing support, comment-driven community vetting.
Cars & Bids
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Total cost on a $50K car: $2,250 (seller) + $2,250 (buyer) = $4,500, or 9%
What you get: Strong modern/enthusiast car audience, excellent video content support, growing rapidly.
PCarMarket
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Total cost on a $50K car: $2,000 (seller) + $2,500 (buyer) = $4,500, or 9%
What you get: Porsche-focused audience, highly curated listings, strong community of serious Porsche buyers.
Hemmings Online Auctions
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Total cost on a $50K car: $2,099 (seller) + $0 (buyer) = $2,099, or ~4.2%
What you get: Classic car-focused audience, no buyer premium is attractive, strong for American classics and pre-war cars.
Traditional Auction Houses
RM Sotheby's
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Total cost on a $500K car: ~$30K (seller est.) + $75K (buyer) = ~$105K, or ~21%
What you get: White-glove service, global marketing, premium auction events, the most affluent buyer pool in the world.
Bonhams
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Gooding & Company
Seller fees:
Buyer fees:
Fee Comparison Table
| Platform | Seller Fee | Buyer Premium | Total on $50K | Total on $200K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BaT | 5% (cap $5K) | 5% (cap $5K) | $5,099 | $10,099 |
| Cars & Bids | 4.5% (cap $4.5K) | 4.5% (cap $4.5K) | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| PCarMarket | 4% (cap $4K) | 5% (cap $5K) | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| Hemmings | 4% + $99 | 0% | $2,099 | $8,099 |
| RM Sotheby's | ~8% | 15% | N/A | ~$46,000 |
How to Minimize Fees
For Sellers
For Buyers
The Bottom Line
Online auction platforms have democratized the collector car market, but fees vary significantly. For cars in the $25K–$100K range, the online platforms are clearly more cost-effective than traditional auction houses. Above $100K, the caps at BaT and Cars & Bids make them particularly attractive. For million-dollar cars, the global reach of RM Sotheby's or Gooding may justify the higher fees.
Use Motivyn to search across all platforms simultaneously — we aggregate listings and results so you can find the best car at the best price, regardless of where it's listed.