Beat the Trade is an online car auction platform where the public can notify hundreds of local, verified, licensed dealers and have them bid on their vehicle in a 4-hour auction. It saves sellers from driving from dealer to dealer, only to be frustrated and disappointed.

It’s a faster, more efficient way for dealers to access fresh inventory directly from consumers and other dealers—and a smarter way for consumers to maximize the value of their vehicle.

Auctions launch every weekday at 1:00 PM EST and run for 4 hours. Any bid placed during the final 60 seconds resets the clock for another 60 seconds, allowing healthy competition among last-minute bidders.

The starting price is determined by BTT and typically within the wholesale range. It is intended to attract dealers to bid. It does not affect the reserve of the auction.

Auctions launch every weekday at 1:00 PM EST and run for 4 hours.

BTT pulls data from multiple wholesale market sources that provide historical transaction data and price ranges for vehicles. Because the data is live, it can change from day to day and week to week. It considers the vehicle’s make, model, year, condition, mileage, history, location, and many other data points. We use this information to understand what dealers are paying for vehicles like yours in your area and to validate your reserve, helping ensure dealers are interested and able to compete for your car.

All vehicle information displayed in the listing—photos, videos, and vehicle details—is provided and approved by the seller. BTT does not alter or supplement listing content, ensuring full transparency between sellers and bidding dealers.

Only verified buyers (licensed auto dealers) can see full auction pricing so they can properly assess and bid on vehicles. Sellers can see the full bidding activity on their own listings.

Public visitors to the site won’t see actual bid amounts—instead, they’ll see how much a vehicle is trending above the original trade-in value, showcasing how BTT helps sellers get more.

Click the “Sell My Car” button and enter your VIN, or look up your car using your registration plate details. During the process, you’ll provide an email address, which we’ll use to create a free Beat The Trade account for you. It’s fast and easy. The more details, photos, videos, and description you provide, the more confident dealers will be—driving stronger bids.

No. It’s completely free to list and sell your vehicle on BTT.

We accept a wide range of vehicles, including classic, luxury, and modern performance cars built after 1992.

After the auction ends, we connect you directly with the winning dealer to complete the sale. The dealer will handle payment and provide all necessary paperwork.

No. We require auction listings to remain exclusive to BTT while live.

Yes. You can add seller notes, add more pictures and videos at any time until your auction ends. You can also answer any questions a dealer may have asked while the auction is running. Any updates to your auction will notify all watchers and bidders, helping increase exposure for your car.

Yes. You can relist your vehicle to run again, either with changes to the listing or as is. In most cases, the auction will launch the next business day at 1:00 PM EST and end at 5:00 PM EST.

If a dealer fails to complete the purchase—which is rare—we’ll work with the next-highest bidder to try to finalize the sale for you. Alternatively, you can relist your vehicle. Bidder integrity is critically important to BTT, and dealers who do not fulfill their obligations may have their access limited.

Click “Sign In” on our website, then select “Not a member? Sign up now!” to create a free account. Only an email address is required. Once registered, you can list a vehicle and browse live auctions. If you’re a dealer and want to place bids, you’ll need to complete the dealer registration form after logging in.

Email us at support@beatthetrade.com for help with any questions.

Our Privacy Policy outlines how we collect and protect your information.