About

Rochester Auto Auction publishes practical guides for buying and selling cars at auto auctions.

Who writes Rochester Auto Auction

Mark Ellison writes and edits Rochester Auto Auction. His guides explain auction fees, inspections, titles and buying or selling at public, dealer and online auctions in plain English, built from auction houses’ published rules, state title regulations and NMVTIS data, and they say clearly when rules differ by auction or state. Questions and corrections are welcome through the contact page.

What we cover

How public, dealer, online and salvage auctions work, what fees really add up to, how to inspect a car and check its title and history before bidding, salvage and rebuilt titles, arbitration, transport, and how to sell a car at auction.

How we write

Guides are researched from auction houses’ published rules and fee schedules, state motor-vehicle and title regulations, NMVTIS and NHTSA data, and reputable automotive references. We explain each step in plain language and say clearly when rules differ by auction or state.

Read our Editorial Policy for how articles are researched and updated.