Usually not, if you mean a dealer auction. Dealer auctions like Manheim, ADESA and ACV only take vehicles from licensed dealers and commercial sellers. As a private owner, your practical options are to sell the car yourself, trade it in, sell it to a dealer (who may run it through an auction), or, for a damaged or totaled car, sell through a salvage auction such as Copart under its own terms.
Educational information only. This article is not legal or financial advice.
In this article
- Why private owners can't use dealer auctions
- Your options compared
- Consignment: possible but rare
- Copart and salvage auctions
- Public auctions and tow-yard sales
- Do you want to "play car dealer"?
- If you sell it yourself in California
- Frequently asked questions
Why private owners can't use dealer auctions
From experience (Garrett Eddings, professional opinion): Typically speaking, no. A regular person isn't going to sell their car at an auction, especially a dealer auction, for obvious reasons.
Dealer auctions are wholesale marketplaces for licensed dealers. Selling there requires dealer credentials, and buying there requires a dealer license. Most dealers who want your car will simply buy it from you and handle the auction themselves.
Your options compared
| Option | What you get | Effort | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell privately | Usually the most money | High: listings, calls, test drives, negotiating, paperwork | You have time and the car is in good shape |
| Trade it in | Usually less money, but the trade can reduce what you pay for your next car | Low | You're buying another car anyway |
| Sell to a dealer for cash | A wholesale-level offer | Low | You want a quick, simple sale |
| Consign with a dealer | Sale price minus the dealer's fee | Low for you, but few dealers offer it | You find a dealer willing to take it |
| Copart (damaged or totaled cars) | Whatever salvage buyers will pay | Moderate | The car is wrecked, salvage-titled or not worth repairing |
Consignment: possible but rare
From experience (Garrett Eddings, professional opinion): Consignment is possible, but the dealer assumes all the liability on the vehicle if something bad happens with it. So I don't know a lot of dealers who are going to create a consignment agreement and go through that process. Most will just try to buy the car from you directly and deal with the auction themselves.
If a dealer does consign your car, get a written agreement covering the price, the fee, how long the dealer holds the car, insurance, and when you get paid. Vehicle Code §11700 requires that a consigned vehicle be returned to its owner if the dealer stops being licensed.
Copart and salvage auctions
From experience (Garrett Eddings, professional opinion): Copart is for insurance salvage cars: cars that have been deemed a total loss by an insurance company and then sold so the insurer can recover money. Companies can send their vehicles there if they want to, but that's up to Copart, and you'd have to check Copart's terms and conditions for how that works.
Copart's site lists a "Sell a Vehicle" option for individuals as well as businesses and dealers, so check its current terms if your car is damaged or salvage-titled. See Can you sell a car with a salvage title in California?
Public auctions and tow-yard sales
Public car auctions in California are mostly tow-yard lien sales and government or police surplus sales. They're a place to buy, not to sell your own car.
From experience (Garrett Eddings, professional opinion): Public auctions are typically tow yards and things of that nature, which I don't recommend. If you do go to a tow yard, make sure you can inspect the car yourself: turn it on, drive it, and plug in an OBD-II scanner to get the results you need.
See How do police auctions work in California?
Do you want to "play car dealer"?
From experience (Garrett Eddings, professional opinion): It's almost always easier to try to sell it on the street, with an important caveat: do you really want to play car dealer? Do you want to book a bunch of appointments, have people kick the tires, tell you how bad the car is, try to negotiate, and tell you they have cash? Do you have a loan on the car, and do you know how to navigate that? Or would you rather trade it in at a lower value and not deal with it? No way is necessarily right or wrong, but it's something you have to consider.
| Ask yourself | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|
| Do I have time for calls, test drives and haggling? | Selling privately can pay more | Trade in or sell to a dealer |
| Do I owe money on the car? | You'll need the payoff and the lender's title release | Simpler private sale |
| Is the car in good mechanical shape? | Private buyers will pay for it | A dealer or trade-in avoids repair talks |
| Am I buying another car now? | A trade-in can be the simplest path | Sell privately or to a dealer |
If you sell it yourself in California
- Smog check: for most gas, hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles, the seller must get a smog check before the sale and give the buyer the report. Vehicles four model years old or newer, transfers between immediate family members, electric vehicles and motorcycles are exempt (Bureau of Automotive Repair (Opens in new window)).
- Title: sign the title over to the buyer, with the lienholder's release if you had a loan.
- Release of liability: file DMV's Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability within 5 days of the sale (DMV (Opens in new window)).
See How many days do you have to notify DMV after selling a car?
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my car at a dealer auction like Manheim?
Not as a private person. Dealer auctions take vehicles from licensed dealers and commercial sellers. A dealer can buy your car and sell it there.
Will a dealer sell my car on consignment?
Some will, but it's uncommon because the dealer takes on liability for the car. Most dealers would rather buy it from you outright.
Can I sell a wrecked or totaled car at Copart?
Copart lists a "Sell a Vehicle" option for individuals. Check its current terms. Copart mainly sells insurance total-loss and salvage vehicles.
Is it better to sell my car privately or trade it in?
Selling privately usually brings more money but takes time and effort. Trading in is faster and simpler, and it can lower the cost of your next car.
Related questions
- Do you have to smog a car after you buy it?
- How many cars can you sell without a dealer license?
- Where do car dealers get their cars?
- Back to the California Dealer License FAQ
Next step: Thinking about selling cars regularly? Get licensed with the 6-hour course for $99
Resources
- California Bureau of Automotive Repair: Smog Check requirements (Opens in new window)
- California DMV: Title transfers and changes (Opens in new window)
- California Vehicle Code §11700 (Opens in new window)
- Copart: Selling FAQ (Opens in new window)
Sources: BAR Smog Check (Opens in new window) (updated January 31, 2026) · DMV title transfers (Opens in new window) · Vehicle Code §11700 (Opens in new window) (consigned vehicles returned when a dealer stops being licensed). Verified 2026-10-16.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. The instructor notes reflect one instructor's professional experience and opinion.