Legal & Compliance

Legal & Compliance Center

Carbon Key Collective operates a premium collector marketplace, auction house, brokerage, concierge, financing, and advisory platform. Our legal framework is designed to protect buyers, sellers, collectors, consignors, and members.

Last Updated: October 11, 2026  ·  Version 3.1

Legal Document Center

Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyMembership AgreementAuction RulesSeller GuideBuyer GuideConsignment AgreementEscrow AgreementFinancing DisclosuresAML/KYC PolicyCookie PolicyRisk Disclosures

General Terms of Service

By accessing or using The Carbon Key Collective platform ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the Service. The Carbon Key Collective ("Company", "we", "us", or "our") operates a luxury marketplace connecting high-net-worth individuals with authenticated premium assets, auction services, brokerage, financing, and concierge support.

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding contracts.
  • Certain features require identity and financial verification; we reserve the right to decline service at our sole discretion.
  • Business entities may participate subject to additional verification requirements.
  • Residency and regulatory restrictions may apply in certain jurisdictions.

Account Responsibilities

  • Provide accurate, complete, and current registration information at all times.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials and access codes.
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized account access or security breach.
  • You are fully responsible for all activities occurring under your account.
  • Accounts are non-transferable and may not be shared or sold.

Auction House Rules

All auctions conducted through Carbon Key Collective are governed by these binding rules. Participation constitutes acceptance of all terms below.

Reserve & No-Reserve Auctions

  • Reserve auctions include a confidential minimum price the seller must accept. The reserve status ('Reserve Not Met' / 'Reserve Met') will be displayed publicly.
  • No-reserve auctions carry no minimum; the highest bid wins unconditionally regardless of final price.
  • Reserve prices are never disclosed to bidders prior to the auction's conclusion.
  • Sellers may not place bids on their own reserve auctions at any time.

Bidding Rules

  • All bids are legally binding commitments to purchase at the stated price plus applicable buyer premiums.
  • Bid retractions are prohibited once submitted; bids may only be withdrawn in cases of documented clerical error and require written approval from Carbon Key.
  • Proxy (auto-bid) functionality increases your bid incrementally to your stated maximum. Your maximum is never revealed publicly.
  • Minimum bid increments are enforced at all times and may vary by current bid tier.
  • Carbon Key reserves the right to reject bids from unverified or suspended accounts without notice.

Soft Close & Extension Rules

  • Auctions employ a soft-close mechanism: any bid placed within the final 2 minutes extends the auction by 2 additional minutes.
  • There is no cap on the number of extensions triggered by legitimate competitive bidding.
  • Extension timestamps are publicly displayed in real time.

Shill Bidding — Strictly Prohibited

Shill bidding — the practice of placing artificial bids to inflate prices, whether by the seller, associates, or coordinated third parties — is strictly prohibited and constitutes fraud. Violators will be permanently banned, and transactions may be voided. Carbon Key reserves the right to report such activity to appropriate authorities.

Winning Bidder Obligations

  • The winning bidder must remit a 10% good-faith deposit within 24 hours of auction close.
  • Full payment is due within 5 business days unless alternate arrangements are approved in writing.
  • Non-payment within the required window may result in account suspension, forfeiture of any deposit, and permanent bidding prohibition.
  • Buyer premiums (typically 5%) are added to the winning bid and are non-negotiable.
  • Winning bidders are responsible for arranging and funding transportation/shipping unless otherwise specified.

Seller Obligations in Auctions

  • Sellers must provide accurate, complete, and truthful descriptions. Material misrepresentation may void the transaction.
  • The vehicle or asset must be available, unencumbered by undisclosed liens, and deliverable at time of sale.
  • Sellers must cooperate fully with buyer inspection requests made within the stated inspection window.
  • If a reserve auction ends with the reserve unmet, the seller is not obligated to sell but may negotiate directly.
  • Seller commissions are deducted from the final sale price as disclosed in the listing agreement.

Auction Cancellation & Dispute

  • Carbon Key reserves the right to cancel any auction at any time in cases of fraud, misrepresentation, legal conflict, or technical error.
  • Auction-specific disputes must be submitted in writing within 72 hours of auction close.
  • Carbon Key's decision in auction disputes is final and binding, subject only to binding arbitration.

Buyer Terms

  • Buyers are solely responsible for conducting independent due diligence on all assets prior to purchase.
  • Carbon Key provides appraisal data and intelligence reports for informational purposes only — not as guarantees of condition or value.
  • Buyers are encouraged to arrange professional pre-purchase inspections; Carbon Key can facilitate these through its concierge service.
  • All sales are final unless fraud or material misrepresentation by the seller is established.
  • Buyers must comply with all applicable laws regarding vehicle registration, import, export, and taxation in their jurisdiction.
  • Carbon Key is not liable for any defects, undisclosed damages, or condition issues discovered after purchase.
  • Buyer protection programs are available for eligible transactions — contact concierge for details.

