Bring a Trailer is an American auction platform with a large community, and cars located in Europe are auctioned there too, in euros within the EU. Yet it does not suit every European seller. The buyer pays 5% on top of their bid, up to €7,500 and plus VAT for buyers in the EU, BaT’s own shipping and escrow services work only in the United States, and for an American buyer ocean transport and import come on top. If you are looking for an auction aimed at Western European bidders, with lower costs for the buyer, there are alternatives. Below they sit side by side.
Online auction platform for enthusiast cars in Western Europe. You pay no seller commission, the car stays with you, we write the listing and around every auction we run a targeted campaign in twelve countries, at our cost on regular auctions.
Western Europe: the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden and Finland
Online auction for enthusiast cars
International, with a clear focus on the United Kingdom and Australia
Online auction platform for enthusiast cars and motorcycles, alongside a fixed-price offering (Direct te koop)
The Netherlands: the car must be located in the Netherlands (just across the border by arrangement). Promotion national and international
Read the full Octane vs The Collectables comparison →Online auction for classics, youngtimers, sports cars and motorcycles; lots close during a weekly Thursday-evening public auction in Waalwijk, led by an auctioneer, where bids can also be placed in the room
International: the cars are with sellers across Europe, on 2 October 2026 in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Austria among others. Route 66 cites more than 150,000 users and speaks of buyers worldwide. Bidding and payment in euros. The site comes in eleven languages; English is the original, the other versions are machine-translated
Read the full Octane vs Route 66 Auctions comparison →Generalist online auction platform with weekly auctions in many categories; classic and collector cars are one of them
Worldwide: according to Catawiki active in more than 60 countries and 17 languages
Read the full Octane vs Catawiki comparison →Auction house with monthly online auctions; the cars are physically at the auction site, with viewing and collection days
The Netherlands: fixed locations in Uithoorn, Breedenbroek and Eibergen; site in four languages and, according to CCA, an international network of buyers
Read the full Octane vs Classic Car Auctions comparison →Auction intermediary with physical intake and showrooms; the cars are shown on its own site, the bidding runs through external auction platforms (Bright Auctions or Troostwijk)
The Netherlands: locations in Milsbeek and Tiel; according to Automotive Auctions, buyers in more than 50 countries
Read the full Octane vs Automotive Auctions comparison →International online marketplace for classic vehicles: classified listings and, since July 2024, online auctions. Also fixed-price and make-an-offer sales
International, from Berlin: by Classic Trader’s account, listings from more than 35 countries and buyers worldwide, with the site in ten language and country versions. Not available in the United States; an auction usually runs in the seller’s currency
Read the full Octane vs Classic Trader comparison →Online marketplace for classic and special vehicles with listings, a separate auction product and Make an Offer
International with British roots; auctions for cars across Europe, in pounds or euros, with local sites for the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy among others
Read the full Octane vs Car & Classic comparison →Rates as published by the platforms; every comparison page lists the sources and the date checked.
Look at three things when comparing. Where are the bidders for your car, and can they collect it after the auction without shipping and import? What does the buyer pay on top of their bid, including VAT, and is it capped? And what does the platform do to bring exactly those bidders to your auction?
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