Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business

Nature of Business – ACV Auctions Inc. (“the Company” or "ACV") was formed on December 31, 2014. The Company operates in one industry segment, providing a digital wholesale auction marketplace (the “Marketplace”) to facilitate business-to-business used vehicle sales between a selling dealership (“Seller”) and a buying dealership (“Buyer”). Customers using the Marketplace are licensed automotive dealerships or other commercial automotive enterprises. At the election of the customer purchasing a vehicle, the Company can arrange third-party transportation services for the delivery of the purchased vehicle through its wholly owned subsidiary, ACV Transportation LLC. The Company can also provide the customer financing for the purchased vehicle through its wholly owned subsidiary, ACV Capital LLC. ACV also provides data services that offer insights into the condition and value of used vehicles for transactions both on and off the Company's Marketplace, which help dealerships, their end customers, and commercial partners make more informed decisions to transact with confidence and efficiency. Customers using data services are licensed automotive dealerships or other commercial automotive enterprises. All services are provided in the United States and certain data services are also provided internationally. Services are supported by the Company’s operations which are in the United States, Canada and France.

Basis of Consolidation

Basis of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ACV Auctions Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Preparation

Basis of Preparation – The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Management Estimates

Management Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and these differences may be material. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, allowance for doubtful receivables, contingent consideration, fair value of guarantees, impairment of goodwill, loss estimates related to guarantee claims, fair value and useful lives of acquired intangible assets, fair value of stock consideration, and accounting for income taxes, including the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets

Initial Public Offering

Initial Public Offering – On March 26, 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering (“IPO”), in which the Company issued and sold 16,550,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a public offering price of $25.00 per share, which resulted in net proceeds of $388.9 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. On March 26, 2021, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 2,482,500 shares of Class A common stock at $25.00 per share from selling stockholders identified in the Prospectus. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of any shares of Class A common stock by the selling stockholders upon such exercise. Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, all shares of common stock then outstanding were reclassified as Class B common stock and all shares of the convertible preferred stock then outstanding automatically converted into 115,269,221 shares of Class B common stock.

Prior to the IPO, deferred issuance costs, which consist of direct incremental legal, accounting, and consulting fees relating to the IPO, were capitalized in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Upon the consummation of the IPO, $3.9 million of net deferred issuance costs were reclassified into stockholders’ equity as an offset against IPO proceeds.

Emerging Growth Company Status

Emerging Growth Company Status – We became a large accelerated filer as of December 31, 2022 because the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700 million as of June 30, 2022. We were previously an emerging growth company. As an emerging growth company, we could take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, extended transition period to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards. We can no longer avail ourselves of these exemptions and are now required to comply with the standards and compliance dates for large accelerated filers.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting – Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The CODM is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The CEO reviews the financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating the Company’s financial performance. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in a single reporting segment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all highly liquid instruments originally purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Included within Cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are restricted cash balances of $0.7 million at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Receivables

Receivables – Trade receivables include the price of the auctioned vehicle and fees due for services. Trade receivables are recorded net of the allowance for doubtful receivables at net realizable value. Trade receivables are due either upon the close of an auction, or upon the delivery of title from the Seller to the Company, depending on the terms agreed with the customer.

Finance receivables represent amounts borrowed by Buyers selecting to finance the purchase of an auctioned vehicle and related fees and are collateralized by the auctioned vehicle. Finance receivables are recorded net of the allowance for credit losses. Finance receivables are due upon maturity or upon the subsequent sale of the purchased vehicle, whichever comes first. Finance receivables are placed on nonaccrual status when principal or interest becomes delinquent, which is generally 31 days past due unless management determines that the finance receivable status clearly warrants other treatment. Nonaccrual finance receivables are returned to accrual status when all past due principal and interest payments have been paid by the borrower. While on nonaccrual status, interest is not recognized into income. Upon management’s determination of uncollectibility, such accounts are written off against the allowance for doubtful receivables.

For trade receivables and finance receivables, management considers factors such as age of the receivable, customer history, existing economic conditions, overall portfolio credit quality, and reasonable and supportable expectations about the future to estimate an allowance for doubtful receivables. Upon management’s determination of uncollectibility, such accounts are written off against the allowance for doubtful receivables.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and Equipment, net – Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Improvements are generally capitalized. The costs of maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the approximate economic useful lives of the assets. Depreciation of the cost of improvements to leased properties is made using the straight-line method based on the shorter of the estimated useful life or applicable lease period. The estimated useful lives of our property and equipment are generally as follows:

Computer equipment and devices	2-3 years
Inspection and trade show equipment	2-5 years
Furniture and fixtures	7 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of economic life or lease term

Internal-Use Software Costs, net

Internal-Use Software Costs, net – The Company capitalizes its internal-use software costs during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. This software is amortized, once it is placed into service, on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life, generally three years. The Company evaluates the useful lives of these assets on an annual basis, or more frequently when warranted.

