The Buyer’s Journey
Your Step-by-Step Buying Process
Step 1 — Create Your Account
Creating a Membership Account is completely free. Once registered, you’ll be assigned a unique User Number — used in place of your name on all public platform communications to protect your privacy.
A valid payment method is required before placing bids or making offers. EXR uses Stripe for secure payment processing and does not retain your payment data internally. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is available and strongly recommended to protect your account.
Step 2 — Browse & Find Your Next Acquisition
Browsing the EXR marketplace is completely free — no account required to view listings. Use our search and filter tools to find race cars, track-day vehicles, trailers, transporters, parts, gear, and equipment across our Platinum and Gold listings.
Every listing on EXR has been human-vetted and approved by our team before going live. Listings include detailed technical specifications, condition ratings, ownership and racing history, and high-resolution photo galleries and videos — giving you the transparency needed to make a confident, informed decision.
Not sure what you’re looking for? Contact our team — we can help match you with the right asset from our active and upcoming listings. Contact Us
Step 3 — Understand the Listing Tier
Every EXR listing is presented under one of two tiers. Understanding the tier tells you how the sale works and what to expect as a buyer.
What Run-Till-Sold Means for You as a Buyer
Both Platinum and Gold listings on EXR are Run-Till-Sold. Here’s what that means when you’re the buyer.
- No countdown pressure on your evaluation — Listings don’t expire on a short timer. You have the time to do your due diligence, arrange a PPI, and talk to our team before you decide.
- The inventory you see is actually available — Every 90 days we ping the seller to confirm the asset is still on the market and hasn’t sold elsewhere. If a seller doesn’t confirm availability after three consecutive check-ins, the listing is archived — so you’re not chasing ghosts.
- Archived listings can come back — If a listing you were watching has been archived, contact our team at [email protected]. We can reach the seller about reactivation and, if approved, the listing returns to the marketplace for a new Listing Period.
- The only difference between Platinum and Gold is sales format — Duration, renewal, and availability mechanics are identical across both tiers — what changes is how the sale happens (Platinum’s cycling auctions vs. Gold’s continuous Buy Now/Make Offer).
For the full platform mechanics, see the Marketplace Process page. For the legal treatment, see Section 4.8 of our Terms of Service.
Step 4 — Place Your Bid or Offer
All bids and offers are placed through the listing page on the EXR platform. You must be registered and have a valid payment method on file to participate.
Platinum — Bidding During Live Auctions
During a live auction period, Buy Now and Make Offer are inactive. Competitive bidding is the only active purchase method.
Every Platinum live auction opens at the Seller’s Opening Bid Price — the starting point for the 7-day live auction window. The Opening Bid Price may be displayed publicly on the listing or kept confidential (‘Price on Request’). It applies only to the live auction window; it does not act as a floor on Make Offer submissions during a Buy Now / Make Offer period, and it does not apply to Gold — Direct Sale listings.
Two bidding options are available:
- Incremental Bids ($100 increments): The platform automatically advances the bid box in $100 increments above the current high bid. You’ll be notified by email and/or text if you are outbid.
- Proxy Bids (Automatic bidding up to your maximum): Enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay. The platform bids on your behalf in $100 increments — only bidding the minimum necessary to keep you as the high bidder, up to your set maximum. Your maximum proxy bid amount is never visible to the Seller or other bidders.
Proxy Bid Examples:
- Example 1 — Proxy bid below reserve: Reserve: $50,000 | Current Bid: $48,000 | Your Proxy Bid: $49,500 New Current Bid: $49,500. You are the highest bidder but will not win unless reserve is met before auction close.
- Example 2 — Proxy bid above reserve: Reserve: $50,000 | Current Bid: $48,000 | Your Proxy Bid: $50,500 New Current Bid: $50,000 (platform meets reserve on your behalf). If no further bids are placed, you win at $50,000.
- Example 3 — Competing proxy bids: Your Proxy Bid: $50,500. Another bidder places $50,300. Platform bids $50,400 on your behalf. If auction closes at this point, you win at $50,400.
