Calculating Your Total Cost on AutoBidMaster

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Before you bid on and buy a vehicle through salvage car auctions like AutoBidMaster.com, make sure you factor your total cost into your budget, not just the sales price of the vehicle. You need to take into account auction fees, documentation fees, vehicle shipping costs, and so forth.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is AutoBidMaster?

AutoBidMaster is an online platform that gives you the chance to bid on salvage vehicles. We are a registered broker for Copart, one of the largest car auction companies in the world. 

What makes AutoBidMaster so great is the fact that it enables users to bid and purchase cars that would only be available to licensed dealers.

AutoBidMaster has a huge inventory of cars, trucks, SUVs, bikes, boats, and other types of vehicles that come from various places. Such as banks, insurance companies, rental companies, and dealerships.

Key Features and Services: 

Now let’s take a look at the key features and services on AutoBidMaster.

1. Wide Selection of Vehicles: One of the biggest advantages of AutoBidMaster is the fact that you have a huge range of different vehicles to choose from. These include: salvage, clean, or rebuilt title vehicles.
2. User-Friendly Interface: The platform that AutoBidMaster uses is very modern. It is extremely easy to navigate with features that allow us to search, filter, and look for detailed information about each car. These include the pictures, VIN number, and condition reports.
3. Membership Options: AutoBidMaster gives you the chance to pick your membership level. With each level offering different benefits. Such as lower AutoBidMaster fees, access to advanced tools, and better customer support.
4. Bidding and Buying: Users can place bids from the comfort of their homes. The whole process is transparent and users can see the current highest bid. Which ensures fair competition.
5. Vehicle Inspection and History Reports: Interested buyers can get a history report on the vehicle they want to purchase. As well as request a physical inspection that will allow them to make a more informed purchasing decision.
6. Shipping and Transportation: AutoBidMaster is a platform that offers you assistance with shipping and transportation, providing quotes and logistics support for domestic and international deliveries.
7. Customer Support: AutoBidMaster gives you customer support through various channels. These include phone, email, and live chat.

AutoBidMaster Benefits:

• Cost Savings: If you decide to purchase a car through AutoBidMaster, you can save a ton of money compared to traditional dealerships. The AutoBidMaster transaction fee is very low. You also have an AutoBidMaster fee calculator to calculate the cost.
• Accessibility: AutoBidMaster is accessible to everyone. Individuals without dealer licenses can bid on a vast array of vehicles.
• Convenience: Online bidding is much more convenient compared to going there in person. With these auctions, you can bid on your favorite car from the comfort of your home.

In general, AutoBidMaster simplifies the process of buying vehicles at auction prices. AutoBidMaster also provides tools and resources to help users make informed decisions and secure the best deals on a wide range of vehicles.

These include great customer support, the AutoBidMaster fees calculator, and more.

Calculating Your Total Cost on AutoBidMaster

Calculating the total cost on AutoBidMaster involves considering several different aspects. These include the winning bid, AutoBidMaster fees, shipping costs, and additional fees such as taxes or licensing. For this purpose, we created a step-by-step guide where we explain these costs:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Winning Bid: The winning bid is the amount that you bid and win for the vehicle.
2. AutoBidMaster Fees: Then you have the AutoBidMaster fees. These fees include the transaction fee, membership fee, and documentation fee. Documentation fee is the fee that you pay for the paperwork. While the transaction fee depends on the winning bid amount. The membership is the fee that you pay to be a member of AutoBidMaster.
3. Auction Fees: The auction fees you pay on each vehicle are determined by your membership level.

Basic members pay 10% of the vehicle’s sale price or $299, whichever is greater.

Advanced members ($199/year) pay 6% of the vehicle’s sale price or $299, whichever is greater.

Premium members ($349/year) pay 4% of the vehicle’s sale price or $200, whichever is greater.

So, there are sweet spots for each membership in which you’ll save on fees, even with the annual membership rate. On a side note: basic members can only bid up to $4,000 and are limited to one vehicle purchase before upgrading.

After that, there are Copart Auction Fees that also depend on the final bid amount, as well as a documentation fee that covers title reassignment and mailing costs. All of these things are listed on every lot page: under the field where you enter your maximum bid, you’ll find the “Fees Calculator” which will tell you the total amount you’ll pay at that price.

At the end of the auction, you’re looking at a combination of the vehicle’s sale price (your final bid) + Copart Auction Fees, AutoBidMaster Transaction Fees, and Documentation Fees.

In certain cases, like vehicles listed with “Biohazard/Chemical” damage, there may be additional fees. Just look at the “Fees Calculator” for a full breakdown of your total cost at your final bid.

4. Payment Processing Fees: These are the fees charged by banks or payment processors for transferring funds. The fees might vary depending on the bank, some have lower fees while some have higher fees.
5. Shipping Costs: That’s not all that you have to consider though: you’ll have to factor in vehicle shipping. Every lot listing on AutoBidMaster has a vehicle shipping quote calculator from EasyHaul.com, a company we’ve partnered with for years. If you’re looking for vehicles from an online car auction based in Kansas City, and you live in California, your shipping quote will be much greater than if you’re buying a vehicle from an online car auction in Oregon or Arizona, for example. To cut down on shipping costs, you can use the search filters to specify locations to find a vehicle that’s closer to you.

So, all in all, you can find all the information you need on the vehicle’s listing page. All the associated fees at your max bid are listed under the “Fees Calculator,” and if you add that to your vehicle shipping quote that’s located on the right side of the page, you’ll have your final price. 