Seller Terms

  • Sellers must hold clear title to all listed assets or have explicit written authorization to sell on behalf of the owner.
  • All listing descriptions, photographs, and supporting documentation must be accurate and complete.
  • Sellers must disclose all known defects, accident history, title issues, liens, and outstanding obligations.
  • Sellers agree to honor all transactions completed through the platform at the accepted price.
  • Seller commissions and platform fees apply as disclosed in the seller's listing agreement or membership terms.
  • Sellers are prohibited from directing buyers to complete transactions outside the Carbon Key platform.
  • Fraudulent or misrepresented listings may result in immediate account termination and legal action.
  • Sellers are responsible for accurate tax reporting on all proceeds from sales.

Consignment Terms

Carbon Key Collective accepts consignments of qualifying collector vehicles and luxury assets subject to the following terms.

Submission & Acceptance

  • All consignment submissions are subject to Carbon Key's evaluation and acceptance at its sole discretion.
  • Submission does not guarantee listing acceptance. Carbon Key maintains curatorial standards for all assets on platform.
  • Consignors must provide complete documentation including title, service records, provenance materials, and supporting documentation.
  • Ownership must be unencumbered — all liens, loans, and encumbrances must be disclosed and resolved prior to listing.

Inspection, Photography & Marketing Rights

  • Carbon Key reserves the right to conduct or require a professional pre-consignment inspection at consignor's expense.
  • By submitting a consignment, the consignor grants Carbon Key a non-exclusive license to photograph, film, and market the asset across all channels.
  • Carbon Key's marketing team may create editorial content, social media posts, and paid advertisements featuring the asset.
  • Consignors retain ownership until a binding sale is executed.

Commission & Payment

  • Commission rates are disclosed in the individual consignment agreement prior to listing.
  • Payment to consignors is remitted within 10 business days of cleared buyer funds, net of commission and any applicable fees.
  • Consignors requesting early withdrawal of a listed asset may be subject to a withdrawal fee.

Withdrawal Policy

  • Consignors may request withdrawal of an active listing with 48 hours written notice.
  • Withdrawal is not permitted once a binding auction bid has been placed or a purchase agreement has been executed.
  • Early withdrawal fees apply as specified in the consignment agreement.

Membership Terms

Carbon Key Collective offers multiple membership tiers. Membership benefits, limitations, and obligations are defined herein.

Membership Tiers

  • Free Membership: Basic marketplace access, limited saved searches, standard response times.
  • Enthusiast+: Enhanced search, price alerts, early auction notifications, priority inquiry routing.
  • Collector Elite: Full concierge access, private sales invitations, advanced appraisal tools, dedicated advisor.
  • Black Key (Invitation Only): Bespoke services, private reserve access, global sourcing, direct principal access.
  • Future tiers and benefits may be introduced; members will be notified in advance.

Cancellation & Refunds

  • Paid memberships may be cancelled at any time via the member portal; access continues until the end of the paid period.
  • No refunds are issued for partial subscription periods unless required by applicable law.
  • Annual membership cancellations within 14 days of initial purchase may be eligible for a prorated refund.

Account Suspension & Misuse

  • Membership may be suspended or terminated for violations of these Terms, Code of Conduct, or any applicable law.
  • Suspended members forfeit access to all member benefits without refund.
  • Sharing membership credentials, account access, or benefits with non-members is strictly prohibited.

Benefits Disclaimer

  • Concierge service availability is subject to demand, staffing, and partner availability. Response time targets are aspirational and not guaranteed.
  • Event invitations, private sale access, and exclusive asset previews are subject to availability and may be limited.
  • Carbon Key reserves the right to modify membership benefits with 30 days' notice.

Brokerage & Acquisition Services

Carbon Key's acquisition and brokerage team provides sourcing, representation, and transaction facilitation services for qualified collectors.

