Ellis HartFinding the best auction houses in Nashville opens up incredible opportunities to liquidate estate assets or buy vehicles far below retail pricing
The local bidding scene, though, moves quickly. Success often comes down to knowing where (and how) to participate. The right auction house can make the buying or selling process far more efficient and rewarding.
To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve explored Nashville’s leading in-person auction floors and digital simulcast platforms to identify where participants tend to find the strongest value and most reliable experiences.
Here’s a closer look at the top options in the city!
1. McLemore Auction Company, LLC
Website: https://www.mclemoreauction.com/
Address: 470 Woodycrest Ave
Contact: (615) 517-7675 / [email protected]
Hours: By appointment
McLemore Auction Company, LLC specializes in liquidating high-value assets through a turnkey, no-reserve auction model designed for larger estates and business closures.
They primarily handle sales exceeding $20,000. They manage everything from cataloging items to targeted marketing campaigns that help attract serious bidders.
I recently helped a family friend with a large estate liquidation, and the process felt surprisingly streamlined. The automated payment system, in particular, made things much easier.
One of the biggest advantages is how much of the logistics they take off the seller’s plate. Their team handles bidder communication, coordination, and even remote pickups.
However, the primarily online model is not perfect for everyone. Since there is no central showroom or regular browsing hours, casual buyers looking to inspect items will find the appointment-only setup quite restrictive.
The best I’ve ever encountered
How I wish all firms had the integrity of McLemore Auction. If there’s a problem, they immediately respond in a positive way. Their customer service might be the best I’ve ever encountered. This is the my highest recommendation. It truly is a pleasure doing business with this firm.
Ken Schulz, Google Review
Beyond our expectation
We used McLemore to liquidate our business and we were beyond impressed with their professionalism and ability to maximize the value of our assets. Wilson was our auction representative and his attention to detail and focus on the items was beyond our expectation. Highly recommend working with Wilson and McLemore for any future auction needs!
Kurt Strickmaker, Google Review
2. Bill Colson Auction & Realty
Website: https://www.colsonauctions.com/
Address: 2012 Beech Ave
Contact: 615-292-6619 / [email protected]
Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Bill Colson Auction & Realty focuses on maximizing returns quickly, backed by more than 40 years of experience in the Tennessee market. They operate as a one-stop solution for both real estate sales and high-volume public auto auctions.
They use a hybrid simulcast format that connects in-person bidders with online participants. The overall process feels more tailored than rigid, with strategies shaped around each seller’s specific goals rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Their frequent vehicle auctions also make them a familiar name among both local buyers and dealers, which helps drive consistent participation.
That said, the financial structure is something to pay close attention to. The 15% buyer’s premium can noticeably increase the final cost for buyers.
All sales are conducted strictly “as-is” too, meaning there are no warranties or safety nets once the hammer falls.
10 out of 10
I have bought dozens of cars here and these guys do a great job. The fact they built the car auction business in Tn says a lot. Go and watch the first time then once you learn how it works then buy. It ain’t the auctioneers fault if the car has an issue. The people who use their car title for a loan typically don’t do a great job taking car of their cars.
I would give the sale process 10 out of 10
Charles Kildgore, Google Review
So knowledgeable and wonderful to work with!
Highly recommend Bill Colson Auction & Realty! Family owned, local company that has been in the business in Nashville for DECADES. They are so knowledgeable and wonderful to work with!
Holly Williams, Google Review
3. Auto Auctions Inc
Website: https://www.colsonauctions.com/auto-auctions/
Address: 100 Auction Way
Contact: 615-262-5455
Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 3:45 PM
Auto Auctions Incorporated (Inc) gives everyday buyers a rare chance to access wholesale vehicle pricing without needing a dealer license.
The setup feels more open than traditional dealer-only auctions. The steady flow of high-volume inventory also makes it a consistent option for shoppers in the used-car market.
The process is also fairly structured, which helps reduce the confusion that sometimes comes with auction-style buying.
