Hemmings Review
Hemmings is a renowned name in the classic car world, founded in 1954 by Ernest Hemmings. It started as a booklet for locating rare auto parts but grew to offer several publications, including “Hemmings Motor News,” “Hemmings Classic Car,” “Hemmings Muscle Machines,” and “Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.” These publications cater to car enthusiasts, providing a platform for buying, selling, and learning about vintage and collector cars. Hemmings also has a strong online presence with digital publications and a marketplace.
Pros
- Excellent coverage for potential buyers with 200,000 subscribers
- Free site searches to compare vehicles
- Specialized platform for classic cars
- Option to place a classified ad or auction
Cons
- Auctions must be approved
- No BBB or Trustpilot ratings
Jump to: Full Review
Compare to Other Car Buying Websites
Peddle
Get a legit offer in minutes – provide VIN, mileage and condition
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
How Does Hemmings Work?
Hemmings is a hub for classic car enthusiasts, offering:
- Marketplace: A platform for individuals and dealers to list and buy classic cars, parts, and services.
- Publications: Monthly magazines, like “Hemmings Motor News,” with articles and classified ads.
- Online Presence: A website (Hemmings.com) with listings, articles, and search tools.
- Events Calendar: Information on upcoming car-related events.
- Resources: Guides, tips, and knowledge for collectors.
Essentially, Hemmings connects buyers and sellers in the classic car community and provides resources for enthusiasts.
Who is Hemmings Best for?
Hemmings is best for:
- Classic Car Enthusiasts: Individuals passionate about vintage, antique, and classic cars who want to stay updated with news, articles, and features about these vehicles.
- Buyers and Sellers: Those looking to purchase or sell classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, or associated parts and services. The platform provides a comprehensive marketplace for such transactions.
- Restorers and Mechanics: People involved in restoring classic vehicles to their former glory. They can source hard-to-find parts and services through Hemmings.
- Car Show Organizers and Attendees: With its events calendar, Hemmings is a resource for those promoting or attending car shows, swap meets, and auctions.
- Collectors: Whether a seasoned collector or someone just starting out, Hemmings offers valuable resources, listings, and insights into the classic car world.
- Dealers: Classic car dealerships can benefit from the platform’s wide reach to showcase inventory and connect with potential buyers.
In summary, Hemmings is ideal for anyone involved or interested in the classic car ecosystem, whether for commerce, restoration, collection, or pure passion.
What Types of Vehicles Can You Sell on Hemmings?
The vehicles you can find listed on Hemmings span a wide range:
- Classic Cars: Ranging from early 20th century models to more recent vintage cars.
- Muscle Cars: High-performance American cars, primarily from the 1960s and 1970s.
- Exotic and Sports Cars: Imported and domestic sports cars and luxury models.
- Trucks: Vintage and classic trucks.
- Motorcycles: Classic and vintage motorcycles.
- Projects: Vehicles that might need restoration or are being sold for parts.
How Fast Can You Sell Your Car With Hemmings?
The speed at which you can sell your car on Hemmings largely depends on various factors:
- Price: If your vehicle is priced competitively based on its condition, rarity, and market demand, it may attract more potential buyers quickly.
- Vehicle Condition and Rarity: Classic cars in pristine condition or scarce cars might sell faster than those needing significant restoration or more commonly available.
- Quality of the Listing: Clear photos, a detailed description, and accurate representation of the vehicle can help attract serious buyers.
- Market Demand: Some vehicles are more sought-after than others at any given time, influencing how quickly they sell.
- Visibility: How prominently your listing is displayed on Hemmings or if you choose premium listing options can impact its visibility to potential buyers.
While Hemmings provides a platform to connect buyers and sellers, it doesn’t guarantee a specific timeframe for a sale. Some sellers might find a buyer within days, while others may take weeks or even months, depending on the factors mentioned above.
Hemmings Fees: How Much Does It Cost to Use Hemmings?
There are fees and charges associated with selling your vehicle through Hemmings vary. The traditional classified ads run for one month. It allows an ad of 35 words with one photo. However, it also includes an online ad with no word limit and up to 35 photos that will run for six months.
The Auction listings run until they sell and the Hemmings team will work with you to set a reserve. The ad will feature on the Hemmings website, and it will be promoted in the company email, which is sent to over 200,000 subscribers.
Type of Selling Method | Cost |
---|---|
Traditional Classified Ad | $149.95 per ad |
Auction | $99.95 per listing |
Hemmings Payment Options
Once the auction reaches your reserve and you achieve a sale, Hemmings will work with you and the buyer to complete the transaction.
Hemmings Reviews: is Hemmings Legit?
Hemmings is a well-established legit company that provides you with a platform to auction your car. Rated 2.5 on Yelp and 1.0 on bestcompany, the company has attracted a mix of reviews.
