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CarsAndBids.com Car Auction Scraper: Extract Enthusiast Vehicle Listings & Auction Data

Introduction

CarsAndBids.com has emerged as a leading online auction platform for enthusiast vehicles, modern classics, and interesting cars. Founded by automotive journalist Doug DeMuro, the platform specializes in vehicles from the 1980s onwards, creating a unique marketplace where car enthusiasts, collectors, and dealers discover and bid on distinctive vehicles.

The platform's curated approach focuses on cars that traditional auction sites often overlook—modern enthusiast vehicles, quirky imports, performance cars, and unique daily drivers. With detailed auction listings, comprehensive vehicle information, and transparent bidding processes, CarsAndBids has become an essential resource for understanding market values and trends in the enthusiast car segment.

For automotive dealers, collectors, market analysts, and investment researchers, accessing structured data from CarsAndBids provides valuable insights into pricing trends, vehicle demand, and market dynamics. The CarsAndBids Car Auction Scraper automates this data collection process, enabling systematic extraction of auction listings, bid histories, and vehicle specifications that would otherwise require extensive manual research.

Scraper Overview

The CarsAndBids.com Car Auction Scraper is a specialized data extraction tool designed to systematically collect vehicle auction information from the CarsAndBids platform. This scraper leverages web automation to navigate search results and extract detailed auction listings efficiently.

Key advantages include configurable retry mechanisms for handling network issues, flexible pagination controls for large datasets, and customizable extraction limits. The tool is particularly valuable for automotive dealers tracking inventory opportunities, market researchers analyzing pricing trends, collectors monitoring specific vehicle types, and investment analysts studying enthusiast car market dynamics.

The scraper handles various search parameters including vehicle type queries, sorting preferences (price, mileage, recently ended), and pagination controls. Users can extract data from specific search result pages or construct custom searches using keyword filters and sorting options.

Input and Output Details

Example url 1: https://carsandbids.com/search?q=suv&csort=10&ss_id=73f6afa2-f61e-4893-bd3c-613aecfa3742

Example url 2: https://carsandbids.com/past-auctions/?page=2

Example url 3: https://carsandbids.com/search/audi?ss_id=e31ee970-431f-446c-ab06-49c16880d3b5

Example Screenshot of automotive list by query page:

Input Format

The scraper accepts JSON configuration for precise control over data extraction:

Scrape with URLs:

{
  "proxy": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  },
  "ignore_url_failures": true,
  "max_retries_per_url": 2,
  "max_items_per_url": 20,
  "urls": [
    "https://carsandbids.com/search?q=suv&csort=7&ss_id=73f6afa2-f61e-4893-bd3c-613aecfa3742",
    "https://carsandbids.com/search?q=porsche&csort=10",
    "https://carsandbids.com/past-auctions/?page=2"
  ]
}

The urls parameter: Add URLs of car search result pages you want to scrape. Paste URLs individually or use Bulk edit to add multiple URLs at once. Ideal when you have specific search pages to extract.

The ignore_url_failures parameter: If true, the scraper continues running even if some URLs fail after maximum retries. Prevents one problematic URL from stopping your entire extraction job.

When providing URLs, all "Scrape with search filters" options are disabled. The system only collects data from specified URLs.

Scrape with Search Filters:

{
  "keyword": "porsche 911",
  "sort_by": "10",
  "page": 1,
  "max_items_per_url": 20,
  "max_retries_per_url": 2,
  "proxy": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}

The keyword parameter: Enter search terms to find vehicles (e.g., "porsche 911", "bmw m3", "suv", "manual transmission", "convertible").

The sort_by parameter: Filter and sort auction results:

• "" (empty) - Recently Ended
• "7" - Lowest Mileage
• "8" - Highest Mileage
• "9" - Lowest Price
• "10" - Highest Price

The page parameter: Specify starting page number for scraping. Useful for resuming interrupted scrapes or targeting specific result ranges.

When using search filters, leave the urls field empty.

General Options:

The max_items_per_url parameter: Limit items per URL or search filter to scrape. Default is 20, balancing batch size with comprehensive collection.

The max_retries_per_url parameter: Set retry attempts for each URL if bot detection occurs or pages fail to load. Default is 2, balancing thoroughness with efficiency.

The proxy parameter: Configure proxies for anonymity and detection avoidance. Essential for maintaining access during large-scale extraction.

Output Format

The scraper returns structured auction data with fields serving specific purposes for market analysis and vehicle research:

• ID: Unique auction listing identifier. Essential for tracking specific auctions, database management, and preventing duplicates in analysis.

