by Andrew Rohrlich
Hemmings auctions feature classic cars for sale from the 1920s on. Anyone can buy or sell their favorite collector vehicles in categories including classic, American muscle cars, street rods, sport, exotic, and even motorcycles, trucks, and SUVs.
Ernest Hemmings started publishing Hemmings Motor News way back in 1954. Since the first publication of 500 copies sold for 50 cents each, Hemmings has grown into a community for classic car lovers employing over 100 people. They produce four collector car news publications in print and digital formats and supply helpful resources, expanding the ability of buyers to inform themselves and make purchases safely.
It’s fun and educational for car enthusiasts to browse Hemmings Classic Car Auctions because it’s an active online platform with many offerings. Let’s explore more about Hemmings and get deep into how you can buy your dream ride from a Hemmings auction.
What Are Hemmings Classic Car Auctions?
Hemmings is headquartered in Bennington, Vermont. In addition to its online auction services, it also operates its publishing arm, a car lovers’ store, and a classic filling station there.
Hemmings has been selling cars online since 1998. Today, classic car enthusiasts can participate in Hemmings Classic Car Auctions to exchange carefully selected vehicles. Buyers and sellers have different processes to complete their end of a transaction.
Sellers can apply to have their classic vehicle listed on Hemmings auctions for free. If Hemmings accepts the vehicle, sellers then pay a $99.95 listing fee for a two-week auction listing created by Hemmings professionals using information supplied by the seller.
Sellers can set a reserve price. If the car does not sell, the seller can move the listing to the Hemmings Premium Classifieds free for six months. Let’s look at the process for buyers in more depth.
How Does the Online Auction Work for Buyers?
Like the sellers’ process, Hemmings has worked out a safe, step-by-step procedure for buyers that its excellent customer support team helps you navigate if you need their expertise.
Start By Registering as a Bidder
You’ll need to become a registered buyer to bid in Hemmings auctions. The process is simple. The registration form asks you to input your:
- Name
- User name
- Postal code
- Phone
Be sure to check or uncheck the boxes below the form that enable you to receive free Hemmings digital newsletters and daily updates of new listings.
You’ll also need to supply a valid credit card before bidding. Requiring bidders to register a credit card helps eliminate non-serious buyers. You don’t want to bid against someone with no intention of buying.
Browse From Multiple Auction Categories
Browsing Hemmings auction listings is fun. The auction categories are well-thought-out, and each listing provides a wealth of detail, including dozens of high-quality images.
You don’t have to register to browse Hemmings auction listings. Anyone can scroll through the eight categories:
- American muscle cars
- Performance cars
- Exotic cars
- Classics
- Trucks, 4X4s, and SUVs
- Motorcycles
- Restomods and customs
- Engines and spare parts
If you discover a dream ride you can’t live without, you’re ready to bid.
Choose an Auction and Place Your Bid
Hemmings car auctions provide the detailed information buyers need to evaluate vehicles in an easy-to-read style. At the top of each listing is an outstanding picture that shows how good the car looks.
On the right side of the top image is essential information like the highest current bid, if the reserve price has been met, time left in the auction, bid history, and a button that says “Place Your Bid.” If you’ve registered, you can bid. If you need more info before bidding, scroll down.
Directly below the eye-catching image at the top is clearly displayed the vital information you may need to determine if you want to dig deeper into the listing or move on. You’ll have the:
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Mileage
- Engine description
- Automatic or manual transmission
- Exterior color
- Interior color
- Seller type — private or dealer
- Auction type — reserve or not
Continuing to scroll down will bring you to more pictures interspersed with well-written notes from the seller containing a wealth of information about the car’s condition and history.
You may be able to learn about paint, tires, the presence of any fluid leaks, and customizations. You’ll also see a much more complete description of the powertrain specs. To better understand the vehicle’s interior and exterior, pictures of each area are described with detailed notes that list flaws and good points.
Pictures and a description of the chassis are included, along with images of the vehicle’s documentation. Clicking the “Documents PDF” button brings up a complete AutoCheck vehicle report.