According to positive reviewers, this platform is an excellent site for those willing to sell their cars. Other users also praised it for its reliable customer support.
While the company is legit, there are some complaints from unhappy customers, which often relate to a lack of guarantees for sale.
Website | Rating |
---|---|
Yelp | 2.5 |
bestcompany | 1.0 |
What Are the Hemmings Pros & Cons?
Hemmings Pros
- You can gain access to the Hemmings subscribers, which total over 200,000.
- This platform makes it easier to sell classic cars.
- You can search Hemmings classifieds to compare your vehicle to others, without subscribing to the publication.
- The auction team will work with you to create an auction.
Hemmings Cons
- Auctions must be approved.
- You will need to pay a substantial listing fee, regardless of whether your vehicle sells
How Good is Hemmings Support?
Hemmings has a detailed support base, including a frequently asked questions page, blogs, articles, and other resources that explain how it works. To contact the company, click contact us, fill out the form and submit it. Support can, therefore, be considered reasonable.
Hemmings Review Verdict: Is It Worth Selling Car With Hemmings?
Hemmings is a specialist site that can get your car before the eyes of 20,000 plus car enthusiasts. However, this is a specialty market, so you need a car of note to get the best from the service.
The Hemmings team needs to approve all listings and if you have an exceptional vehicle, it may be selected to be auctioned. There are set listing fees of $149.95 for a classified listing or $99.95 for an auction, so you don’t need to worry about hidden fees or additional charges.
How to Sell a Car on Hemmings?
Hemmings aims to remove the guesswork from choosing a classified package. The company offers bundled features to make selling your vehicle as simple as possible.
A personalized system even recommends the best package according to the vehicle, asking price, and location.
There are two main ways to sell a vehicle on Hemmings. While the company does have a reputation as Hemmings vintage cars, you can list newer vehicles with either method.
Hemmings Sell a Car
The basic Hemmings “Sell a Car” process is relatively straightforward. When you visit the website and click “Buy & Sell”, you’ll see an option to sell your vehicle.
You should click the drop-down menu and click to place a classified ad. You will then have a list of options to tailor your ad, including:
- The type of ad: You can list a car for sale or parts
- Your name
- Contact details
- The make, model, and year of your vehicle
- Mileage
- Vehicle condition
- Engine type
- Color
Once you complete all these details, you can detail your online description. This is similar to writing an eBay listing. So, you can describe the vehicle in more detail, with pertinent information that will help a buyer decide if yours is the right vehicle for them.
You can then upload photos for your ad. There are on-screen instructions to attach photos or video, but you can skip this step if you don’t want to include them.
After you hit “Save & Continue”, you will move on to a page to preview the information and make necessary changes. If you’re happy with how everything looks, you can finalize your order and enter your payment information.
The Hemmings team will evaluate and include your ad in the next available print issue. Potential buyers can then contact you as they would with any classified ad.
Hemmings Auctions
If you prefer, you can try to sell your vehicle through the Hemmings Auction feature. You must ensure your vehicle is ready for sale before you start the auction process. Hemmings looks for auction-ready vehicles for collectors and enthusiasts.
This option is most applicable for specialty vehicles. So, if you have a bog-standard vehicle, it is unlikely to garner attention with this sales method.
All auction submissions must be done online, and you must register with the Hemmings site before you can submit your vehicle. After your submission, the Hemmings Auction team will review it to check it is the type of vehicle that will generate bidders’ attention. A team member will contact you to let you know the selection decision.
All auction submissions need to be done online.
The team will let you know if you’re successful when the submission goes live. You’ll need to provide some basic information including:
- Your name
- Contact information
- Make, model, and year of the vehicle,
- Some vehicle photos
- A short description.
Setting the Auction
The team will also interview you for more details about the vehicle. You should share any known flaws. A listing specialist will help you to set an appropriate reserve, a fee of $99.95 will apply as a listing fee.
However, you have the reassurance that if your vehicle fails to meet the set reserve, Hemmings will convert it to a marketplace ad with no additional charge.
The auction will be scheduled to begin on a weekday and will be live for seven days. You will need to be available to answer any bidder questions or respond to any comments.
If the auction reaches your reserve and you achieve a sale, you’ll pay no fees apart from the listing fee. Hemmings will work with you and the buyer to complete the transaction.
Sites Like Hemmings
Company | Hemmings | Peddle | Wheelzy | CarBrain |
---|---|---|---|---|
Logo | ||||
Service fee | $99.95 to $149.95 | No fees | No fees | No fees |
Turn around time | 1 day to few weeks | 24 to 48 hours | 24 to 48 hours | 24 to 48 hours |
Cars accepted | Classic cars and classic cars parts | Any type of cars | Any type of cars | Any type of cars |
Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
Hemmings vs. Peddle
Peddle is a free car listing site that allows you to join and sell your car. Whale Peddle is free to sign up, you can expect to pay listing fees of $149.95 for a classified listing or $99.95 for auction listings with Hemmings.