Sniping Protection: If a bid is placed within the final 5 minutes before auction close, the auction clock extends by 2 minutes from the time of that bid. If another bid is placed during the extension, the clock extends again by 2 minutes. This process repeats until 5 full minutes pass with no new bid. The auction is not over until 5 minutes have elapsed since the last bid was placed.
Reserve vs. No-Reserve:
- Reserve Auction: the listing only sells if the highest bid meets or exceeds the seller’s confidential minimum price. You are not obligated to purchase if reserve is not met.
- No-Reserve Auction: the listing sells to the highest bidder regardless of price. Maximum engagement, no floor.
Buy Now & Make Offer
Buy Now and Make Offer are available during the following periods only:
- Platinum listings: During the Live Preview period (before the first auction opens) and during Buy Now/Make Offer periods between auction cycles. Buy Now and Make Offer are inactive during live auction periods.
- Gold listings: Continuously throughout the listing period — no auction periods.
Buy Now: Clicking Buy Now at the listed price immediately wins the listing. This constitutes a legally binding purchase commitment. Upon a successful Buy Now on a Platinum or Gold listing, the applicable Sales Premium is automatically charged and the deal is unlocked.
Make Offer: Submit a private offer below the Buy Now price. The seller has 72 hours to accept, counter, or decline your offer. If the seller accepts, the listing is won immediately and the applicable Sales Premium is charged (Platinum and Gold). Make Offer submissions are binding — if your offer is accepted, you are obligated to complete the purchase.
Pursuant to the ESIGN Act and UETA, clicking “Bid,” “Buy Now,” or “Make Offer” constitutes a legally binding electronic signature and creates a binding contractual obligation to purchase the listed item at the agreed price, subject to PPI provisions.
Step 5 — Winning the Listing
A Winning Event occurs when:
Platinum listings:
- Your bid meets or exceeds the Reserve Price at auction close (Reserve Auction)
- Your bid is the highest at auction close (No-Reserve Auction)
- You pay the Buy Now price
- The Seller accepts your Make Offer submission
Gold listings:
- You pay the Buy Now price
- The Seller accepts your Make Offer submission
Upon a Winning Event (Platinum & Gold): The applicable Sales Premium is automatically charged to your payment method on file (if you are the Buyer’s Premium payer). This unlocks the deal — both parties receive each other’s contact information and concierge-vetted documentation to finalize the transaction. The 7-7-72 performance timeline begins immediately.
Step 6 — The Sales Premium (Platinum & Gold)
For Platinum and Gold listings, the seller chooses one of three Sales Premium structures during listing creation. The applicable structure is always displayed on the listing page before you bid or make an offer — review it carefully before participating.
- Option 1 — Buyer’s Premium (Platform Default): You pay the full 5% Sales Premium. The seller pays nothing.
- Option 2 — Split Premium: You and the seller each pay 2.5%.
- Option 3 — Seller’s Premium: The seller pays the full 5%. You pay nothing.
Sales Premium Calculations:
| Sale Price | Premium Rate | Amount Due |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $15,000 | 5% (minimum $750) | $750 minimum |
| $15,001 – $149,999 | 5% | 5% of sale price |
| $150,000 – $749,999 | 5% (capped at $7,500) | $7,500 maximum |
| $750,000 and above | 1% | 1% of sale price |
Examples:
- $15,000 purchase → $750 (minimum applies)
- $50,000 purchase → $2,500
- $100,000 purchase → $5,000
- $500,000 purchase → $7,500 (cap applies)
- $750,000 purchase → $7,500 (1% tier)
- $1,000,000 purchase → $10,000 (1% tier)
The Sales Premium is non-refundable except in specific circumstances outlined in our Terms of Service. Please review the full refund policy before participating.
