Classic Trader
Classic Trader is a Berlin-based international online marketplace founded in 2013 that connects private sellers and professional dealers with buyers of classic cars and motorcycles across nine European countries, monetizing via transaction commissions, dealer listing fees, and ancillary inspection and warranty services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Classic Trader does
Classic Trader GmbH is a Berlin-based online marketplace founded in 2013 that connects buyers and sellers of classic vehicles internationally. The platform supports both private sellers and professional dealers, offering fixed-price listings, buy-it-now, submit-offer, and both sealed and live auction formats. It operates across nine European countries (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, and Australia) with multi-currency display and support for more than ten languages, while explicitly excluding the US market.
The platform's product portfolio spans classic car and motorcycle listings, complemented by two branded service modules: CT Inspections, which delivers expert vehicle appraisals through third-party assessors TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH and FSP Schaden- und Wertgutachterdienst GmbH; and CT Warranty, an insurance brokerage arrangement with Hagerty. Payment processing is supported via PayPal, major credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express), and SEPA Direct Debit. Classic Trader also publishes editorial content through Classic Trader Magazine and maintains a social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok.
The company monetizes through three primary streams: an 8.5% sales commission (inclusive of VAT) on transactions with a EUR 500 minimum, duration-based dealer listing fees (subscription model), and revenue from CT Inspections professional services and CT Warranty affiliate referrals. Classic Trader is led by co-founders and managing directors Christian Plagemann and Torsten Claus, with Mehmet Ceyran serving as CTO. The company has raised approximately $1.65 million from Linden Capital (October 2015) and operates with a headcount of 11-50 employees.
Classic Trader firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Classic Trader
- Legal name
- Classic Trader GmbH
- Website
- https://classic-trader.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Classic Trader is a Berlin-based international online marketplace founded in 2013 that connects private sellers and professional dealers with buyers of classic cars and motorcycles across nine European countries, monetizing via transaction commissions, dealer listing fees, and ancillary inspection and warranty services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Classic Trader industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Classic Vehicle Marketplace
- NAICS
- Used Car Dealers (441120)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail (CRALAGAO)
Keywords
Where Classic Trader is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Classic Trader business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sales Commission: Classic Trader charges 8.5% (incl. VAT) of the gross sales price for enabling vehicle purchases via sales functionalities, with a minimum fee of EUR 500. This applies to both auction and buy-it-now formats.
- Dealer Listing Fees: Dealers pay for placing and extending advertisements on the marketplace, with duration-based pricing.
- CT Inspections: Expert appraisal services for selected vehicle categories, prepared by third-party appraisers including TÜV SÜD and FSP.
- CT Warranty: Brokerage of insurance/warranty products for classic vehicles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Sales Commission - 8.5% of gross sales price |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Classic Trader product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Classic Trader operates an international online marketplace that connects private sellers and professional dealers of classic cars and motorcycles with buyers worldwide. The platform supports three transaction formats — fixed-price (buy-it-now), auction, and submit-offer — and is complemented by ancillary services including CT Inspections (third-party vehicle appraisals) and CT Warranty (warranty brokerage).
Product overview
Classic Trader operates a multi-category online marketplace for classic vehicles, combining a core listing platform with transaction facilitation services. The core offering includes car and motorcycle inventory with both private seller and dealer listing options, complemented by auction functionality (sealed and live formats). The product portfolio includes two branded service modules: CT Inspections for professional vehicle appraisals via third-party assessors, and CT Warranty for insurance brokerage. Editorial content through Classic Trader Magazine provides market context, while differentiated seller tiers serve both private individuals (60-day renewable listings) and professional dealers (unlimited listings with custom pricing). Payment processing integrates PayPal, major credit cards, and SEPA direct debit for transaction completion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classic Trader Online Marketplace International online marketplace where private sellers and professional dealers list classic cars and motorcycles for sale via fixed-price (buy-it-now), auction, or submit-offer formats, with multi-currency and multi-language support and integrated payment processing.
- Classic Vehicle Auctions Auction format on the Classic Trader marketplace allowing sellers to list classic cars and motorcycles for timed bidding, alongside fixed-price and submit-offer options.
