Sell your car in San Diego. Local buyers and dealers will bid live.
Running or not, title or not — we'll help you sell it.
From North County to Chula Vista: list free through December 31, 2026 (normally $25, no commission), set your minimum, and let local buyers and licensed dealers bid in a live auction. The buyer picks up at your home. Launch sellers can get free concierge listing where our team covers: we come photograph it.
- List free through Dec 31, 2026 (normally $25). No commission when it sells.
- Local buyers and licensed dealers bid against each other
- You set your minimum price
- The buyer picks up at your home
- Non-runners welcome. No title? Title help available.
- Free listing help for launch sellers (where available): we come photograph it
The Marketplace is openCall (619) 929-7347
Start your listing
Enter your plate or VIN, add photos and a guided condition report, and set your minimum. We review every listing before it goes live.
Start my listingPrefer help? Call us and we'll walk you through it.
Call (619) 929-7347How it works
List free through Dec 31
Guided photos, a short engine recording and a condition report, or we come do it with you. You set your minimum price.
Local buyers and dealers bid live
Your car goes up in a live auction that runs 20 minutes to 2 hours. Buy Now and offers are available too.
Get paid at pickup
The buyer pays you directly and picks the car up at your home. Hand over the keys and title once you've been paid.
Non-runners welcome. Title help available.
Running or not
Doesn't start, needs work, or headed for the junkyard? List it anyway and describe its condition honestly. Dismantlers and junkyards can bid on non-runners, along with local buyers and dealers.
Title or not
Lost the title, or don't have it in hand? Title help is available: Auction Direct coordinates the duplicate-title paperwork through licensed registration services. The fee varies with your situation, and you'll need the signed title at pickup.
Have a price in mind?
Set it as your minimum. Bidders decide, and you never have to sell for less than the minimum you set.
How it compares
Common ways to sell a car in Southern California, side by side.
| Auction Direct Marketplace | Dealer trade-in | Facebook Marketplace | Dealer-only bidding sites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who bids or offers | Local buyers and licensed dealers, bidding against each other | One dealer | Whoever messages you | Dealers only |
| Seller fee | Free to list through Dec 31, 2026 (normally $25). No commission. | None | Free to post | Some charge a seller fee after the sale |
| Non-runners or no title | Welcome: dismantlers and junkyards can bid on non-runners, and title help is available | Depends on the dealer | It's up to you to find a buyer | Varies by site |
| The handoff | The buyer picks up at your home | You drive it to the dealer | You arrange meetups with strangers | Some require a drop-off at a dealer |
| Lowballers and no-shows | Bids happen in an open live auction, not in your DMs | One take-it-or-leave-it offer | Lowball messages and no-shows are common | Dealer bids only |
| Buyer commitment | Public buyers put down a refundable bidder deposit before they can bid; dealers are licensed | One buyer: the dealer | Anyone can message, with no commitment | Licensed dealers |
Questions sellers ask
Is it really free to list?
Yes, through December 31, 2026: listing is free (normally $25), and there's no commission when your car sells. After that, listing costs $25, charged to your card on file when your listing is approved, still with no commission. Apart from that, the card is charged only if you back out after your car sells. Buyers pay Auction Direct a buyer fee; what the buyer pays you for the car is yours.
Who bids on my car?
Local private buyers and licensed dealers, plus dismantlers and junkyards for non-runners. Public buyers put down a refundable bidder deposit before they can bid, so the people bidding are serious.
Does my car have to run?
No. Running or not, we'll help you sell it. Describe its condition honestly in your listing. Dismantlers and junkyards can bid on non-runners, along with local buyers and dealers, and the buyer handles pickup.
When do I get paid?
The buyer pays you directly at pickup. Hand over the keys and the signed title only after you've been paid.
What area do you serve?
At launch: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The car needs to be in one of those counties for pickup.
What if my car doesn't sell?
You can relaunch it, up to 3 times for free. You never have to sell below the minimum you set, and you can still review any offers that come in.
What is free concierge listing?
For launch sellers in the areas our team covers, we come to you, take the photos and engine recording, and fill in the condition report with you. You review and approve the listing before it goes live.
What do I need to sell?
A photo ID, the car's title or registration in your name, and a card on file. The VIN on the listing has to match your paperwork. No title in hand? Title help is available.
What if I don't have the title?
You can still get started. Title help is available: Auction Direct coordinates duplicate-title paperwork through licensed registration services. The fee and timing vary with your situation. You'll need the signed title to hand over when the buyer picks up the car.
Is the Marketplace open?
Yes. Private sellers in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties can list now. Start your listing online, or call us and we'll help.