Step 7 — The 7-7-72 Timeline (Platinum & Gold)
Following a Winning Event on a Platinum or Gold listing, all buyers and sellers are bound by the following mandatory performance windows:
| Timeline | Performance Event | Event Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Business Days | Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) | The Buyer has 7 business days to complete a Pre-Purchase Inspection. A sale may only be cancelled if a Major Undisclosed Defect is found — buyer’s remorse and minor cosmetic wear are not grounds for cancellation. Full details in our Terms of Service. |
| 7 Business Days | Full Payment | The Buyer must fund the full purchase price within 7 business days of the Winning Event, or within 7 business days of a satisfactory PPI — whichever is later. If the Buyer fails to pay, they are liable for the full Sales Premium. |
| 72 Hours | Asset Delivery | Upon confirmed receipt of full payment, the Seller must release the asset and all associated title/MSO documentation to the Buyer or their designated transporter within 72 hours. |
Step 8 — Communicate With the Seller
All communication between buyers and sellers is managed and monitored through the EXR platform. Direct contact details are never shared publicly until a Winning Event is completed.
How it works:
- Submit questions to the seller through the listing page on the EXR platform
- The seller has 72 hours to respond to all buyer questions
- Submit Make Offer proposals through the platform — the seller has 72 hours to accept, counter, or decline
- All correspondence is logged and monitored by our team to ensure professional, fair dealings
EXR filters and vets all buyer inquiries before forwarding them to the seller.
Step 9 — Facilitation Services
All facilitation services are available to buyers on both Platinum and Gold listings and are provided at additional cost through EXR or our third-party partner network.
| Facilitation Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Free CARFAX Reports | If available for the listing |
| Photo Pro Packages | Professional photography through our third-party partner network |
| Escrow Coordination | Secure payment via licensed third-party providers (e.g., Escrow.com) |
| Pre-Purchase Inspections (PPI) | Professional technical evaluations through our partner network |
| Enclosed Transport & Shipping | White-glove domestic and international delivery coordination |
| DMV, Title & Registration | Expert assistance with complex racing vehicle documentation |
Additional fees apply for all facilitation services. Contact us at [email protected] for details.
How EXR Protects You as a Buyer
Your interests are protected at every stage of the transaction.
| Protection | Method |
|---|---|
| Curated, Vetted Listings | Every listing is reviewed and approved by our team before it goes live. We enforce minimum photo requirements, condition ratings, and accurate disclosure standards — so you’re not wading through junk listings. |
| Fresh, Verified Inventory | Every 90 days we ping the seller to confirm the listing is still available. Listings that don’t respond across three consecutive check-ins are archived — so the inventory you see is inventory you can actually buy. No stale ads, no six-month-old listings that sold off-platform. |
| Transparent Condition Ratings | Every listing carries a seller-disclosed A–F condition rating supported by photos, video, and/or a PPI report. Misrepresentation is grounds for listing removal and financial liability for the seller. |
| 7-Day PPI Window | For Platinum and Gold purchases, you have 7 business days to complete a Pre-Purchase Inspection. If a Major Undisclosed Defect is found, you may cancel and receive a refund of your Buyer’s Premium (where applicable). |
| Secure Platform Communications | All buyer-seller communication is managed and monitored through EXR. Your contact information is never shared publicly — only after a Winning Event is completed. |
| Escrow Coordination | EXR strongly recommends the use of a licensed third-party escrow provider for all high-value purchases. We coordinate introductions to trusted escrow services to protect your funds until the transaction is complete. |
| EXR Team Support | Our team is available throughout the transaction to assist with questions, coordinate inspections, facilitate introductions to service providers, and ensure a smooth, professional closing. |
Have Questions?
Our Marketplace Process page covers everything you need to know — including detailed FAQs on listing tiers, pricing, the Hybrid Auction and Gold Direct Sale process, and platform policies.
Visit the Marketplace Process & FAQs
Or contact our team directly at [email protected]
Ready to Find Your Next Race Car?
Browse our curated marketplace — completely free, no account required. When you’re ready to bid or make an offer, create your account in minutes.