- CT Inspections
Companies that use Classic Trader
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Classic Trader technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Classic Trader partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AVD (Automobile Veteranen Deutschland)minorPartnership with German classic car association AVD, featuring logo on the platform and cooperation on classic car events and standards.
- DOC (Deutscher Oldtimer Club)minorCooperation with German vintage car club Deutscher Oldtimer Club, featuring on the platform.
- TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbHcoreThird-party appraiser for CT Inspections expert opinions, providing qualified vehicle assessments for marketplace listings.
- FSP Schaden- und Wertgutachterdienst GmbHcoreThird-party appraiser organization for CT Inspections service, providing vehicle inspection and valuation services.
- HagertycoreClassic car insurance partner offering specialized coverage for vehicles listed on the marketplace. Linked from CT Insurance section.
- PayPalcorePayment processing partner enabling secure transactions for vehicle purchases on the platform.
- CT Services / CT Inspections / CT WarrantycoreInternal inspection and warranty services operated by Classic Trader, subcontracting qualified appraisers and insurance partners.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Classic Trader competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bonhams|Cars: International auction house with a dedicated motor cars division; competes with Classic Trader's auction channel for high-value classic vehicle transactions globally and in Europe.
- RM Sotheby's: Global collector car auction house serving the high end of the classic car market; comparable at the premium vehicle tier where Classic Trader also auctions six- and seven-figure vehicles.
- mobile.de: Germany's largest used vehicle marketplace, part of the Adevinta/eBay group; a broad incumbent that competes for the same German dealer supply and buyer demand as Classic Trader.
- AutoScout24: Pan-European general automotive marketplace with deep used-car listings including classics; broader incumbent that overlaps with Classic Trader's buyer pool but is not classic-specialist.
Direct peers
- Hemmings: Long-running US classic car marketplace and editorial brand with classifieds and auctions; closely comparable in combining collector-vehicle listings with magazine-style content marketing.
- Bring a Trailer: US-based online auction marketplace for collector cars with strong community and editorial content; the most direct comparable in classic/collector vehicle marketplace model, though focused on the US market.
- ClassicCars.com: Online marketplace dedicated to classic and collector vehicles with dealer and private listings across multiple geographies; a direct competitor in the classic vehicle classifieds category.
- Car & Classic: UK-headquartered online marketplace for classic cars and auctions, with significant European buyer reach and auction functionality — directly comparable in geography, product category and sales formats.
Regional players
- Oldtimer-galerie Toffen: Swiss-based classic car dealer and auction house; a regional auction player in the DACH region that overlaps with Classic Trader's higher-end inventory and auction use cases.
- Artcurial Motorcars: French-headquartered auction house with a motorcar division focused on European classics; a regional specialist that competes for the same French and continental collector audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Classic Trader social profiles
Digital presenceClassic Trader financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Classic Trader leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Classic Trader funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Classic Trader M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Classic Trader
What does Classic Trader do?
Classic Trader operates an international online marketplace that connects private sellers and professional dealers of classic cars and motorcycles with buyers worldwide. The platform supports three transaction formats — fixed-price (buy-it-now), auction, and submit-offer — and is complemented by ancillary services including CT Inspections (third-party vehicle appraisals) and CT Warranty (warranty brokerage).
Is Classic Trader a public or private company?
Classic Trader is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Classic Trader founded?
Classic Trader was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Classic Trader based?
Classic Trader is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Classic Trader make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sales Commission is the primary driver. The others are dealer Listing Fees, CT Inspections and CT Warranty.
Who are Classic Trader's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bonhams|Cars, RM Sotheby's, mobile.de and AutoScout24. Direct peers are Hemmings, Bring a Trailer, ClassicCars.com and Car & Classic. Regional players are Oldtimer-galerie Toffen and Artcurial Motorcars.
Does Classic Trader have an API?
No public API is recorded for Classic Trader.
What industry is Classic Trader in?
Classic Trader's product category is Online Classic Vehicle Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAGAO, Online Collectibles Marketplaces & Auction Retail. Its NAICS code is 441120.