You have decided to sell your special car. But what is the best approach? There are more options than you might think, and the right choice depends on your priorities: do you want maximum proceeds, the fastest sale, the least hassle, or the certainty that your car ends up with a good new owner? In this overview we put all the common selling channels side by side: from private sale and trade-in to a specialised auction and consignment. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the ideal choice differs per situation.
| Aspect | Auction via Octane | Private sale | Selling to a dealer | Trade-in | Consignment with a specialist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proceeds | |||||
| Speed | |||||
| Convenience | |||||
| Reach | |||||
| Presentation | n/a | n/a | |||
| Price protection | |||||
| Transparency | |||||
| Low cost to you |
Buyers from across Western Europe bid against each other for a week. You agree the reserve with us beforehand, and as the seller you pay no commission.
More dots is better for you as the seller. Indicative, for an enthusiast car.
The best method depends on your situation and priorities. If you want to sell quickly and accept the financial difference, trading in or selling to a dealer is simplest; through selling directly you can request a non-binding offer from a dealer in our network, free of charge. If you want maximum proceeds and have time and energy, a private sale can work, provided you find the right buyer.
For most owners of enthusiast cars, a specialised auction offers the best balance: professional presentation, reach across Western Europe and fair price discovery through competitive bidding. You do not need to negotiate, do not need to answer endless messages, and do not need to hope the right buyer happens to find your listing.
The choice also depends on your car. A common used car sells fine via classifieds or a dealer. A special car, with rare specifications, an interesting history or a devoted service record, deserves a platform that highlights those qualities and reaches the right audience. You can see what we auction per brand on the brand pages.
Octane combines the convenience of a professional service with the reach of a Western European platform. We understand enthusiast cars and connect you with buyers who share the same passion. The result is a sales process that asks little of you but can yield a lot.
Concretely: you submit your car, we assess whether it fits the platform, and then we write the text and structure the specifications. You supply the photos per the photo guide or via a photographer from our network, answer bidder questions and agree the reserve with us beforehand. Afterwards you settle payment and handover directly with the buyer in a private chat. As the seller you pay no commission.
If you would rather hand over the photos and the communication as well, managed selling is an option. And if your car does not suit an auction, we say so honestly; with your consent we can then bring it to the attention of dealers looking for exactly such cars.
In an Octane auction you can set a reserve: a minimum price below which your car will not be sold. Three things to know:
Bidders can see that there is a reserve, but not how high. They bid on what the car is worth to them, not on your floor.
You set the reserve with our team before the auction, based on comparable auction results. A dealer’s offer or a trade-in value can be a good starting point.
If the highest bid stays below the reserve, the car is not sold and you are not bound to anything. We then look with you and the highest bidder at whether a deal is still possible.
Prefer to auction without a reserve? That is possible too; discuss it with our team.
Submit your car and our team will review it within 48 hours
Advertise, plan viewings and negotiate yourself, through your network or classifieds. Can work out well with patience and the right buyer, but it costs time and offers little certainty.
Done within days and without effort, but at a trade buy-in price: the dealer has to make a margin on the resale.
Everything settled in one visit when buying your next car. Maximum convenience, but the trade-in value usually sits below private market value.
The car sits with a dealer who sells it on your behalf for a commission. Professional presentation, but little grip on pace and reach. If you want it off your hands without moving the car, look at managed selling via Octane.