While Hemmings leaves you to deal with potential buyers, Peddle takes care of everything for you. Peddle also require you to provide details about your vehicle, so the team can generate an accurate quote.
Recent Peddle offers
Model | Year | Mileage | Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Toyota (Camry) | 2011 | 150,000 | $2,225 |
Volvo (S40) | 2001 | 37,000 | $430 |
Mercedes-Benz (560) | 1991 | 92,000 | $1,930 |
BMW (528) | 2008 | 126,000 | $1,140 |
Kia (Forte) | 2010 | 145,000 | $635 |
Honda (CR-V) | 2011 | 67,000 | $2,930 |
Ford (Explorer Sport Trac) | 2004 | 145,000 | $1,170 |
Oldsmobile (Alero) | 2004 | 162,000 | $400 |
Audi (A6) | 2006 | 106,000 | $530 |
Hemmings vs. Wheelzy
Wheelzy is a car selling site that allows you to list your used and new cars. Like Hemmings, Wheelzy allows you to list and sell your car fast. While Wheelzy is free to join, Hemmings charge listing fees of $149.95 for a classified listing or $99.95 for auction listings.
Wheelzy rep will call you and arrange a pick up in some cases, even within one day. The two platforms are legit car-selling sites that let you sell your car and make money.
Recent Wheelzy offers
Model | Year | Mileage | Condition | Offer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hyundai (Tucson) | 2006 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $400 |
Mercury (Sable Sedan) | 2003 | 150,000 | Doesn’t start | $225 |
Mercedes-Benz (C) | 2001 | 150,000 | Starts | $222 |
Ford (Edge) | 2010 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $1,200 |
Ford (Flex) | 2009 | 150,000 | Starts | $1,000 |
Lexus (RX) | 2002 | 300,000 | Doesn’t start | $750 |
Chevrolet (Cobalt Sedan) | 2007 | 200,000 | Doesn’t start | $200 |
Toyota (Corolla) | 2003 | 250,000 | Drives | $555 |
BMW (528) | 2008 | 250,000 | Drives | $1,487 |
Hemmings vs. CarBrain
CarBrain is a car-buying company that buys cars in any condition, even those with physical, mechanical, or electrical damage.
Compared to Hemmings, which may take some time to list your car, CarBrain can purchase your vehicle quickly through their online process. You can get an instant offer within minutes by providing details on your car.
Once you accept the offer, you’ll need to schedule a pick-up date with the CarBrain representative. The representative will also pay you on the spot or send check by mail. Either way, the process can take between 24 to 48 hours. Finally, selling your car to CarBrain is entirely free of charge.
Recent CarBrain offers
Model | Year | Mileage | Condition | Offer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011 | 50,000 | Collision damage, starts, doesn’t drive | $1,270 |
Jeep Grand | 2015 | 43,000 | Collision damage, starts, doesn’t drive | $8,000 |
Chevrolet | 2013 | 50,000 | Collision damage, does not start | $1,335 |
Dodge Charger | 2011 | 143,448 | Collision damage, does not start | $1,000 |
Nissan Altima | 2013 | 82,000 | Collision damage, starts and drives | $1,725 |
Chevrolet Silverado | 2008 | 250,000 | Engine damage, starts, doesn’t drive | $1,750 |
Hemmings vs. eBay Motors
eBay Motors is a car listing site allowing you to list and sell any car, including spare parts. Like Hemmings, eBay Motors allows you to set a sales price or allow your vehicle to run as an auction.
As with Hemmings, you will be responsible for answering questions and arranging vehicle collection, test drives, and other inquiries. eBay Motors also allows you to set your listing as local or national. Compared to a national, a local listing is only visible to potential buyers in a 200-mile radius.
Other Sites Like Hemmings
Alternative Websites to Sell Car
Hemmings FAQs
What is Hemmings?
This publication has a long history. The first issue was released in 1954 and consisted of four pages. It sold 500 copies for 50 cents each.
Today, Hemmings has over 200,000 subscribers who pay for a 12-issue, one-year subscription. There are also copies sold at bookstores and newsstands throughout the US.
Advertising your vehicle through Hemmings allows you to access a wide marketplace of potential buyers, helping you get the best price for your unwanted vehicle.
How do I start an auction?
First, you need to submit your car for review before it can be selected for auction.
Can I still submit a vehicle for auction if I don’t live in the U.S?
Yes you can.
Can I relist on Hemmings if it doesn’t sell?
If your auction doesn’t sell, Hemmings can turn it into a Make Offer listing at no extra cost.