Help Center

Buying and Selling FAQs

  • What types of vehicles can I buy and sell on SmartAuction?

    SmartAuction features vehicles within a full range of wholesale prices.

    SmartAuction sellers come from a variety of industries, including:

    • Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
    • Financial service institutions
    • Rental companies
    • Fleet management companies
    • National and independent physical auctions
    • Select franchised and independent dealerships

    New sellers join SmartAuction monthly and we're always looking for ways to give buyers access to new sources of inventory.

  • Who's eligible to buy vehicles on SmartAuction?

    Licensed and approved franchised or independent dealers with financing through Credence Global Bank or an approved finance source are eligible to buy. Dealerships without an approved finance or floorplan source can also fund their purchases through Automated Clearance House (ACH) using their own bank account.

    Contact us online or call the SmartAuction Help Desk at 1-877-273-5572, Mon – Fri, 8 am – 7 pm ET for more information.

  • How do I buy a vehicle on SmartAuction?

    You have 4 purchase options on SmartAuction:

    Place Bid
    You can place manual bids during the daily live auction in $100 increments. For example, enter $7,300, not $7,225.

    Autobid
    With Autobid, you can set the maximum amount you're willing to pay for each vehicle. SmartAuction will then bid for you in $100 increments against any competing bids up to your Autobid price.

    Buy Now
    During or after the live auction, you can bypass the bidding process and purchase the vehicle immediately at the Buy Now price, when available. This is the fastest and most direct way to buy a vehicle on SmartAuction. Buyers can also purchase vehicles with Buy Now prices during evenings and weekends.

    Make Offer
    If the seller of the vehicle is willing to accept offers, select the Offer button, enter your offer and submit it.

  • When can I bid on a vehicle listed in SmartAuction?

    The SmartAuction site is accessible 24/7 with live bidding from 9 am – 2:30 pm ET. You can bid in real time with single and Autobid functionality. Many sellers also post vehicles with Buy Now prices so you can purchase anytime, even during evenings and weekends.

    If the seller of the vehicle is willing to accept offers, the Make Offer icon is viewable in the search results. Buyers can submit these offers anytime, even outside of the normal auction hours.

  • Where are the vehicles located?

    The vehicle detail page shows the actual storage location of each vehicle, which could be at dealerships, central storage facilities, physical auctions or established rental return locations.

  • Who is responsible for vehicle delivery and shipping costs?

    The buyer is responsible for vehicle pick-up and related costs. The buyer must take physical possession of each vehicle acquired through SmartAuction within 5 business days, beginning the first business day after the date SmartAuction notifies the buyer of a winning bid.

    SmartAuction works with several national transportation providers, allowing buyers to obtain estimates and arrange transportation for purchased vehicles.

    • Ready Auto Transport
    • CarsArrive
    • United Road
    • McNutt Automotive Logistics
    • Central Dispatch

  • What do I do if a customer at my dealership wants to buy a car I've listed on SmartAuction?

    If the vehicle you've listed on SmartAuction hasn't received any bids, you can place it on hold. This will cancel any offers you've received on that vehicle.

    If the customer at your dealership doesn't buy the vehicle, you can easily move it back to active status in SmartAuction.

    If the customer at your dealership finalizes the vehicle purchase, please remove the listing from SmartAuction as soon as possible.