Competitive Bidding
Auction Terms
Last updated: November 6, 2026
1. Eligibility
Auto Connect auctions are for vehicles valued at $150,000 and up. Bidding is reserved for approved, verified dealers. Retail buyers may participate through our concierge desk, which can bid on their behalf.
United States & Canada
Auctions are open to vehicles, sellers and verified dealers in the United States and Canada. All prices, bids, minimums, deposits and fees are in U.S. dollars (USD) — no currency conversion is offered.
Cross-border purchases: when the buyer and the vehicle are in different countries, the buyer is responsible for import duties, taxes, customs broker fees, RIV (Canada) or EPA/DOT (U.S.) compliance, and transport. Escrow.com handles funds in USD for both countries, and accepts U.S. and Canadian buyer and seller addresses.
For cross-border transactions, all import duties, taxes, and transport costs are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
Canadian sellers must provide a CARFAX Canada report, a provincial PPSA lien search, and the provincial vehicle registration before an auction goes live.
2. Fee Schedule
Sellers pay $0. Listing is free and there is no success fee or commission for sellers. The seller receives 100% of the accepted bid.
Buyer fee: the winning dealer pays 3% of the accepted bid at closing, with a $5,000 minimum and a $25,000 cap.
Escrow fee: charged at Escrow.com's published vehicle rates, passed through at cost:
| Transaction Amount | Escrow.com Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 – $200,000 | 1.9% | — |
| $200,000 – $500,000 | 1.5% | $3,800 minimum |
| $500,000 – $1,000,000 | 1.2% | — |
| $1,000,000 – $3,000,000 | 1.0% | $12,000 minimum |
No sale, no fee. Every cost is shown in the bid box before a bid is placed.
3. Approval Process
Every auction is reviewed and approved before it goes live. Auto Connect performs a market check on the minimum bid, reviews documentation, verifies title and lien status, and verifies the seller. We may approve, request changes, or decline a submission. The auction clock starts only after approval.
4. Lock-In Deposit
When a seller accepts a bid, the winning dealer places a 5% lock-in deposit. The deposit is credited toward the purchase at closing. It is refunded in full if the seller rejects the bid or the transaction cannot close. It is forfeited only if the dealer fails to complete an accepted bid.
5. Binding Bids & Seller Window
Bids are binding once accepted by the seller. When an auction ends, the seller has 48 hours to accept or reject the top bid. The highest bid is not an automatic sale — the seller is never forced to sell.
6. Closing Through Escrow.com
All auction purchases close through Escrow.com with Auto Connect as broker of record. Funds are held in escrow and released only after title and inspection clearance. The vehicle stays with the seller until Escrow.com confirms funding.
7. Inspection, Title & Transport
The buyer may inspect the vehicle on arrival during the escrow inspection period. Title and any lien payoff are handled through escrow at closing so clear title passes to the buyer. Transport is the buyer's responsibility; a transport quote is provided with every approved auction.
8. Questions
Questions about these terms? Contact us at hello@autoconnectmarketplace.com or (954) 405-9664. See also our Terms of Service.