Buying a Car at Barrett-Jackson: Premium, Registration and VIN Checklist

At Barrett-Jackson, collector cars sell as-is, where-is. The Scottsdale 2025 Bidder Agreement documents a 10% buyer's premium for on-site vehicle purchases and 12% for telephone, internet or proxy bids (automobilia is 15% / 17%). Budget that premium on top of your hammer limit, register early if you want mailed credentials and confirm the current event's agreement before you raise a paddle -- rates can change by sale.

I pulled Barrett-Jackson's bidder FAQ, the 2026 Scottsdale and November Digital Select event pages and the Scottsdale 2025 Bidder Agreement PDF on the morning of October 16, 2026. Scottsdale 2026 already ran January 17-25, 2026. The next dated sale on the calendar as I write is the 2026 Nov. Digital Select auction, November 5-12, 2026, with 2027 Scottsdale listed for January 23-31, 2027.

1. Price the premium before you bid

The Scottsdale 2025 Bidder Agreement states the vehicle premiums in plain language: 10% on-site, 12% telephone / internet / proxy. Automobilia is steeper at 15% and 17%. Premium is added to the hammer price, and sales tax (where applicable) is charged on hammer plus premium. On a $50,000 car won from the floor, the premium alone is $5,000 before tax, transport and home-state title fees. The same car won online at 12% is $6,000 in premium.

Digital-only sales such as Nov. Digital Select (November 5-12, 2026) are internet bidding by design, so expect the remote rate structure unless that event's own agreement says otherwise. Always open the bidder packet for the sale you are entering rather than recycling last year's PDF.

2. Register early; the fee is not refundable

Barrett-Jackson's bidders hub says auctions are open to the public -- you do not need a dealer license to buy. Packages for the 2026 Scottsdale sale listed Premium at $750 (badge, guest, drink tokens, Opening Night Gala) and Absentee at $100 for online, phone or representative bidding. Early registration can mail credentials ahead of time and sometimes cuts the fee; the registration fee itself is non-refundable. For the upcoming digital sale, start from the Nov. Digital Select packages page.

Vehicle method-of-payment options listed in the FAQ are a financial-institution letter, bidding collateral (cashier's check or wire) or Woodside Credit. If your bank will not issue a letter of guarantee, Bidder Services walks through alternate letter formats. Waiting until your target lot is three cars away is how people miss the block while paperwork clears.

3. Preview like the hammer already fell

The bidder agreement is explicit that each lot is sold AS-IS-WHERE-IS with all faults, and that Barrett-Jackson does not make warranties about the cars. Cold starts, panel gaps, undercarriage rust and a wet carpet after a desert monsoon are your problem once the auctioneer drops the hammer. Lots generally run in numerical order starting around 10:00 a.m. local time and continue until that day's cars are done. For Nov. Digital Select (November 5-12, 2026), use the live online catalog and still hire an inspector if the bid is past toy-money levels.

Event pages for 2026 Scottsdale (Jan. 17-25, 2026) and 2026 Nov. Digital Select are the place to confirm dates, venue and Arizona-time customer-service hours (480-421-6694, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arizona time per the FAQ).

4. How Barrett-Jackson differs from Mecum, BaT and Cars & Bids

Mecum is another live-arena collector auction with its own 10% / 12% premium table and deposit rules -- see our Mecum checklist. Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids are timed online auctions with comment-thread diligence; our Bring a Trailer checklist and Cars & Bids checklist cover those rhythms. Barrett-Jackson leans lifestyle-event energy (Opening Night Gala, Muscle Lounge skybox add-ons) plus a large live block, with online, phone and proxy options when you cannot sit in the stands.

5. Run the VIN before the adrenaline hits

Decode the VIN on NHTSA's vPIC decoder, then check brands and insurer total-loss records on NMVTIS. Collector cars often hide older accidents, odometer oddities and title brands under fresh paint. Our CARFAX vs AutoCheck for auction guide explains why pulling both databases on a five-figure bid is cheap compared with a 10% premium.

CarVins resells CARFAX and AutoCheck under license and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Barrett-Jackson. A guest report through us has recently been about $5.50, a member report about $4.50 and both reports on one VIN about $6.75, while retail often sits between $39.99 and $44.99 -- confirm at checkout. On a car with a four-figure buyer's premium, that history pull is smaller than the parking fee. CARFAX's report overview lists what each section covers.

Sources

• Barrett-Jackson: Bidders hub / FAQ
• Barrett-Jackson: Scottsdale 2025 Bidder Agreement (buyer premium, as-is)
• Barrett-Jackson: 2026 Nov. Digital Select (Nov. 5-12, 2026)
• Barrett-Jackson: 2026 Scottsdale (Jan. 17-25, 2026)
• Barrett-Jackson: Nov. Digital Select bidder packages
• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• NMVTIS (U.S. DOJ)
• CARFAX vehicle history reports