Leases

Leases – The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases with a term greater than twelve months are included in Other assets and Other long-term liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has elected to account for operating leases with a term less than twelve months to be expensed as incurred. Short-term operating lease expenses were not material for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company’s operating leases have lease and non-lease components for which the Company has elected to apply the practical expedient and account for each lease component and related non-lease component as one single component. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company is unable to determine the lessor’s implicit rate and uses their incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at commencement date. An individual lease’s term may include an option to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term

Goodwill & Acquired Intangible Assets, net

Goodwill & Acquired Intangible Assets, net – Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Intangible assets that are not considered to have an indefinite useful life are amortized over their useful lives. The Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful lives of acquired intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is subject to an impairment test.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually as one singular reporting unit on October 1 or more frequently when an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company’s policy is to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it was more likely than not that the reporting unit's carrying value is less than its fair value, indicating the potential for goodwill impairment. If the reporting unit fails the qualitative test, then the Company proceeds with a quantitative test. The Company then determines whether the reporting unit fair value is less than its carrying amount, and if it is, the Company recognizes a goodwill impairment equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the reporting unit and its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The Company did not identify any impairment of its goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets, which consist of its property and equipment, internal-use software and other finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset is impaired or the estimated useful lives are no longer appropriate. If indicators of impairment exist and the undiscounted projected cash flows associated with such assets are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded to write the assets down to their estimated fair values. The Company did not identify any impairment losses related to the Company's long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies – The Company may be involved in disputes or regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business. When the Company determines that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, a liability is recorded and disclosed if the amount is material to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. When a material loss contingency is only reasonably possible, the Company does not record a liability, but instead discloses the nature and the amount of the claim, and an estimate of the loss or range of loss, if such an estimate can reasonably be made. Accruals for contingencies including litigation are included in Accrued other liabilities at undiscounted amounts. These accruals are adjusted periodically as additional information becomes available. If the amount of an actual loss is greater than the amount accrued, this could have an adverse impact on our operating results in that period.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition – The Company generates revenue from contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services. Determining whether performance obligations should be accounted for separately or combined may require significant judgment. For each performance obligation within a contract, the Company evaluates whether it acts as the principal or as an agent. When the Company acts as the principal, revenue is recognized in the gross amount of the consideration received from the customer at the point in time the services are completed. When the Company acts as the agent, revenue is recognized net of the consideration due to a third party at the point in time when the services are provided.

In contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation proportionately based on the estimated stand-alone selling price (“SSP”) of each performance obligation. The Company uses an observable price to determine the SSP for each performance obligation. Where observable prices are not available, an expected cost-plus margin approach is used. The Company then determines how the services are transferred to the customer to determine the timing of revenue recognition.

From time to time we provide promotions and incentives to Buyers and Sellers in various forms including discounts on fees, credits and rebates. Promotions and incentives which are consideration payable to a customer are recognized as a reduction of revenue when revenue is recognized.

Commissions paid to sales representatives and related payroll taxes are considered costs to obtain a contract. ASC 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs, requires costs to obtain a contract with a customer within the scope of ASC 606 to be capitalized and amortized over the period of benefit. The Company has elected the practical expedient available under ASC 340-40-25-4 to immediately expense the incremental cost of obtaining a contract when the underlying related asset would have been amortized over one year or less.

The Company has utilized the practical expedient available under ASC 606-10-50-14 and does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less. The Company has also utilized the practical expedient available under ASC 606-10-32-2A to exclude from revenue all taxes assessed by a governmental authority, including sales, use and excise taxes, that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected from a customer.

Marketplace and Service Revenue

Marketplace and service revenue – Marketplace and service revenue consists principally of revenues earned from facilitating an auction on the Marketplace and arranging for the transportation of vehicles purchased on the Marketplace to the Buyer. In the course of facilitating an auction on the Marketplace, the Seller may elect for the Company to perform a wholesale auction inspection of the vehicle. Marketplace and service revenue also consists of data services that offer insights into the condition and value of used vehicles for transactions both on and off our Marketplace, by providing the customer an inspection of the vehicle and an inspection report and other software related services.

Revenue earned from facilitating a vehicle auction through the Marketplace is recognized at a point in time when the vehicle is sold. The Company acts as an agent when facilitating a vehicle auction through the Marketplace. Accordingly, auction and related fees charged to the Buyer and Seller are reported as revenue on a net basis, excluding the price of the auctioned vehicle in the transaction.