One thing that stands out is the opportunity to inspect vehicles before bidding begins. That viewing window helps balance some of the risk, especially when you are evaluating cars at wholesale prices.
Still, the rules are strict once bidding starts. Every sale is final, and bids become fully binding the moment the gavel drops.
If a mechanical issue is missed during inspection, there’s no option to renegotiate or back out. We recommend hiring a reliable mechanic from an auto repair shop to make sure the car is in great condition.
Will be returning to see what other treasures that I can find
(Note this was my first visit to this auction)
This was a great day at the auction for me. I came in with 1500 and left with two nice cars and a couple of miscellaneous items from an estate sale. Overall I would recommend and I will be returning to see what other treasures that I can find
Lakresha Patterson, Google Review
Favorite place to buy a vehicle
Favorite place to buy a vehicle, but the sellers are asking extremely high prices lately for vehicles that would be considered junk. Though it’s the sellers and not the auctions fault. Your better off paying a down payment at a used car lot, than paying $500 for a “no run” junk car!
Mobile Car Wash Corp, Google Review
4. IAA Nashville
Website: https://www.iaai.com/locations/753
Address: 3896 Stewarts Ln.
Contact: 615-742-0006
Hours: Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (CT)
Sourcing total-loss and repairable vehicles requires a massive network, which is exactly what Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) Nashville delivers.
This global digital marketplace specializes heavily in salvage vehicles, connecting local supply with an advanced digital bidding platform.
One of our researchers actually used their interface last year to track down a heavily discounted project car. He shared that the integrated transport logistics made the delivery process incredibly smooth.
What’s even better is that they host regular Thursday events. That means there are consistent opportunities to find undervalued fleet or repossessed units.
While the pricing potential easily undercuts traditional dealerships, the inherent risks are exceptionally high. A large portion of their supply consists of severely damaged units that require extensive repairs, meaning buyers must be extremely cautious.
Great place for pros doing business here.
Great place for pros doing business here. Most of the complaints i saw are not relative to the auction, keys are cabled to the columns, personal property is removed by towing companies that delivers there. Reality check:There would be no auctions if people didn’t crash, leave their keys in it while running and or paid their notes!
Rick “Wireman” Macgyver, Google Review
Willing to go out of their way
We Buy cars from this branch all the time and they have never given us any issue, the ladies up front are beyond nice to me and my crew and are willing to go out of their way to help in any way they can, will keep doing business with them for a long time for sure.
Genesis Motors, Google Review
5. A-Stock (West Nashville)
Website: https://a-stock.bid/
Address: 7145 Centennial Blvd
Contact: Not indicated
Hours: Scheduled Thursday and Friday pickups
Hunting for extreme bargains takes on a new level of excitement when every single item starts at just one dollar. A-Stock sources bulk overstock and closeout goods from major retailers, turning seasonal inventory into highly accessible discount opportunities.
Their automated platform lets you bid digitally throughout the week, then head to their West Nashville hub for final collection.
The rotating inventory spans everything from electronics to home goods, offering a refreshing break from the usual automotive bidding floors.
Despite the thrill of the digital checkout, the physical collection process leaves much to be desired.
Since they strictly enforce a local-pickup-only policy, out-of-state deal hunters are completely out of luck. The local facility also frequently suffers from long lines.
Knowledgeable, patient and very dedicated
This is a great auction company and super easy. However I’m leaving this review for an agent named Marybeth that helped me. She went above and beyond to fix my problem when I needed it. She was knowledgeable, patient and very dedicated to helping me. I wish more agents in the customer service arena were as great as her and the org is lucky to have her and she is a testament to the companies training. Thank you!
Elisa Hightower, Google Review
Abundance of products and an extremely helpful team
THE BEST ONLINE AUCTION IN NASHVILLE. Very good deals on an abundance of products and an extremely helpful team of people employees. Straight-forward process and transparent terms and conditions. Will be bidding again!
Pat Yuri, Google Review
