Once you've identified a car that catches your interest, follow these steps to confidently participate in the auction and, ideally, secure a winning bid!

1. Registration For Bidding

To engage with the seller directly and place bids, start by registering to bid with a valid credit card and phone number. Successful bidders are subject to a 4.5% buyer's fee by Wheels4bids, in addition to the winning bid amount (ranging from a minimum of $225 to a maximum of $4,500).

2. Conduct due to Diligence

While we strive to make online car purchases secure and convenient, it's your responsibility to conduct thorough due diligence before placing a bid.

Scrutinize the listing comprehensively, considering known issues, the vehicle history report, inspection reports (if available), recent maintenance, and photos.

Pose any queries you may have about the vehicle to the seller through comments, Seller Q&A, or the "Contact" feature.

Make arrangements to inspect the vehicle personally or collaborate with the seller to schedule a detailed pre-purchase inspection ("PPI") at a reputable local shop, at your expense.

3. Organize Financing and Logistics

To ensure a seamless transaction, have the following in order before bidding:

If financing, obtain approval in advance from your lender. Note that specific vehicle information and potential year and mileage restrictions may apply.

Discuss transportation and storage timelines with the seller. If shipping is necessary, obtain a quick shipping quote from these shipping companies.

4. Place a Bid

When you bid, a hold is placed on your credit card for the buyer's fee. If you win, your card will be charged, and you'll pay the seller directly. If not, the hold is released at the auction's conclusion.

Bids are binding, so only bid if you're committed to purchasing the car and have completed the required due diligence. There are no refunds for high bidders.

To maintain fairness, bids within the final minute of the auction reset the remaining time to 1 minute, allowing others to bid.

5. Wining the Auction

To acquire a car on Wheels4bids, secure victory by being the highest bidder or, if there's a "Reserve," by placing a bid meeting or surpassing the seller's undisclosed "Reserve" price. For "No Reserve" auctions, the highest bid wins, regardless of the amount.

After the auction concludes, a step-by-step checklist is provided for you to finalize the purchase. Additionally, contact information for both buyer and seller is exchanged to settle transaction details and logistics. Buyers are expected to pay in full within a week of the auction closing. Further details on finalizing the sale can be found in our comprehensive guide.