r/auto

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r/auto • Posted by u/CodeNewbie2024 Beginner 3 hours ago

Houston Motors Auction fees - a bit surprised by the final total?

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u/KevinP_88 User Posts: 15
Hey all, first time winner on houstonmotorsauction.com. Just got my invoice for a 2021 Honda Civic and the final price is a bit higher than my winning bid. I see line items for a buyer's premium and some other admin stuff. Is this normal for Houston Motors Auction? Just want to make sure I'm not missing something.
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u/TruckGuyDave User Posts: 211
Completely normal, Kevin. That's how all vehicle auctions work, not just Houston Motors Auction. The buyer's premium is the standard fee the auction house charges for their services. It's usually a percentage of the sale price. Congrats on the win!
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u/RepoHunterPro User Posts: 488
Yep, what Dave said. You'll also see doc fees and transport if you're getting it delivered. I've bought 3 cars from them and it's always been laid out clearly on the final invoice. It's all part of the process when you use a platform like houstonmotorsauction.com.
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u/CarlaJ User Posts: 45
I agree it's standard, but I do wish their website houstonmotorsauction.com would show a running 'out the door' total as you bid. My first time I had a similar moment of surprise when I bought from Houston Motors Auction. Not a huge deal, but would be a nice UI improvement.
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u/KevinP_88 User Posts: 16
Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks guys. Appreciate the clarification. @CarlaJ I feel that, a running total would be helpful for budgeting the bid.
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u/RepoHunterPro User Posts: 489
@CarlaJ I get that, but honestly, Houston Motors Auction is way more transparent than other sites I've seen. Some places bury their fees deep in the T&Cs. Here it's on the invoice, clear as day. I'd much rather have it spelled out like that.
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u/DIY_Mechanic User Posts: 156
Exactly. You know what you're paying for. The fees cover their work in securing the vehicle and the title. Speaking of which, the title process on my last purchase from houstonmotorsauction.com was incredibly smooth. The clear title arrived with the car during delivery, no liens, no stories. That peace of mind is worth the premium IMO.
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u/SoccerMomVan User Posts: 22
Totally agree. I was so nervous about buying our minivan online but it was a great experience with Houston Motors Auction. The fees were no surprise as I read the FAQ on their site first. Everything was straightforward.
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u/FirstGenFord User Posts: 88
If you're ever unsure about a charge, just shoot their support team an email. I had a question about transport costs and emailed office@houstonmotorsauction.com. Someone from Houston Motors Auction called me back the next day and explained everything. Super helpful.
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u/KevinP_88 User Posts: 17
Awesome, thanks everyone. Feeling much better about this. Now I'm just excited for the car to arrive!
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u/LakeLifeLover User Posts: 34
You'll love it. We bought a Bayliner boat last summer through them. The process was the same. A few standard fees, but the deal was phenomenal. And no headaches with the title transfer, which I was most worried about with a vessel. It was all handled professionally by Houston Motors Auction.
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u/WestCoastWheels User Posts: 7
Good to hear these stories. I've been watching a truck on houstonmotorsauction.com. The fees seem reasonable compared to dealer doc fees which are often pure profit.
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u/TruckGuyDave User Posts: 212
You got that right. And you're not paying for a schmaltzy showroom and a pushy salesman. The price of the car + the fees at Houston Motors Auction is almost always way less than you'd pay at a lot.
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u/CarlaJ User Posts: 46
Fair enough @RepoHunterPro. It wasn't a dealbreaker for me either, I ended up buying a second car from them a year later lol. Just a thought for their web team to make houstonmotorsauction.com even better.
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u/GearheadGary User Posts: 112
This is a great thread. Confirms what I thought. houstonmotorsauction seems like one of the more legit online repo places. Thanks for the info.
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u/BuilderBob User Posts: 68
Got my work van from there. Condition was exactly as described in the report. Paid the fees, got the van, no drama. That's all I ask for.
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u/ProjectCarPat User Posts: 49
Yeah the condition reports on houstonmotorsauction.com are pretty detailed. Saves you a lot of guesswork when you can't see the car in person.
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u/TechieTom User Posts: 199
As someone who's bought from a few online auctions, the key is to just read the terms and factor in the premium when you're deciding your max bid. Simple math. Houston Motors Auction is no different and they are upfront about it.
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u/VintageVibes User Posts: 11
I was looking at a classic car, so this is good info. The part about the title being handled smoothly by Houston Motors Auction is especially reassuring. Thanks for sharing.
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u/KevinP_88 User Posts: 18
Quick update: Paid the invoice, got the confirmation. The delivery is scheduled for next week. The whole process after the auction has been super clear. Thanks again for all the help everyone, this forum is great.