How Our 3P Auctions Work

3P Proven Partnership Program Questions & Answers

What is the 3P Proven Partnership Program?

The 3P (Proven Partnership Program) is our unique approach to classic car auctions that puts our money where our mouth is. Unlike traditional auction platforms, we invest $500 upfront in every vehicle through professional photography and pre-purchase inspections. You risk just $1 to list, and we handle the rest. That’s real partnership.

How is GuysWithRides different from other auction platforms?

Most auction platforms will list anything to collect fees. We’re selective—we reject over half of submissions to maintain quality and exclusivity. We’re also the only dealer-free marketplace for car enthusiasts, meaning you’re dealing directly with real collectors and sellers, not inventory flippers. Plus, our fees are significantly lower than major auction houses like Mecum and Barrett-Jackson.

What does the $1 listing fee include?

There are no upfront fees; you only pay $1 IF we believe your ride is interesting and unique enough to feature in a GuysWithRides Auction. Once approved, GuysWithRides invests $500 in professional photography and a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection. We then create and publish your auction listing, market it across our platforms, handle all buyer inquiries, and manage the entire auction process from start to finish.

What are the seller fees?

For vehicles valued between $20,000 and $100,000, sellers pay a 2% commission only when the vehicle sells. There are no upfront costs beyond the $1 submission fee, and no hidden charges. You’re reimbursing us for our time curating a professional listing designed to get you top dollar.

What are the buyer fees?

Buyers pay a two (2%)percent premium on successful purchases. The winning bidder pays the premium directly to GuysWithRides in addition to paying the seller the winning bid. For example, the winner of an auction with a high bid of $50,000 would first pay GuysWithRides ($50,000) x (0.02) = $1,000 and would then make arrangements with the seller to pay them the $50,000 winning bid.  Transportation costs are the responsibility of the buyer.

Why do you reject over 50% of submissions?

As the “David” trying to compete in a “Goliath” industry, GuysWithRides focuses on Quality over Quantity.  GuysWithRides Co-Founder Rudy Samsel only features classic and collector cars he would feel comfortable buying and putting in his garage.

We carefully curate our inventory to ensure every vehicle meets our standards for condition, documentation, and market appeal. This selective approach protects both sellers (by reducing competition from subpar vehicles) and buyers (by ensuring they’re bidding on quality classics worth their time and investment).

What happens after I submit my vehicle?

Within two (2) business days, our team reviews your submission and will reach out by email and/or phone.  If we are interested in listing your vehicle on GuysWithRides, we will provide a detailed market assessment of the minimum (i.e. reserve price) we believe your ride will sell for in the current market.

GuysWithRides never “low balls” a reserve price estimate nor pressures sellers into agreeing to a no reserve auction. Our estimates strike a balance between the minimum the current market will pay and providing the seller with a safety net that prevents “giving the car away.”

If the seller agrees to move forward with our recommended reserve price, we schedule a professional photography and arrange for a pre-purchase inspection. GuysWithRides pays for these services ($500) up front. All the seller has to do is make the vehicle available for the two appointments. Once complete, we build your auction listing and work with you to set the reserve price and auction timeline.

How long does the auction process take?

Following Seller approval of our recommended reserve price, GuysWithRides will post a “coming soon” listing.  Coming Soon listings not only alert the GuysWithRides’ “Tribe” (our community’s nickname), but they also serve to tip the internet search engines and A.I. should a potential buyer be looking for that particular car.

From there, the timeline to post an auction depends on how quickly we can schedule a photographer and a pre-purchase inspection (“PPI”).  Often these appointments can be subject to the weather in the seller’s area. Guys With Rides usually receives the photographs, video, and PPI within 72 hours, so depending on the day of the week, we will schedule the vehicle’s auction for the next Thursday after receiving the raw content.

Guys With Rides auctions currently start on Thursdays and run for 14 days, with no time extensions. We believe in clean, transparent auctions that end when they’re supposed to end.  Anyone worried about end of auction “Sniping” can use our automated “set-it-and-forget” maximum bid.

What is “set-it-forget-it” automated bidding?

