Table of Contents

1. Why choosing the right auction platform matters

2. The 10 most relevant auction platforms for dealerships in Spain

3. How to choose the platform according to your business profile

4. What documentation you need to register as a professional buyer

5. Usual costs: commissions, fees and transport

6. Frequently asked questions

Why choosing the right auction platform matters

Not all auction platforms have the same vehicle profiles, nor the same conditions for professional buyers. Always using the same platform because "it's the one we know" can cause you to miss out on opportunities with a better vehicle profile for your business, with more competitive prices or with better transport conditions.

Before deciding on which platforms to register, it is advisable to be clear about the type of stock you are looking for. If you need leasing estates and SUVs between 3 and 5 years old, you have different options compared to if you are looking for light commercial vehicles or cars under two years old with low mileage. The specialisation of each platform is the first filter.

The second filter is geographical reach. Some platforms operate mainly in Spain and have physical hubs where you can inspect vehicles before bidding. Others are European platforms where you buy online using datasheet information, without seeing the car in person. Each model has advantages and disadvantages depending on the volume of purchases and the distance to logistic hubs.

To understand how to integrate auctions into a broader stock acquisition strategy, you can review the guide on where to buy cars as a dealership: the key channels.

The 10 most relevant auction platforms for dealerships in Spain

1. BCA Spain

BCA (British Car Auctions) is the largest professional vehicle auction network in Europe, with a physical presence in Spain and both in-person and online operations. Its stock volume is among the highest in the market: mainly leasing vehicles, corporate fleets and official dealerships liquidating stock.

Vehicle profile: mid-to-high-end saloons and SUVs, diesel and petrol, between 2 and 5 years old, with documented average mileage and maintenance in official networks. Format: in-person at their centres (with an inspection period prior to the session) and online through BCA Online. Requirements: registration as a professional buyer with company documentation or sole trader with motor trade activity. Buyer's commission: variable depending on the lot price and the negotiated agreement. Fee table available on their website.

2. Autorola

B2B online platform with a presence in several European countries. Specialising in corporate fleets and company vehicles, it connects sellers (companies, leasing, dealerships) with professional buyers from all over Europe.

Vehicle profile: corporate fleets, leasing, company vehicles. Good maintenance history but generally high mileage (over 100,000 km). Format: 100% online. The datasheets include photos, condition descriptions and assessments by the seller. Requirements: registration as a company or professional with motor trade activity. Verification process before first access. Advantage: access to vehicles from other European markets (Germany, France, Netherlands) if you are interested in importing.

3. OpenLane (formerly ADESA)

OpenLane is a B2B online auction platform specialising in company, leasing and fleet vehicles. It has a presence in several European countries and a relevant stock volume in the pre-registered and ex-demo segments.

Vehicle profile: company vehicles, pre-registered and ex-demos from official dealerships, short-term leasing. Generally low mileage (under 50,000 km). Format: online with scheduled auctions on fixed dates. The sheets include professional photos and detailed condition descriptions. Requirements: registration as a verified professional. Advantage: good profile for pre-registered and nearly new vehicles with manufacturer warranty still in force.

4. Manheim Spain

Part of Cox Automotive, one of the largest vehicle auction groups in the world. In Spain, it operates with stock from leasing, fleets and official dealerships in a mixed in-person and online format.

Vehicle profile: similar to BCA. Saloons, SUVs and commercial vehicles from leasing and corporate fleets. Format: physical centres in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona) with in-person auctions and a parallel online platform. Requirements: registration as a professional buyer with standard company documentation.

5. ALD Carmarket

Own platform of ALD Automotive, one of the largest leasing companies in Europe. It sells its end-of-contract leasing vehicle stock directly, without intermediaries.

Vehicle profile: leasing vehicles from ALD, with complete maintenance history in official networks. Excellent level of documentation and traceability. Format: online. Direct access to ALD end-of-contract stock. Advantage: you buy directly from the vehicle owner, without an auction intermediary margin. Requirements: registration as a professional on the ALD platform.

6. LeasePlan Exchange / Ayvens

LeasePlan, which operates under the Ayvens brand following the merger with ALD, has its own platform for liquidating leasing stock (CarMarket Ayvens). Similar to ALD Carmarket but with the volume of one of the largest leasing groups in Europe.

Vehicle profile: LeasePlan/Ayvens leasing vehicles. Complete documentation and verifiable history. Format: online with scheduled auctions and fixed prices depending on the lot. Advantage: direct access to stock without intermediaries. Possibility of volume agreements if you buy regularly.

7. Auto1.com

B2B trading platform for used vehicles with presence across Europe. Auto1 buys vehicles from individuals, companies and dealerships and resells them exclusively to professionals through its online platform.

Vehicle profile: highly varied in origin and type. City cars, saloons, SUVs, private and company vehicles. The price is usually closer to the market than in leasing auctions. Format: fixed price or auction depending on the lot. Online platform with detailed files. Advantage: large volume and variety. Good option for filling stock gaps quickly when there are specific shortfalls. Consideration: since vehicles are purchased from various sources, Auto1's additional margin is already included in the price.

8. eCarsTrade

European B2B platform specialising in low mileage, pre-registered vehicles and short-term fleets. It connects dealerships and selling companies from several European countries with professional buyers.

