Setting a maximum bid before the lane opens

Twenty years of wholesale buying taught me one habit worth more than any insider trick: price the vehicle three ways before you look at the current bid.

• Retail comp: what clean examples sell for at auto dealers in your region.
• Repair delta: honest estimate of parts and labor from the photos and condition line.
• Fee stack: buyer fee, gate fee, internet fee, broker fee, vehicle shipping.

Max bid = retail comp minus repair delta minus fee stack minus your margin. Write it down. The lane is designed to move faster than your judgment.

Adding to the list above: on salvage lots, budget a contingency line. Hidden damage on flood and collision cars routinely adds 15–25% to the visible repair estimate.