  • Off-market sourcing and vehicle searches are conducted on a best-efforts basis. No guarantee of finding a specific asset is implied or offered.
  • Brokerage representation fees apply and will be disclosed in advance in a written engagement letter.
  • Negotiation services are provided to facilitate — not guarantee — favorable transaction terms.
  • Carbon Key may coordinate pre-purchase inspections with third-party specialists; associated fees are the client's responsibility.
  • Transport coordination, including cross-border logistics, customs brokerage, and import/export facilitation, is provided as a service arrangement with licensed partners.
  • International sourcing and acquisition involves regulatory compliance in multiple jurisdictions; clients are responsible for their own legal and tax obligations.
  • Carbon Key does not guarantee acquisition of any specific asset. All sourcing efforts are subject to seller cooperation, market availability, and pricing alignment.
  • Carbon Key may receive compensation from sellers, auction houses, or partners in connection with brokered transactions. Full disclosure is provided upon request.

Financing Disclaimer

Important: Carbon Key Collective is not a lender, bank, credit institution, or financial advisor. Financing options presented on this platform are facilitated through independent third-party lending partners. Carbon Key earns referral compensation from some lending partners.
  • Carbon Key Collective is not a licensed lender and does not underwrite, fund, or service any loans.
  • Financing applications are submitted to and underwritten by independent third-party lending partners.
  • Loan approvals, rates, terms, and conditions are determined solely by the lending partner based on their underwriting criteria.
  • Advertised rates are for qualified borrowers only; your rate may differ materially based on creditworthiness, collateral, and market conditions.
  • Pre-qualification estimates are not commitments to lend and do not constitute formal loan approval.
  • Carbon Key makes no representation or guarantee that financing will be approved for any applicant.
  • Clients are encouraged to independently compare financing options from multiple sources.
  • All financing decisions, risks, and obligations are solely between the borrower and the lending institution.

Concierge Services

Carbon Key Concierge provides facilitation services across luxury lifestyle, asset acquisition, and high-net-worth client support.

Services Covered

  • Travel planning, luxury accommodation, and private aviation arrangement.
  • Yacht charter coordination and private maritime experiences.
  • Real estate introductions and luxury property access requests.
  • Rare luxury goods sourcing including watches, art, jewelry, and collectibles.
  • Collector vehicle sourcing, delivery coordination, and storage introductions.
  • Private event access, cultural experiences, and curated collector gatherings.
  • Bespoke lifestyle requests evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Concierge services are facilitation services only. Carbon Key does not guarantee availability, pricing, quality, or outcome of any third-party service arranged through the Concierge. Carbon Key is not liable for acts or omissions of service providers engaged on behalf of clients. All third-party bookings are subject to those providers' own terms and conditions.

Appraisal Intelligence Disclaimer

Appraisal data, valuation estimates, market intelligence reports, collector scores, and investment analysis provided by Carbon Key Collective are for informational and reference purposes only. Nothing herein constitutes financial advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a guarantee of future value.
  • All valuations are estimates based on comparable market data, condition assessments, and algorithmic modeling. Actual transaction values may differ materially.
  • Collector vehicle values are subject to market fluctuation, condition changes, economic factors, and buyer/seller demand — all of which are outside Carbon Key's control.
  • Past transaction prices do not guarantee future appreciation or depreciation.
  • Appraisal data should not be used as the sole basis for significant financial or acquisition decisions.
  • Users are strongly encouraged to obtain independent professional appraisals before committing to transactions exceeding their financial comfort level.
  • Carbon Key disclaims all liability arising from reliance on appraisal data, intelligence scores, or market estimates provided on this platform.

Escrow & Payment Protection

Carbon Key facilitates escrow arrangements for qualifying transactions to protect both buyers and sellers.

  • Escrow services are provided through licensed third-party escrow partners. Carbon Key does not directly hold client funds.
  • Buyer funds are held in escrow until all agreed inspection, verification, and delivery conditions are satisfied.
  • Wire transfers are the required payment method for transactions exceeding $10,000 USD.
  • Identity verification (KYC) and source of funds documentation may be required for high-value transactions in compliance with AML regulations.
  • Transaction monitoring systems are in place; unusual activity may trigger a compliance review and temporary hold.
  • Chargebacks, payment reversals, or stop payments on cleared transactions will be treated as material breach and may result in legal action.
  • Carbon Key implements fraud prevention protocols including device fingerprinting, IP monitoring, and behavioral analysis.
  • Disputed escrow releases require written documentation and are subject to Carbon Key's dispute resolution process.