Vehicle profile: low mileage vehicles (under 60,000 km), short-term company fleets, some pre-registered. Good profile for dealerships looking for nearly new vehicles. Format: online. Detailed sheets with photos and condition descriptions. Advantage: specialisation in newer vehicles than other platforms.

9. Arval Trading

Stock liquidation platform for Arval, a leasing company of the BNP Paribas group. Similar to ALD Carmarket and LeasePlan Exchange: direct sale of vehicles at the end of their leasing contracts.

Vehicle profile: Arval leasing, with documented maintenance in official networks. Medium-to-high mileage (usually 80,000-150,000 km). Format: online with periodically scheduled auctions. Requirements: registration as a verified professional on the Arval platform.

10. Athlon Used Vehicles

Athlon (Mercedes-Benz Mobility group) also has its own platform for selling its leasing stock to professionals. With a presence in Spain and a focus on mid-to-high-end and premium vehicles.

Vehicle profile: Athlon leasing, with a predominance of Mercedes-Benz group brands (Mercedes, Smart) and other mass market brands. Format: online with auctions and fixed prices depending on the lot. Advantage: good access to premium leasing vehicles with documented history.

To compare the actual margin of auctions against the direct leasing channel, you can review the article on auctions vs leasing: which offers a better margin.

How to choose the platform according to your business profile

The choice of platforms is neither unique nor permanent. These criteria help you prioritize:

If you mainly sell mid-range vehicles (€8,000-18,000) with high turnover: BCA, Autorola and OpenLane are the benchmarks. They have sufficient volume to supply stock regularly and a vehicle profile that fits the mainstream used car buyer.

If you are looking for low mileage or nearly new vehicles: OpenLane, eCarsTrade and ALD Carmarket offer the best profile. Pre-registered and ex-demos have high demand and the price differential compared to new remains attractive.

If you want direct access to leasing stock without an intermediary: ALD Carmarket, LeasePlan Exchange/Ayvens and Arval Trading are the options. The margin can be better than with BCA or Autorola, although access to specific stock is less flexible.

If you are looking for variety and speed to fill stock gaps: Auto1 and eCarsTrade have the most flexible profile in terms of vehicle origin and type.

To understand how to calculate the maximum bid price and the margin of each auction transaction, you can review the guide on car auctions for dealerships.

What documentation you need to register as a professional buyer

Although requirements vary slightly between platforms, the standard documentation for registration is:

Company Tax ID (CIF) or National ID (NIF) for sole traders. Registration in the Business Activity Tax (IAE) under the vehicle trading heading (heading 654.1). Incorporation deeds if operating as a company. Proof of business activity (recent VAT filings or similar). In some cases, references from other platforms or a security deposit applicable to initial purchases.

The verification process can take between 1 and 5 business days depending on the platform. It is advisable to have the documentation ready before trying to register so as not to waste time between application and access.

If you are not yet registered as a professional motor trader, you can see the requirements in the guide on how to register as a car dealership.

Usual costs: commissions, fees and transport

The hammer price in an auction is not the total cost of the transaction. These are the additional components you must incorporate into the margin calculation before bidding.

Buyer's commission: between 1% and 4% of the hammer price depending on the platform and agreed terms. On BCA and Manheim, there are commission tables by price bracket. On direct leasing platforms (ALD, Arval) it can be lower or included in the price.

Administration fee: some platforms charge a flat fee per transaction (between 50 and 150 euros) regardless of the vehicle price.

Transport: if the vehicle is in a distant physical centre, delivery costs between 150 and 400 euros depending on the distance. For purchases on European platforms, the cost may be higher.

VAT: leasing and fleet vehicles are sold with a VAT invoice. You can deduct this VAT, but on resale you must apply the general scheme (not margin scheme/REBU). To understand the tax implications, you can consult the guide on when to invoice with VAT and when to apply the margin scheme (REBU).

More than 750 dealerships already use Dealcar to manage their daily operations

Dealcar allows you to register vehicles acquired at auction directly into your stock with all their details, link the purchase invoice and transport costs to have the real acquisition cost from day one, and track the margin of each transaction until the final sale.

If you want to see how it works, you can book a free demo at dealcar.io.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy on multiple platforms simultaneously?

Yes. In fact, working with two or three platforms in parallel is the standard practice among high-volume dealerships. Diversifying stock sources reduces dependency on a single platform and allows you to compare prices for the same model across different channels before bidding.

Are leasing platforms (ALD, Arval, LeasePlan) better than BCA or Autorola?

It depends on what you are looking for. Direct leasing platforms usually have better documentation and vehicle history tracking, but less variety at any given time. BCA and Autorola offer more volume and flexibility, but with an intermediary between the original owner and the buyer.

Can I inspect the vehicle before bidding on online platforms?

On 100% online platforms (Autorola, eCarsTrade), no. You rely on the photos and description provided by the seller. For high-price vehicles, some platforms offer third-party inspection services on demand. At BCA and Manheim, which have physical hubs, you indeed can inspect before the bidding session.

What happens if the vehicle arrives in worse condition than described?

Each platform has its own dispute conditions. In general, significant discrepancies between the description and the actual condition are covered if they are reported within a set timeframe after vehicle delivery. It is advisable to review the specific conditions of each platform before making your first purchase.