What RM Sotheby's does

RM Sotheby's is the world's largest collector car auction house, operating as a privately held subsidiary of Sotheby's, Inc. (which is majority-owned by a Patrick Drahi-led consortium with ADQ sovereign wealth fund backing). Founded in 1976 as RM Auctions in Canada, the company rebranded to RM Sotheby's after partnering with Sotheby's in the 2010s and now conducts live, sealed, and private auctions of rare collector automobiles at prestigious venues globally, including Monterey Car Week, The Biltmore Hotel (ModaMiami), Woodcote Park with The Royal Automobile Club, Gut Kaltenbrunn with Concours of Elegance Germany, and events in Zurich, Munich, London, and Abu Dhabi.

The business model is transaction-fee driven. RM Sotheby's charges a seller's commission of 10% plus VAT on motor car lots (20% on non-motor car items) and a buyer's premium ranging from 10-15% depending on auction location and hammer price tier. Ancillary revenue streams include RM Sotheby's Financial Services (acquisition financing, consignment advances up to 60% of estimated hammer price, equity release), appraisals and valuations, private sales, title administration, and affiliated restoration and machining services through RM Auto Restoration and RM Precision Machine Works. The technology platform combines a digital auction system with real-time live bidding, an online catalog, sealed bidding workflows, and BitPay-integrated cryptocurrency payment processing. Distribution is anchored by a global team of car specialists working directly with HNW consignors and buyers, supplemented by strategic partnerships with Lockton/Chubb (insurance), Singer (restomods), McLaren Racing (motorsport), and Sotheby's Concierge Auctions (luxury real estate crossover).

RM Sotheby's served a 2025 market characterized by cooling from 2021-2023 highs, yet the company reported over $1 billion in 2025 sales with a 92% sell-through rate. January 2026 auctions generated $678 million (a 52% year-over-year increase), with the average sale price rising 71% to $144,161. Headcount is reported at 51-100 employees, concentrated across offices in Blenheim (Canada), Auburn (US), Richmond (UK), and event-driven locations in Detroit, Miami, Tegernsee, Epsom, Zurich, Munich, and London.

Name

RM Sotheby's

Legal name

RM Auctions, Inc. d.b.a. RM Sotheby's

Website

https://rmsothebys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RM Sotheby's is the world's largest collector car auction house, conducting live, sealed, and private sales of rare automobiles at premier global venues for ultra-high-net-worth collectors and investors, with ancillary financing, appraisal, restoration, and insurance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collector Car Auction Services

NAICS

Motorcycle, Boat, and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (44122)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Vehicle Auctions (Physical & Online) (TLABAKAA)

Keywords

• Collector car auctions
• Classic car auctions
• Collector car financing
• Vehicle appraisal services
• Classic car restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Blenheim

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Auction Commissions - Seller's Commission: RM Sotheby's charges a seller's commission of 10% plus VAT on all motor car lots sold at auction, and 20% plus VAT on non-motor car lots including memorabilia, motorcycles, boats, and parts.
2. Auction Commissions - Buyer's Premium: Buyers pay a premium on top of the hammer price: 12% on the first $250,000 for US auctions, 15% on the first €200,000/£200,000 for European/UK auctions, with reduced rates for amounts above those thresholds. Memorabilia and non-auto items carry 20% premium.
3. Financial Services - Consignment Advances: RMSFS provides acquisition financing, consignment advances (up to 60% of estimated hammer price), and equity release services for collector car owners, generating interest income and fees.
4. Appraisal and Valuation Services: Valuations and appraisals for collector cars, estates, and collections, with dedicated team including Eugene Robertson, Director of Appraisals and Estate Planning.
5. Private Sales: Discreet private sale services for collectors seeking confidential transactions outside of public auction formats.
6. Title and Administrative Services: Title transfer management, particularly for US state titling, with administrative fees ($75 USD per motor car lot, $85 in California) for processing title reassignments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RM Sotheby's auctions rare, historic, and high-value collector automobiles through live events at premier global venues, sealed online auctions, and discreet off-market private sales. The firm earns revenue via seller's commissions (10% + VAT on motor cars, 20% + VAT on non-motor car lots) and a tiered buyer's premium that varies by jurisdiction, supplemented by acquisition financing, consignment advances, valuations, restoration, and auction administration services.

Product overview

RM Sotheby's operates as the world's largest collector car auction house, offering a comprehensive platform for buying and selling high-value vehicles through multiple sale formats. The core offering includes Live Auctions at prestigious global venues, Sealed Auctions for confidential bidding, and Private Sales for off-market transactions. Supporting services include RM Sotheby's Financial Services (acquisition financing, consignment advances, equity release), Appraisals and Valuations, plus RM Auto Restoration and RM Precision Machine Works for vehicle care. The company also hosts experiential events like ModaMiami, combining automotive lifestyle with auction sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RM Sotheby's Financial Services: Bespoke financing solutions for high-end collector car owners, including acquisition financing, consignment advances, and equity release services.
• RM Auto Restoration
• RM Precision Machine Works

