Hot Rods Trader is the premier marketplace for buying and selling hot rods, muscle cars, race cars, antique cars, respective car parts, and trailers.

You will find two (2) different listing types on the marketplace: (1) Auction and (2) Fixed Price
 

Auction Listing

Once you've identified a vehicle or item you are interested in buying, follow these steps to bid confidently and, with any luck, win the auction!

1. Register to Bid

To contact the seller directly, ask a public question and place bids, you must first register for a free account.  To place a bid or buy now you will be asked to provide a valid credit card on file. Winning bidders pay Hot Rods Trader a 4% Buyer's Fee on top of the winning bid amount (maximum of $4,000) as a marketplace fee.

2. Perform Due Diligence

While we strive to make online buying as safe and easy as possible, it's ultimately your responsibility to perform your own due diligence and ensure that the vehicle or item you're considering is right for you before you buy.

• Thoroughly review the listing description, photos, the vehicle inspection report (if applicable), recent maintenance, etc.
• Ask the seller any questions you may have about the vehicle with the "Question & Answers" or the “Contact Seller” features.
• Arrange to inspect the vehicle in person or work with the seller to schedule a detailed pre-purchase inspection (PPI) at a reputable shop in their area (at your cost).

3. Arrange Financing and Logistics

To ensure a smooth transaction, have the following organized prior to placing a bid.

• Sellers will list forms of payment they accept.
• If you plan to finance the purchase, work with your lender to get your financing approved ahead of time. Keep in mind, for vehicles, that some lenders may require specific vehicle information and may have year and mileage restrictions.
• Discuss transportation and storage timelines (if applicable) with the seller. If you plan to ship the vehicle/item, get a quick and easy shipping quote by contacting one of our shipping partners.

4. Bid & Buy Now

We've made bidding easy and our auction system is very intuitive.

• When you bid, we place a hold on your credit card for the Buyer's Fee. If you win, your card will be charged and you will pay the seller directly for the vehicle/item; otherwise, the hold will be released at the auction’s end.
• Bids are binding, so only bid if you fully intend to purchase the vehicle/item and have performed the requisite due diligence. You might end up as the high bidder, and there is no way to cancel.
• To ensure the bidding process is fair for everyone, bids placed within the final minute of the auction will reset the auction’s time remaining back to 2 minutes, giving others the opportunity to bid.
• Buy Now - Auctions may have a "Buy Now" price listed.  At any point in the auction you can become the instant winner by buying at the Buy Now price.

5. Win the Auction

To win the auction, you must be the highest bidder. If the auction has a "Reserve Price," your bid must exceed the seller's hidden "Reserve" price. If the auction has "No Reserve," the highest bidder wins regardless of the amount bid.

After the auction closes, we’ll connect you directly with the seller. You’ll receive the seller’s contact information (and vice-versa) to finalize the details and logistics of the transaction. Buyers are expected to pay for the winning auction in full within a week of the auction closing. Learn more about Finalizing the Sale.


Fixed Price Listing

Once you've identified a vehicle or item you are interested in that is a Fixed Price listing, follow these steps to buy the vehicle or item.

1. Register to Bid

To contact the seller directly, ask a public question, and buy, you must first register for a free account.  To Buy Now you will be asked to provide a valid credit card on file. Hot Rods Trader collects a 4% Buyer's Fee on top of the listing price (maximum of $4,000) as a marketplace fee.

2. Perform Due Diligence

While we strive to make online buying as safe and easy as possible, it's ultimately your responsibility to perform your own due diligence and ensure that the vehicle or item you're considering is right for you before your buy.

• Thoroughly review the listing description, photos, the vehicle inspection report (if applicable), recent maintenance, etc.
• Ask the seller any questions you may have about the vehicle with the "Question & Answers" or the “Contact Seller” features.
• Arrange to inspect the vehicle in person or work with the seller to schedule a detailed pre-purchase inspection (PPI) at a reputable shop in their area (at your cost).

3. Arrange Financing and Logistics

To ensure a smooth transaction, have the following organized prior to buying.

• Sellers will list forms of payment they accept.
• If you plan to finance the purchase, work with your lender to get your financing approved ahead of time. Keep in mind, for vehicles, that some lenders may require specific vehicle information and may have year and mileage restrictions.
• Discuss transportation and storage timelines (if applicable) with the seller. If you plan to ship the vehicle/item, get a quick and easy shipping quote by contacting one of our shipping partners.

4. Buy Now

We've made buying easy in our marketplace.

• When you Buy Now, we charge your credit card for the Buyer's Fee. You will pay the seller directly for the vehicle/item per the payment methods and terms they outline on their listing.
• Buying is binding, so only buy if you fully intend to purchase the vehicle/item and have performed the requisite due diligence.
• Make Offer - Some sellers allow buyers to make an offer on their listing.  Like buying, offers are binding so please only make an offer you intend to proceed with if accepted by the seller.

Upon successfully buying, we’ll connect you directly with the seller. You’ll receive the seller’s contact information (and vice-versa) to finalize the details and logistics of the transaction. Buyers are expected to pay for the winning listing in full within a week of buying. Learn more about Finalizing the Sale.