The Auction Platform

HOW IT WORKS

Time Machine Cars is the online destination for enthusiast-driven classic car auctions. Every vehicle is presented by real owners, with comprehensive details, honest photography, and a community of knowledgeable car people.

WHAT IS TIME MACHINE CARS?

Curated Vehicles

Every auction listing goes through a review process. We feature collector cars, classics, muscle cars, sports cars, trucks, and project vehicles — the kind of cars enthusiasts actually want.

Community-Driven

Our comment sections foster real conversation among car people. Ask the seller questions, discuss specs, and engage with a community that cares as much as you do.

Full Transparency

Sellers are required to document known flaws, service history, and ownership details. No surprises — just honest presentations so you can bid with confidence.

FOR BUYERS

01

Browse & Research

Explore active auctions on our Auctions page. Each listing includes extensive photos, video walkarounds, a full description, known imperfections, documented service history, and a Q&A comment section. Take your time — the more you know going in, the better.

02

Register to Bid

To place your first bid, you'll register a credit or debit card through our secure payment processor. A refundable deposit is required for each auction you bid on: 3% of your first bid, minimum $150, maximum $5,000. It's refunded when the auction ends if you don't win, or applied to your buyer's fee if you do.

03

Place Your Bid

Enter your maximum bid. The system places the lowest competitive bid on your behalf and automatically increases it as others bid — up to your maximum. You'll never pay more than necessary to stay in the lead. Minimum bid increments are tiered by price range.

04

Stay Informed

You'll receive notifications when you're outbid so you can react quickly. If a bid is placed in the final 2 minutes, the auction automatically extends by 2 minutes — giving everyone a fair chance to respond and preventing last-second sniping.

05

Win the Auction

If you're the highest bidder when the auction closes and the reserve price has been met, you win. You'll receive immediate instructions for completing the purchase. A 3% buyer's fee (max $5,000) is added to the final hammer price, and your saved card is charged automatically for the rest of it after your deposit. If the charge fails, you must pay within 24 hours using the link we send, or you can lose the sale and be suspended from bidding. Our team connects you with the seller to coordinate payment, paperwork, and transport.

FOR SELLERS

01

Submit Your Listing

Create a listing with detailed information about your vehicle: year, make, model, mileage, engine, transmission, exterior & interior colors, VIN, condition, and a thorough written description. The more detail you provide, the more confident buyers will be.

02

Document Everything

Upload high-quality photos from every angle — including undercarriage, engine bay, interior, and close-ups of any imperfections. Honest documentation builds trust and drives higher bids. Upload service records, window stickers, titles, or any supporting documentation.

03

Set Your Reserve & Duration

Set a hidden reserve price — the minimum you'll accept. Buyers won't see the exact number, but they'll know when the reserve has been met. Choose a No Reserve auction if you want maximum bidder confidence. Set your auction end date and submit for curation review. Our curation process is quick and collaborative, working with you to ensure your listing meets the high standards our community expects.

04

Engage with Bidders

Respond to questions in the comment section. Active sellers who engage with the community consistently attract more bids. Answer questions honestly and thoroughly — buyer confidence directly impacts final sale price.

05

Close the Deal

When your auction ends successfully, you'll be connected with the winning bidder. Our team facilitates the introduction. Payment, title transfer, and logistics are handled directly between buyer and seller. The seller listing fee is $75, with no additional commission taken from the sale price.

BID INCREMENTS

Current Bid RangeMinimum Increment
$0 – $9,999$100
$10,000 – $49,999$250
$50,000 – $99,999$500
$100,000+$1,000

FEES & COSTS

BUYERS

Buyer's Premium3% of final price, max $5,000
Refundable Bidder Deposit3% of first bid (min $150, max $5,000)
Deposit if you don't winRefunded within a few business days
Deposit if you winApplied to buyer's fee

SELLERS

Listing Fee$75 (one-time)
Seller's Commission$0 — none
Reserve PriceSet by seller, hidden from bidders
No Reserve OptionAvailable — sells to highest bidder

All transaction details are confirmed between buyer and seller directly. Time Machine Cars does not process the vehicle sale payment.

ANTI-SNIPING PROTECTION

To ensure every bidder has a fair opportunity to respond, any bid placed within the final 2 minutes of an auction automatically extends the end time by 2 minutes. This extension repeats as long as bids keep coming in during that window — so the auction ends only when genuine bidding activity has stopped. No last-second wins through timing tricks.

RESERVE VS. NO RESERVE

Reserve Auction

The seller sets a confidential minimum price. Bidders can see the current bid and whether the reserve has been met — but not the reserve amount itself. If the reserve is not met by auction end, the seller is not obligated to sell. Sellers may choose to negotiate with the highest bidder after a reserve-not-met auction.

No Reserve Auction

No Reserve auctions have no minimum price — the highest bid wins, period. These auctions tend to attract more bidders and generate greater excitement, often resulting in strong final sale prices. Look for the NO RESERVE badge on listing cards.

BUY IT NOW DEPOSITS

Buying a fixed-price car with a deposit

  • Your deposit locks the car so no one else can buy it.
  • You pay a processing fee of 5% of the deposit (at least $25, at most $250) on top of the deposit.
  • You pay the rest directly to the seller within the time the seller chose: 3, 7, 10 or 14 days, shown on the listing.
  • After the seller marks the sale completed, the buyer has 2 days to report a problem before the deposit is paid out to the seller. A reported problem pauses the payout until Time Machine Cars reviews it.
  • If you back out or don't pay the balance by the deadline, the seller keeps the full deposit and the processing fee is not refunded.
  • If the seller reports that you didn't pay, you're notified and have 48 hours to show you paid or report a problem. Time Machine Cars reviews any disagreement before the deposit is released.
  • If the seller backs out or the car is materially misdescribed, you get a full refund of the deposit and the processing fee.

RESERVE NOT MET — NEGOTIATION PROCESS

When an auction ends without meeting the reserve price, the seller has two options:

Accept the Highest Bid

The seller can accept the highest bid even though it didn't meet the reserve. This initiates a 72-hour negotiation window where the buyer and seller are connected directly to finalize the sale. Time Machine Cars facilitates the introduction and monitors the transaction.

Decline the Highest Bid

If the seller declines, the auction enters a negotiation-failed state. Other bidders are notified that the reserve wasn't met, but they cannot place new bids unless Time Machine Cars admin manually releases the reserve. This ensures fair handling and prevents bidding wars.

Admin Oversight

If negotiations fail, Time Machine Cars admin reviews the situation. Admin can choose to release the reserve price to other bidders, allowing them to place new bids. This ensures the auction process remains fair and transparent for all participants.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ready to Participate?

START BIDDING TODAY

Browse our active auctions and find your next classic. Every auction on Time Machine Cars is run by passionate owners for passionate enthusiasts.