Products and services

• Classic Car Auctions Live collector car auctions held at premier global venues including Monterey, London, Munich, Zurich, Tegernsee, Epsom/Woodcote Park, Hershey, and Miami, where vehicles are sold to the highest bidder through competitive live bidding. Targeted at ultra-high-net-worth collectors of rare, historic, and investment-grade automobiles.
• Sealed Auctions A special sale series featuring curated lots with sealed bidding where buyers submit confidential offers and bidding closes on specific dates. Includes online catalog with lot details and pre-approval-based bidding access.
• Private Sales Discreet, off-market transactions for high-value collector vehicles where RM Sotheby's facilitates buying and selling outside the public auction format. Includes a private sales inventory portal, recently sold archive, and a discreet sourcing request workflow for collectors seeking confidential transactions.
• RM Sotheby's Financial Services Bespoke financing solutions for high-end collector car owners, including acquisition financing, consignment advances up to 60% of the estimated hammer price, and equity release on single cars or collections, backed by real-time valuations.
• Appraisals and Valuations Expert vehicle valuation services providing precise market assessments for collectors seeking to understand asset value, insurance coverage, or estate planning needs. Delivered by a dedicated team led by the Director of Appraisals and Estate Planning.
• RM Auto Restoration Full-service classic car restoration delivering concours-quality craftsmanship to return collector vehicles to their original condition or better.
• RM Precision Machine Works Precision machining services supporting restoration and maintenance of collector vehicles with specialized manufacturing capabilities.
• ModaMiami Annual premier automotive lifestyle event in South Florida combining world-class collector automobiles with luxury experiences. Includes an RM Sotheby's auction, hospitality, and community engagement at The Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables, in partnership with Sotheby's Concierge Auctions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 billion in 2025 sales with 92% sell-through rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and preferred.

• Sotheby's Concierge AuctionsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 March 2026Second annual ModaMiami partnership combining luxury real estate auctions with collector automobiles at The Biltmore Hotel Miami - Coral Gables. Achieved white-glove results with 100% lots sold and over $200 million in aggregate bids. Builds on inaugural 2025 event that generated over $75 million from buyers across 11 US states.
• LocktoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Lockton, the world's largest independent insurance broker, partnered with RM Sotheby's to offer tailored insurance solutions for collectors of high-value assets including classic and collector cars. Underwriting provided by Chubb. Partnership combines Lockton's specialist broker expertise with Chubb's global underwriting capabilities to serve the high-net-worth collector market globally.
• 1000 Miglia Experience FloridaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2025Partnership to stage special car showcase during ModaMiami at Miami Car Week, featuring vehicles registered for the 1000 Miglia rally. Event runs February 20-23, 2026 across multiple stages in Florida with public access.
• McLaren RacingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2025Historic partnership to auction three future McLaren race cars in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025 - first time an F1 car offered publicly before official debut. Cars include 2026 Formula 1 car, 2026 NTT IndyCar Series entry, and McLaren's inaugural 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship entry. Combined value exceeding $78 million. Sale supports McLaren's effort to reclaim the motorsport Triple Crown.
• SingerpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 August 2025Singer, a California-based luxury car restoration company specializing in Porsche 911s, named RM Sotheby's as preferred partner for secondary market sales of restored Porsche 911 Reimagined vehicles globally. RM Sotheby's facilitates buying and selling through their global auction and private sales network.
• The Royal Automobile ClubflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Royal Automobile Club for Woodcote Park auction event in Epsom, Surrey. Auction forms central element of the Club's concours at Woodcote Park, one of Britain's most established motoring institutions.
• CARS WorldwidecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesignated logistics partner for vehicle collection and transport. Handles removal to secure storage, shipping arrangements, and customs formalities for purchased lots across auction locations.
• MenaklarscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesignated logistics partner for Tegernsee auction location, handling memorabilia lots storage, packaging and shipping services in Ingolstadt region.
• Concours of Elegance GermanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Tegernsee Auction held at Gut Kaltenbrunn in Bavaria. Second annual live auction set within one of Europe's most refined concours settings, drawing international audience of collectors.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coys (Manheim Company): UK-based classic and collector car auction house running scheduled London and international sales; niche comparability on the European side with similar boutique event format.
• Bonhams: Global auction house running marquee collector car sales (Scottsdale, Goodwood, Paris) overlapping directly with RM Sotheby's core live-auction business; comparable take-rate model and HNW collector base.
• Artcurial: French auction house with a dedicated collector car department running Paris flagship sales; directly comparable European boutique offering to RM Sotheby's Tegernsee, Paris and Monaco events.
• Gooding & Company: US-based collector car auctioneer best known for Pebble Beach sales; competes head-to-head with RM Sotheby's at the Monterey Car Week apex for high-end consignments.
• H&H Classics: UK-based classic car auction house running regular live and online sales; comparable to RM Sotheby's UK operations in terms of catalog overlap and target collector demographic.
• Mecum Auctions: Largest collector car auction company by volume; runs Kissimmee, Scottsdale, Indianapolis directly against RM Sotheby's January Florida/Arizona schedule, competing for the broader mid-to-high collector segment.

Emerging players

• Bring a Trailer: Digital-first collector car marketplace with strong auction format; overlaps with RM Sotheby's online and sealed bidding channels and is reshaping collector buying behavior toward online channels.

Broad incumbents

• Sotheby's (parent broader auction business): Parent organization and brand licensor; while not a peer in collector cars, the broader luxury auction platform creates cross-sell for fine art, watches, and luxury goods adjacent to RM Sotheby's HNW clients.
• Barrett-Jackson: Long-established US collector car auction brand focused on Scottsdale and broadcast-led live event format; broader-spectrum offering but overlapping consignor and bidder base at the upper end of the muscle/car collector segment.
• Christie's: Global luxury auction house with an established collector car department; broader portfolio (art, watches, jewelry) but directly competes for HNW consignments and auction-date share in cities like London and Geneva.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rmsothebys
• Facebookfacebook.com/RMAuctions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/263037

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RM Sotheby's