Collector Asset Risk Disclosures

Investing in or acquiring collector assets — including automobiles, watches, art, real estate, and luxury goods — involves significant financial risk. The following disclosures are provided in the interest of full transparency.
  • Collector vehicles and luxury assets may appreciate or depreciate significantly based on market conditions, cultural trends, economic factors, and condition changes.
  • Past appreciation of specific models, makes, or asset classes does not guarantee future performance.
  • Liquidity varies significantly by asset type. Certain collector vehicles or rare assets may take months or years to sell at desired prices.
  • Ownership costs including insurance, storage, maintenance, restoration, registration, and import duties may be substantial and should be factored into acquisition decisions.
  • Market conditions, including global economic events, supply/demand shifts, regulatory changes, and cultural trends, may materially affect asset values.
  • Carbon Key provides market intelligence as informational data only — not as investment, financial, or legal advice.
  • Buyers and sellers should consult independent financial and legal advisors before executing significant transactions.
  • Carbon Key accepts no liability for financial losses arising from collector asset transactions, value changes, or market conditions.

International Transactions

  • Carbon Key facilitates international transactions and global asset sourcing. Clients are solely responsible for compliance with the laws of their jurisdiction.
  • Import and export of vehicles and luxury goods is subject to the regulations of origin and destination countries. Clients bear full responsibility for obtaining necessary permits and approvals.
  • Customs duties, VAT, import taxes, luxury levies, and all related fees are the exclusive responsibility of the importing party.
  • Vehicle registration, homologation, and roadworthiness compliance in the destination country is the buyer's responsibility.
  • Carbon Key may coordinate relationships with customs brokers and freight forwarders as a convenience service only; these engagements are directly between the client and the third party.
  • Currency exchange risks are borne entirely by the transacting parties. Carbon Key quotes prices in USD unless otherwise specified.
  • Sanctioned jurisdictions: Carbon Key does not facilitate transactions involving individuals, entities, or jurisdictions subject to OFAC or international sanctions.

Privacy & Data Protection

  • Account data including name, email, contact information, and preferences is collected to provide platform services.
  • Transaction data including purchase history, bid activity, and payment records is retained for compliance and service improvement.
  • Financial information is processed through PCI-compliant payment processors. Carbon Key does not store full card numbers.
  • Identity verification documents submitted for KYC compliance are stored securely and used solely for regulatory and fraud prevention purposes.
  • Cookies and analytics tools track platform usage to improve user experience and serve relevant content.
  • Data is not sold to third parties. It may be shared with service partners (inspection, transport, escrow, financing) necessary to fulfill your requests.
  • Security measures include encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and regular security audits.
  • Users may request data access, correction, or deletion subject to legal retention obligations. Contact privacy@carbonkeycollective.com.

Carbon Key Code of Conduct

All participants in the Carbon Key ecosystem — buyers, sellers, consignors, bidders, and members — are bound by the following conduct standards.

Prohibited Conduct

  • Fraud of any kind — including misrepresentation of identity, asset condition, ownership, or provenance.
  • Shill bidding, phantom bidding, or any form of bid manipulation.
  • Market manipulation including coordinated price suppression or artificial bid inflation.
  • Abusive, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory behavior toward any platform participant.
  • False representations in listings, inquiries, offers, or communications.
  • Submission or use of counterfeit documentation including titles, service records, or appraisals.
  • Misrepresentation of ownership, lien status, or encumbrances on listed assets.
  • Circumventing platform fees or conducting off-platform transactions with parties introduced through Carbon Key.
  • Unauthorized access attempts, scraping, reverse engineering, or technical exploitation of the platform.
Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in immediate account suspension, transaction voiding, forfeiture of deposits, reporting to law enforcement, and civil legal action. Carbon Key maintains a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and market manipulation.

Dispute Resolution

  • Any disputes arising from these Terms or use of the Service shall first be submitted to Carbon Key's internal resolution process.
  • Disputes must be submitted in writing to legal@carbonkeycollective.com within 30 days of the triggering event.
  • Carbon Key will make a good-faith effort to resolve disputes within 15 business days of submission.
  • If internal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration under AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules.
  • Arbitration shall be conducted in New York, New York, governed by New York law, without regard to conflict of law principles.
  • By using this platform, you waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits related to Carbon Key services.
  • Nothing in this section limits Carbon Key's right to seek injunctive relief in cases of imminent harm, fraud, or intellectual property violations.

Legal Inquiries
legal@carbonkeycollective.com

Terms, compliance, disputes

Privacy Requests
privacy@carbonkeycollective.com

Data access, deletion, GDPR

Registered Address

The Carbon Key Collective, Inc.

123 Luxury Lane, Suite 5000

New York, NY 10001

Attorney Notice: These Terms of Service are provided as a framework. Carbon Key Collective strongly recommends retaining qualified legal counsel to review and customize all legal documents prior to launch, particularly with respect to auction law, UCC Article 2 applicability, state-specific dealer regulations, lending compliance, and international transaction obligations.

Version 3.1  ·  Effective October 11, 2026  ·  © 2024 The Carbon Key Collective, Inc.

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