Online car auctions

[Benji55]

Has anyone any experience or recommend online car auctions other than BCA? I only buy very occasional cars and have in the past always purchased online from BCA. As a silver buyer the fees were high enough and it was difficult to buy below a competitively priced private sale but I’ve been bumped down to blue (standard) buyer rate because I only bought one car in the last 12 months. The buyer fee is so high now it’s not worth it. Just wondered how anyone found other auctions compared. I’m based in Berkshire.

[BlueJ]

I sold a car via Bonhams cars online, they're relatively local to you, good guys to deal with.

[paul_c123]

Last time I checked, BCA did about 10x the volume of Manheim (the next biggest, I think), which means they have 10x more vehicles to choose from. I am wondering, do you know the bands for each of the account styles? I am Silver, but I am wondering what I need to do to get Gold, and if its worth it.

[Benji55]

paul_c123 said:

Last time I checked, BCA did about 10x the volume of Manheim (the next biggest, I think), which means they have 10x more vehicles to choose from. I am wondering, do you know the bands for each of the account styles? I am Silver, but I am wondering what I need to do to get Gold, and if its worth it.

I can’t find the purchase quantities required for each level, maybe someone from BCA is on this forum could help. My account was silver but I only purchased one car in the last 12 months so when revue was due last month I was downgraded to blue (standard). Buying fees have almost doubled.

[andrewcliffe]

Google says 12+ cars / year

[paul_c123]

andrewcliffe said:

Google says 12+ cars / year

I found it on the BCA website, eventually:

Blue.................0-3
Silver...............4-11
Gold................12-99
Platinum..........100-499
Black................500+

Frustratingly, they don't publish the buyer's fees (except for blue) so its not really possible to see what savings, if any, one can make by buying more or less at BCA if you're near a change in account.

Blue sucks though.

[TheWokeBlob]

Manheim have seemingly got more vendors onboard as they're about neck and neck with BCA in terms of numbers of units, but I do tend to find the majority of Manheim stuff a bit too new, pricey or dull for me personally, and the website is terrible - They still do physical though but I'm fairly certain they aren't open to the public/require a trade policy.

I've heard g3 is a decent physical auction but I haven't been myself

For the matter of BCA fees, we're on gold and bought one yesterday for 1225 hammer, 294 fees plus 13.80 for the worthless essential check vs 510 on blue + presumably the same 13.80 for a check.

If you're only doing the occasional one or two a year the fees on blue aren't unreasonable imho. Personally I find BCA prices to be WAY below private sale even with blue fees taken into consideration... A lot more risk mind. The reports are next to useless and you have zero comeback so it is pretty much like gambling

Edited by TheWokeBlob on Wednesday 30th July 02:52