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© 2026 - Octane Automotive BV
© 2026 - Octane Automotive BV
You have decided to sell your special car. But what is the best approach? There are more options than you might think, and the right choice depends on your priorities: do you want maximum proceeds, the fastest sale, the least hassle, or do you want to ensure your car ends up with a good new owner?
In this overview, we place all common sales channels side by side. From private sale and trade-in to specialized auctions and consignment. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the ideal choice differs per situation.
| Factor | Octane Auction | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum proceeds | Specialized auction: competitive bidding drives price to market value | Private sale with patience and the right buyer |
| Fastest sale | Sell to dealer or trader: arranged within days | Trade-in when purchasing a new car |
| Least effort | Auction via Octane: largely hands-off after submission | Trade-in: everything arranged at once |
| Finding best buyer | Specialized auction: reaches enthusiasts who appreciate your car | Through clubs and forums: targeted but limited reach |
| European reach | Online auction platform: thousands of buyers internationally | International classifieds platforms: broad but unfiltered |
| Professional presentation | Octane: editorial text and comprehensive photo guide and photographer network | Consignment at specialist: comparable quality |
| Price protection | Octane: confidential reserve, set together | Private: you determine the asking price yourself |
| Transparency | Auction: open bidding process, visible to everyone | Private: you only know your own negotiation |
| Costs | Octane: commission on successful sale | Private: no costs except your own time |
The best method depends on your situation and priorities. If you want to sell quickly and accept the financial difference, trading in or selling to a dealer is simplest. If you want maximum proceeds and have time and energy, private sale can work, provided you find the right buyer.
For most collector car owners, a specialized auction offers the ideal balance: professional handling, broad European reach, and fair price discovery through competitive bidding. You do not need to negotiate, do not need to endlessly answer messages, and do not need to hope the right buyer happens to find your listing.
The choice also depends on your car. A common used car sells fine via classifieds or a dealer. A special car, with rare specifications, interesting history, or devoted maintenance record, deserves a platform that highlights those qualities and reaches the right audience.
Octane combines the convenience of a professional service with the reach of a European platform. We understand collector cars and connect you with buyers who share the same passion. The result is a sales process that asks little of you but can yield much.
Concretely: you submit your car, we assess whether it fits the platform, and then largely take over. From a comprehensive photo guide to editorial texts, from answering buyer questions to guiding payment and handover. You can set a confidential reserve together with our team that remains invisible to bidders throughout the entire auction.
The auction format ensures that not you, but the buyers determine the price. And because those buyers are enthusiasts who truly want your car, the result is typically fairer than with any other form of selling.
Submit your car and our team will review it within 48 hours