• Submission ID: Internal submission tracking number. Used for linking related auction data and tracking listing history.

• Main Photo: Primary vehicle image URL. Valuable for visual identification, creating presentation materials, and initial quality assessment.

• Title: Vehicle year, make, and model designation. Critical for vehicle identification, market segmentation, and inventory categorization.

• Sub Title: Additional vehicle specifications or highlights. Provides key details like trim level, special features, or notable modifications for deeper understanding.

• Featured Sub Title: Premium listing designation or special callouts. Identifies highlighted auctions, special vehicles, or featured listings for prioritized review.

• No Reserve: Boolean indicating whether auction has reserve price. Critical for bid strategy analysis—no reserve auctions guarantee sale to highest bidder.

• Has Inspection: Boolean showing if professional inspection report is available. Indicates listing quality and seller transparency, valuable for risk assessment.

• Location: Vehicle's geographic location. Essential for logistics planning, regional market analysis, and understanding location-based pricing variations.

• Transmission: Transmission type (manual, automatic, DCT, etc.). Key specification for enthusiast vehicles where transmission type significantly affects value.

• Mileage: Odometer reading. Critical value determinant for pricing analysis, condition assessment, and market comparison.

• Seller: Seller type or identifier. Helps assess listing credibility and identify dealer versus private seller auctions.

• Watching: Number of users watching the auction. Indicates buyer interest level and potential bidding competition.

• Featured: Boolean indicating premium featured listing status. Identifies high-visibility auctions that may command premium prices.

• Current Bid: Current highest bid amount. Real-time pricing data for active auctions, essential for market value analysis.

• Sale Amount: Final sale price for completed auctions. Critical data for historical pricing analysis, market trends, and valuation models.

• Auction End: Auction end date and time. Important for timing analysis, bidding strategy, and tracking auction velocity.

• Status: Auction status (active, ended, sold, reserve not met). Indicates auction stage and outcome for filtering and analysis purposes.

Each field supports market research, pricing analysis, inventory sourcing, and investment decision-making in the enthusiast car market.

Example Output:

[
  {
  "id": "9WkG6711",
  "submission_id": "9QP7qpvD",
  "main_photo": {
    "base_url": "media.carsandbids.com",
    "path": "d32c8dde23a1411d0ef2e05bea168897e96c369b/photos/exterior/9QP7qpvD-qEbN3Zk/edit/ZADfE.jpg?t=174179492976"
  },
  "title": "2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat",
  "sub_title": "~15 Miles, 710-hp Supercharged V8, AWD, Down-Badged Exterior",
  "featured_sub_title": null,
  "no_reserve": false,
  "has_inspection": false,
  "location": "Albany, NY 12205",
  "transmission": 1,
  "mileage": "15 Miles",
  "seller": {
    "photo": null,
    "username": "w3e30us"
  },
  "watching": false,
  "featured": false,
  "current_bid": 64000,
  "sale_amount": null,
  "auction_end": "2025-03-26T18:13:28.611+00:00",
  "status": "reserve_not_met",
  "from_url": "https://carsandbids.com/search?q=suv&csort=7&page=1"
}
]

Usage Guide

Option 1: Scraping with URLs

To effectively use the scraper with URLs, navigate to CarsAndBids.com and perform your desired search using the platform's filters (vehicle type, sorting preferences, etc.). Copy the resulting URL from your browser's address bar into the urls array.

Configure retry limits and proxy settings appropriately. Set reasonable max_items_per_url limits to balance speed with system stability. Enable ignore_url_failures to ensure one problematic URL doesn't halt your entire extraction.

Best practices:

• Test URLs individually before batch processing
• Monitor for blocked requests and adjust proxy settings
• Implement delays between large extractions
• Verify URL parameters maintain proper structure
• Save working URL patterns for future use

Troubleshooting:

• Adjust proxy configuration if experiencing access issues
• Reduce retry counts if timeouts occur
• Verify URL format matches current site structure
• Check for dynamic URL parameters that may expire

Option 2: Scraping with Search Filters

Setting Up Search Criteria

Use search filters to automatically generate vehicle searches without manual URL construction.