Our automated bidding system allows buyers to set their maximum bid once, and the system automatically increments their bid as needed to keep them in the lead—up to their maximum. This eliminates the need to constantly monitor auctions and prevents last-second sniping tactics.

Can dealers list vehicles on GuysWithRides?

No. GuysWithRides is exclusively a dealer-free marketplace. We believe the classic car hobby is best served by direct connections between enthusiasts, collectors, and private sellers—not commercial inventory operations.  Guys With Rides does not offer dealer or broker inventory nor do we allow dealers or brokers to bid on the rides we offer.

What kind of vehicles do you accept?

We focus on classic, collector, and enthusiast vehicles typically valued between $20,000 and $100,000. This includes vintage American classics, European sports cars, muscle cars, and other collectible vehicles with documented history and authentic provenance. Each submission is evaluated individually.

This means we offer anything from well-documented survivor cars with visible patina to professionally restored or unique rides you just don’t see every day.  Our Past Results page provides a glimpse into the kinds of unique rides we’ve been successful in marketing

How do you validate buyers?

Before bidders can participate in auctions, they must complete our verification process that requires a valid credit card and a photo ID.  We use the “set-it-forget-it” automated bidding system to reduce frivolous bids, and we maintain strict policies against non-paying bidders.  We place a two (2%) percent hold on each bidder’s first bid during an auction.  Vetted sellers means serious transactions.

What happens if my vehicle doesn’t meet reserve?

If bidding doesn’t reach your reserve price, you’re under no obligation to sell. At that point we first contact the high bidder(s) to see if they are willing to meet the seller’s reserve price. From there, we move the listing to our “Buy Now Make Offer” section for seven days to see if any bidders or non-auction participants are willing to buy the vehicle for the buy now price or make a realistic counter offer.

Do you offer any guarantees or protections?

We provide pre-purchase inspections for transparency, but vehicles are sold as-is, where-is. Buyers are encouraged to arrange their own independent inspections before bidding. We facilitate introductions between buyers and sellers, provide all documentation, and ensure both parties understand terms before finalizing any transaction.

How does payment work after a successful auction?

Following a successful auction, GuysWithRides collects the two percent buyer’s premium and the two percent sellers fee. Once collected, Guys With Rides then shares the buyer and seller contact information to finalize payment terms. We recommend secure payment methods such as wire transfers or escrow services. The buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arrangements, though we can provide referrals to trusted auto transport companies.

What if I have a vehicle worth more than $100,000?

We can accommodate higher-value vehicles on a case-by-case basis with custom fee structures. Contact us directly at (877) 468-6497 to discuss premium vehicle auctions.

How do I get started as a seller?

Visit the Submit a Ride link on GuysWithRides.com and fill out the quick questionnaire with your vehicle and contact information, and ONE picture. Our team will review your submission within two business days. If GuysWithRides determines your ride is unique enough to feature in an auction, we will provide a detailed market estimate within two business days.  If we do not believe your vehicle is a good fit for the site, we will let you know within two business days.  If you have questions before submitting, download our “$9.99 How to Sell Your Classic Car Online” guide or call Rudy directly at (877) 468-6497.

How do I get started as a buyer?

Create a free account on GuysWithRides.bid, our secure and dedicated marketplace portal, where you can browse current auctions and complete our buyer verification process. Once verified, you can set up automated bidding on any vehicle that interests you. There’s no fee to register or browse—you only pay the 2% buyer premium when you win an auction.  Before you place your first bid on an auction, GuysWithRides will place a hold on your credit.  This hold is not a charge and will only last seven days or until the auction closes, whichever occurs sooner.

Why should I trust GuysWithRides with my classic car?

We’re not just another faceless platform—we’re enthusiasts who understand what these vehicles mean to their owners. By investing $500 upfront in every listing, we demonstrate our commitment to quality and partnership. We’re selective about what we accept, transparent about our process, and dedicated to maintaining a dealer-free community of genuine car enthusiasts.

What makes the 3P program a “proven partnership”?

Traditional auction platforms make money whether your car sells or not. We only profit when you do. We invest real money ($500) before you invest anything beyond $1. We reject vehicles that don’t meet our standards, protecting your listing from being lost in a sea of low-quality inventory. We take the risk with you—that’s a proven partnership, not just a catchy name.