Keep in mind that vehicles accrue storage, and that amount depends on the salvage yard that’s in possession of the vehicle. Most yards start charging storage two days after the vehicle is awarded, and storage fees are the responsibility of the buyer. So make sure to pay for your vehicle and shipping as fast as possible to avoid racking up storage fees and late payment fees to keep your total price in line with your calculations.

And one more thing, this isn’t necessary but HIGHLY recommended: get a ClearVIN VIN Check Report. A quick car VIN number lookup can provide information on a car’s accident history, service records, and more. This data is essential when dealing with used vehicles. 

Advanced and Premium members get motor vehicle records from ClearVIN, but for anybody else, a single ClearVin report is $8.99. You might wanna add that to your total, it’s worth it.

So, now that you have a better idea of how much a vehicle’s total cost will be at the end of an auction, take a look at our available lots and start bidding!

6. Additional Costs: In addition to the AutoBidMaster fees and the shipping fees, there are also other costs that are important to note. These are the following: 
   • Inspection Fees: If you choose to have the vehicle inspected. 
   • Storage Fees: If the vehicle is not picked up within a certain period. 
   • Title Processing Fees: Fees for processing the vehicle’s title.
7. Taxes and Licensing: Depending on the state where you are located, you might also need to add other taxes and licensing. These are the following.
   • Sales Tax: Depending on your state or country, you may need to pay sales tax on the purchase.
   • Registration Fees: Costs associated with registering the vehicle in your name.
   • Environmental Fees: Any applicable fees for emissions testing or environmental impact.

Example Calculation

So, how can we calculate everything without the auction fees calculator? Well, let’s assume that you won a bid for a car that is worth $5,000. Here is how you would estimate your total cost:

1. Winning Bid: $5,000
2. AutoBidMaster Fees:
   • Transaction Fee: $250 (example rate, actual rate varies)
   • Documentation Fee: $50
3. Auction Fees:
   • Auction House Fees: $300 (example rate, check actual fee schedule)
4. Payment Processing Fees:
   • Bank Transfer Fee: $30
5. Shipping Costs:
   • Domestic Shipping: $500 (varies based on distance and location)
6. Additional Costs:
   • Inspection Fee: $150
   • Storage Fee: $50 (if applicable)
7. Taxes and Licensing:
   • Sales Tax: $350 (based on 7% sales tax rate)
   • Registration Fee: $100
   • Environmental Fee: $25

Total Estimated Cost:

• Winning Bid: $5,000
• AutoBidMaster Fees: $300
• Auction Fees: $300
• Payment Processing Fees: $30
• Shipping Costs: $500
• Additional Costs: $200
• Taxes and Licensing: $475

Total Estimated Cost: $6,805

As you can see, even without using the car auction fee calculator, it is easy to make an estimate of the actual costs.

Tools and Resources

There are also some tools that you can use that will make your life a bit easier. These tools include the following:

• AutoBidMaster Calculator: You can use the car auction price calculator provided by AutoBidMaster to calculate the fees.
• Shipping Calculator: Besides the auction fees calculator, some shipping companies provide shipping calculators that you can use to estimate the shipping costs.
• Tax and Licensing Information: Check with your local DMV or equivalent agency for accurate tax rates and registration fees.

By considering each of these aspects, you can get a clear estimate of your total cost when purchasing a vehicle through AutoBidMaster.

Calculating Your Total Cost on AutoBidMaster: FAQ 

Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

1. What is the Winning Bid?

The winning bid in any auction is the final amount that you agree to pay for the vehicle during that auction. What is worth noting is the fact that this cost does not include the additional fees and costs associated with the purchase.

2. What Fees Does AutoBidMaster Charge?

AutoBidMaster charges several fees that include: transaction fees, membership fees, and documentation fees.

Transaction fees vary depending on the winning amount, while membership and documentation fees are fixed.

3. Are There Auction Fees?

Yes, the auction house fees are charged by the auction house and depend on the final bid. These fees cover the costs associated with running the auction.

4. What Are Payment Processing Fees?

Payment processing fees are charges that are charged by the bank. These include bank transfer fees or credit card transfer fees.

5. How Do I Estimate Shipping Costs?

Shipping costs depend on the distance between the auction site and the delivery location. Luckily for you, AutoBidMaster offers you a calculator to give you an estimate of these costs from the auction site to your location.

6. Are There Any Additional Costs?

Yes, there can be additional costs, and these costs can include the following:

• Inspection Fees: You will pay inspection fees in case you want the car inspected.
• Storage Fees: If you don’t pick up the car on time, storage fees will be applied.
• Title Processing Fees: Fees for processing the vehicle’s title transfer.

7. What Taxes and Licensing Fees Should I Expect?

Depending on your location, you may need to pay sales tax, registration fees, and environmental fees.

Every state is different and has different fees. So, in order to determine these costs, you need to call your local DMV and inform yourself about the possible costs involved in this type of trade.

8. How Can I Get an Accurate Total Cost Estimate?

In order for you to get an accurate cost estimate, you should consider all the factors that we added. In addition to this, you can use the AutoBidMaster fee calculator for a more precise calculation of these costs.

9. What Are Some Examples of Additional Considerations?

Additional considerations can also be made. These considerations include insurance costs, repair costs (especially when it comes to salvage vehicles), and currency exchange rates (this applies to international buyers).