Step 1: Define Search Keyword

Enter keyword parameter for specific vehicles or categories:

• Specific models: "porsche 911", "bmw m3", "nissan gtr", "toyota supra"
• Vehicle types: "suv", "convertible", "wagon", "coupe"
• Brands: "porsche", "bmw", "mercedes", "toyota"
• Features: "manual transmission", "awd", "turbocharged"
• Era: "1990s", "modern classic", "jdm"

Step 2: Configure Sorting

Set sort_by parameter to prioritize results:

• Recently Ended (""): Track latest sales and market activity
• Lowest Mileage ("7"): Find low-mileage examples for premium purchases
• Highest Mileage ("8"): Identify high-mileage vehicles for value opportunities
• Lowest Price ("9"): Source budget-friendly vehicles or project cars
• Highest Price ("10"): Analyze premium market segment and top-tier examples

Step 3: Set Pagination

Configure page parameter:

• Set to 1 for initial search
• Use incremental values (2, 3, 4) for comprehensive coverage
• Resume interrupted scrapes by starting from last collected page
• Plan pagination based on max_items_per_url setting

Best Practices for Filter-Based Scraping

Keyword Strategy:

• Use specific model designations for targeted results ("911 Carrera S" vs. just "porsche")
• Combine make and model for precision ("bmw e46 m3")
• Try broader terms for market overview ("german sports cars")
• Test keywords on site before bulk scraping

Sorting Selection:

• Use "Lowest Price" to identify undervalued opportunities
• Use "Highest Price" to analyze premium market segment
• Use "Lowest Mileage" for investment-grade vehicle research
• Use "Recently Ended" for latest market trend analysis

Progressive Coverage:

1. Start with specific searches (exact models)
2. Expand to broader categories (brand, vehicle type)
3. Track collected auctions to avoid duplicates
4. Monitor total results for complete coverage planning

Data Validation and Quality Control

After extraction, verify:

• Auction data matches search parameters
• Sale amounts are populated for ended auctions
• Mileage and location data are complete
• Status fields accurately reflect auction state
• No duplicate listings appear in results
• Timestamps are properly formatted

Common Issue Resolution

Empty Results:

• Verify keyword spelling matches site conventions
• Try broader search terms
• Check if filters are too restrictive
• Test search on actual CarsAndBids.com first

Sorting Issues:

• Confirm sort_by value matches available options
• Leave empty for default "Recently Ended" sorting
• Verify sort parameter affects results as expected

Pagination Problems:

• Track page numbers to avoid gaps
• Adjust max_items_per_url based on results per page
• Handle end-of-results when pages exceed available data

Advanced Search Techniques

Market Trend Analysis:

• Scrape "Recently Ended" regularly to track pricing trends
• Compare "Lowest Price" vs "Highest Price" for market spread
• Monitor specific models over time for value trajectories

Investment Research:

• Focus on "Lowest Mileage" + "No Reserve" combinations
• Track watching counts for demand indicators
• Analyze sale amounts against current bids for market sentiment

Inventory Sourcing:

• Set up searches for specific dealer inventory needs
• Monitor geographic locations for regional opportunities
• Track auctions with inspections for quality assurance

Benefits and Applications

The CarsAndBids Scraper delivers significant time savings compared to manual auction monitoring, reducing hours of research into minutes of automated extraction.

Primary Applications:

Automotive Dealer Inventory Sourcing: Dealers can monitor auction opportunities matching their inventory needs, track pricing trends for acquisition decisions, and identify undervalued vehicles before competitors.

Market Research and Pricing Analysis: Analysts can study enthusiast car market trends, build pricing models based on historical sale data, and understand demand patterns across different vehicle segments.

Collector Investment Research: Collectors can track specific models for investment opportunities, monitor market values for portfolio management, and identify emerging trends in collectible vehicles.

Competitive Intelligence: Dealers and sellers can analyze comparable auction results, understand bidding patterns, and optimize their own listing strategies.

The scraper provides competitive advantages through:

• Real-time access to active auction data and current bids
• Historical sale price information for valuation models
• Mileage and condition data for comparative analysis
• Interest metrics (watching counts) for demand assessment
• Systematic coverage of the enthusiast car auction market

Structured output integrates seamlessly with inventory management systems, pricing analysis tools, and market research platforms.

Conclusion

The CarsAndBids Car Auction Scraper transforms time-consuming manual auction monitoring into efficient automated data collection. By providing structured access to CarsAndBids' comprehensive enthusiast vehicle marketplace, it empowers dealers, collectors, and analysts to make data-driven decisions in the modern classic and enthusiast car market.

Ready to streamline your automotive auction research? Start extracting valuable market insights from CarsAndBids.com today and enhance your vehicle sourcing, pricing analysis, and market intelligence capabilities.

Your feedback

We are always working to improve Actors' performance. So, if you have any technical feedback about carsandbids.com Cars Search Scraper or simply found a bug, please create an issue on the Actor's Issues tab in Apify Console.