Jimmbo allows dealers to compete for inventory that otherwise would be sold to the big "Instant Offer" companies.
Selling a car instead? See the Seller guide →
Hyper-local + nationwide
Filter to your backyard for low shipping costs, or cast nationwide for more inventory wins.
No monthly fees
No seats, no subscription, no minimum volume commitment.
Pay only when you win
Flat 1% buyer premium — min $100, max $1,000 per vehicle.
Stack with your tools
Add Jimmbo alongside other wholesale auction platforms.
From Register to Acquire
Join to start bidding right away. No subscription required.
Explore vehicles listed by private sellers looking for the best dealer offer.
1% buyer premium (min $100, max $1,000).
Highest bid wins. No reserves, no hidden fees. Coordinate payment and pickup directly with the seller.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Jimmbo | Large wholesale auction house | Large salvage auction platform | Dealer Trade-In | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Buyer Fee | 1% ($100 min / $1,000 max) | 3–5% ($300+ min, no cap) | 5–18% tiered (no cap) | N/A — dealer sets the price |
Seller Fee | Free — no seller commission | $100–$400+ | $100–$700+ | $0 — but you lose 20-30% in value |
Geographic Reach | Hyper-local + nationwide — filter by ZIP for low shipping or cast wide for more wins | Tied to physical lane locations — long-haul transport often required | Yard-based — vehicle must be picked up from a fixed auction yard location | Walk-in only — limited to dealers in driving distance |
Subscription | None | $250–$500/mo | Membership required | None |
Title Transfer | Handled directly with seller — no middleman | Middleman holds title — delays & errors common | Title can take weeks — errors & lost titles reported | Handled at dealership — simple but you sacrifice price |
Storage Fees | None — we never take possession | $25–$75/day after grace period | $20–$50/day after 3 days | None |
Ghost Bids / Shill Bidding | None — fraud-monitored, transparent bidding | Reports of shill bidding at in-lane auctions | Online bidding opacity — limited transparency | N/A — no competitive bidding at all |
Auction Type | No-reserve — every car sells to highest bidder | Reserve auctions common — wasted bids | Reserve & minimum bids — unpredictable outcomes | No auction — dealer lowballs based on wholesale value |
Vehicle Possession | Car stays with seller until sold — no transport needed | Vehicle must be transported to auction facility | Vehicle must be at auction yard | Drive in and hand over — convenient but costly |
Transaction Speed | 5-business-day auctions — close directly with seller in days | Auction day + weeks for title & payment | Auction + up to 5 weeks for title processing | Same day — fast but at a steep discount |
Like-for-Like Fee Calculator
Buyer pays
Buyer pays
Estimates based on published wholesale auction fee schedules and typical add-on costs as of 2025. Actual fees vary by region, lane, and transaction. Situational costs — arbitration, post-sale inspection (PSI), floor-plan interest, late-payment, storage, and gate/late-pickup fees — are excluded and can add hundreds more per unit.
The Problems We Solve
The Problem
Most wholesale inventory has already passed through several hands by the time a dealer sees it. A private seller trades in or sells to a wholesaler, who then runs the vehicle through large wholesale or salvage auctions — each stop adding fees, transport costs, and reconditioning charges that get baked into the price you pay.
The Jimmbo Way
Jimmbo connects dealers directly to private sellers. You see inventory the moment it hits the market — before it gets bought up, flipped, and resold at auction. That means fresher cars, lower acquisition cost, and access to vehicles that would never have made it to your usual lanes.
The Problem
At large wholesale and salvage auctions, titles pass through a middleman. This creates delays of weeks — sometimes months. Titles get lost, have errors, or arrive with the wrong name. Dealers end up stuck with cars they can't register or resell.
The Jimmbo Way
On Jimmbo, you handle payment and title work directly with the seller — just like you would with a trade-in.
The Problem
Traditional auctions have long been plagued by shill bidding — fake bids that drive prices up artificially. Online platforms offer limited transparency into who's actually bidding.
The Jimmbo Way
Jimmbo auctions are no-reserve, transparent, and actively monitored for fraud. Every bidder is a verified, licensed dealer. What you see is what you get.
The Problem
Both large wholesale and salvage auctions charge daily storage fees if you don't pick up your vehicle fast enough — $25 to $75 per day. Miss the window and costs spiral quickly.
The Jimmbo Way
We never take possession of the vehicle. The car stays with the seller until the deal closes. No storage, no gate fees, no pickup deadlines.
The Problem
Between buyer premiums, seller fees, subscription costs, transport charges, reconditioning fees, gate fees, and environmental fees — the true cost of buying at a traditional auction is nearly impossible to predict.
The Jimmbo Way
Jimmbo charges 1% to the buyer ($100 min, $1,000 max). Sellers list completely free. No subscriptions, no hidden line items, no surprises.