Ways to buy
Buy Now: buy at the listed price right away. Auction: bid against other buyers until the timer runs out. Some cars offer both. Buy Now closes once bidding passes the Buy Now price.
Bidding rules
- Each bid must beat the current bid by at least the bid step: $100 under $5,000, $250 from $5,000 to $19,999, and $500 from $20,000.
- Bids are binding and can't be withdrawn.
- A bid placed in the last 2 minutes extends the auction to 2 minutes, so everyone gets a fair chance to respond.
- Sellers may set a hidden reserve. If bidding ends below the reserve, the car doesn't sell.
- Sellers can't bid on their own cars.
- Bids and Buy Now purchases of $15,000 or more need a verified ID: a two-minute Stripe check, done once.
After you win or use Buy Now
- Pay the $199 CarFlipper buyer fee: within 30 minutes for Buy Now, or 48 hours for an auction win. If you don't, the car goes back to the seller.
- You'll then see the seller's name, phone and email. Agree on a pickup time within 7 days.
- Inspect the car at pickup. Check that the VIN on the car matches the listing and the title.
- Pay the seller the winning bid or Buy Now price by cashier's check or bank transfer. Don't send money before you've seen the car and the title.
- Get the signed title and a bill of sale, then register the car with your state.
Buyer checklist
- Run the VIN through NICB VINCheck (free) and a Carfax or AutoCheck report.
- Make sure the name on the title matches the seller's ID, and there's no lien (or the lienholder releases it).
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic if you can.
Problems
If the car is materially different from the listing, don't complete the purchase and email support@carflipper.com. We'll review it, and we may refund your buyer fee and remove the seller.