If you still have questions keeping you from clicking the bid button, you can always type them in to ask the seller in the last section before bidding.
Monitor Time Remaining and Be Prepared To Bid Higher
If you’re bidding or considering placing a bid, keep a close eye on the time remaining in the auction. The timer is placed prominently below the current high bid to the right of the vehicle’s photo. Conveniently, you can also click the “Add to Watch List” button to get updates delivered to your email inbox.
If you’re set on getting the car, be prepared to monitor bidding closely during the closing minutes in case late bids come in, and you have to bid higher. Sometimes exciting bidding wars erupt in the final minutes that can cause auctions to be extended briefly to give all bidders a fair chance.
Don’t Forget Buyer’s Fees if You Win
If you’re the proud winner, you’ll need to pay the buyer’s fee in addition to the purchase price you bid. Buyer’s fees have a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $10,000 and are calculated at 5% of the sale price.
So you’ll need to pay the purchase price plus 5%. Hemmings will immediately bill your credit card for the 5%, notify you that you won, and put you in contact with the seller to arrange payment of the sale price, transportation, and insurance — all of which Hemmings’ partners can help you with.
Buyers’ Benefits of Using Hemmings Marketplace
Because Hemmings has been active in the American car enthusiast scene for nearly 70 years, they’ve had time to develop a full range of services that bring many benefits to the car enthusiast community.
Besides operating the Hemmings marketplace, they also support your interest in classic cars, carefully vet and select the vehicles offered, provide excellent support, and keep you informed.
Support Your Collector Car Interests
Hemmings supports your interest in exceptional vehicles through many different efforts developed over decades of serving the car enthusiast community.
To cover various car lover interests, the publishing arm of Hemmings produces three magazines in print and digital:
- Hemmings Motor News is its flagship publication
- Hemmings Muscle Machines is the ultimate magazine featuring American performance cars
- Hemmings Classic Cars takes in-depth looks at classic American cars
Hemmings also published Special Interest Autos from September 1970 through June 2004 before replacing it with Muscle Machines and Classic Cars. Copies have now become collector’s items. You can also enjoy Hemmings’s free newsletters when registering on the website.
Besides the publications, Hemmings attends over 100 car shows throughout the U.S., displaying trailers lavishly illustrated with images of classic cars. And you can attend Hemmings events like drag races and Thursday night cruise-ins in its parking lot during summer months.
If you are keen on images of classic cars, the Hemmings Nation group on Flickr has many amazing pictures to browse or download.
Auctions Are Verified and Specially Selected
Hemmings auction staff carefully selects and verifies each online auction listing for your protection. Sellers must apply to list a vehicle, meeting Hemmings’s rigorous standards before the team creates the listing.
White-Glove Services and Support
Hemmings auctions reviews rave about Hemmings customer support. The auction listing team writes and designs ads, while after-sales support brings buyers and sellers together and does its best to facilitate a smooth transfer process.
Free Access to Hemmings News
You can enjoy complimentary access to Hemmings news by checking the boxes below the registration form to receive the daily newsletter and auction updates.
The Hemmings community makes it easy to keep your enthusiasm for classic American cars burning bright with their multi-faceted support.
Win the Auction and Check Out With Caramel
After the excitement of posting the highest bid, auction winners are faced with the practical logistics of paying for their new beauty, transferring the title, and transporting the newly purchased collector vehicle home safe and undamaged. You’ll probably need insurance and may want convenient financing too.
Fortunately, a service is available for getting vehicles to buyers that provides everything you need to make taking possession of your precious classic car easy and worry-free.
This article was written by Andrew Rohrlich. As a brand and product marketing expert, Andrew Rohrlich has crafted products, experiences and communications for household names like Gap and for multiple automotive technology businesses. For nearly a decade Andrew has studied automotive retail in depth from a customer point of view and aggregated the industry’s best research, thought leadership and know how to provide credible and important information to auto shoppers and sellers.
Start your transaction with Caramel, learn more about how the process works, or reach out to our Support team with any questions.