Revenue from transportation services is recognized over time as delivery is completed. In providing its transportation services, the Company leverages its network of third-party transportation carriers and arranges for the transportation of the vehicle to the Buyer. The Company is the principal for transportation services. Transportation fees charged to the Buyer are reported on a gross basis.

Data services revenue is recognized at a point in time when the vehicle inspection and report is completed and delivered to the customer. The Company also generates data services revenue from software related services. Subscription revenue is recognized on a ratable basis over the contractual subscription term of the arrangement, beginning on the date that our services are made available to the customer. Implementation and training revenue is recognized over time as services are transferred to our customers.

Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment from customers. Accounts receivable represents amounts invoiced, which include the price of the auctioned vehicle and related fees charged to a Buyer, where the Company has the unconditional right to payment.

The Company offers short-term financing to eligible customers purchasing vehicles through the Marketplace. These financing fees are accounted for under ASC 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs, and therefore are not subject to evaluation under ASC 606. Financing fees are recognized ratably over the duration of the financing arrangement.

Customer Assurance Revenue

Customer assurance revenue – Customer assurance revenue represents the implied premium received for certain guarantees. Refer to Note 8 for additional information.

Marketplace and Service Cost of Revenue

Marketplace and service cost of revenue – Marketplace and service cost of revenue consists of third-party transportation carrier costs, titles shipping costs, customer support, website hosting costs, inspection costs related to data services, and various other costs. These costs include personnel-related costs and related stock-based compensation expenses.

Customer assurance cost of revenue

Customer assurance cost of revenue – Customer assurance cost of revenue consists of the costs related to satisfying claims against guarantees. Refer to Note 8 for additional information.

Operations and Technology

Operations and technology – Operations and technology costs consist of expenses for wholesale auction inspections, personnel costs related to payments and titles processing, transportation processing, product and engineering, and other general operations and technology expenses. These costs include personnel-related costs and related stock-based compensation expenses.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative – Selling, general and administrative expense consists of costs resulting from sales, accounting, finance, legal, marketing, human resources, executive, and other administrative activities. These costs include personnel-related costs, related stock-based compensation expenses, and legal and other professional services expenses.

Also included in selling, general and administrative is advertising and marketing costs to promote our services, which are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing expenses were $5.2 million, $5.0 million, and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization – Depreciation and amortization expense consists of depreciation of fixed assets, and amortization of acquired intangible assets and internal-use software. Amortization of implementation costs for hosted software arrangements is included within Operations and technology and Selling, general, and administrative, as applicable, consistently with the classification of the related hosted software fees. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, amortization of hosted software has been reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows (in thousands):

	2022		2021		2020
Operations and technology	$	381	$	416	$	1,076
Selling, general, and administrative		59		67		68

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation – The Company uses the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The estimated fair value of each Common Stock option award or employee stock purchase right is calculated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Application of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires significant judgment, and involves the use of subjective assumptions including:

Expected Term — The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. As the Company does not have sufficient historical experience for determining the expected term of the stock option awards granted, the simplified method was used to determine the expected term for awards issued to employees. With respect to employee stock purchase rights, the Company uses a term assumption consistent with the purchase period.

Risk-Free Interest Rate — The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury constant maturity notes with terms approximately equal to the stock-based awards’ or employee stock purchase rights' expected term.

Expected Volatility — Expected volatility is estimated based upon the historical volatility of the daily closing prices of the Company's Class A common stock, which is traded publicly on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, over periods that correlate with the expected terms of the awards granted.

Dividend Rate — The expected dividend rate is zero as the Company has not paid and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Fair Value of Common Stock — Prior to the Company's IPO, the Company estimated the fair value of common stock. The Board of Directors, with input from management considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of the Company’s common stock at each meeting in which awards were approved.

Valuations of the common stock performed by a third-party valuation specialist are in accordance with the guidance outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. Factors taken into consideration in assessing the fair value of the Company’s common stock include, but are not limited to: (i) the results of contemporaneous independent third-party valuations of the Company’s common stock; (ii) the prices, rights, preferences, and privileges of the Company’s convertible preferred stock relative to those of its common stock; (iii) the likelihood and timing of achieving a qualifying event, such as an IPO or sale of the Company given prevailing market conditions; (iv) actual operating and financial results; and (v) precedent transactions involving the Company’s shares.

Subsequent to the IPO, the fair value of the underlying common stock is determined by the closing price, on the date of grant, of the Company's Class A common stock.

The Company measures all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to employees, directors, consultants and other nonemployees based on the fair value on the date of the grant. The options vest based on a graded scale over the stated vesting period, and compensation expense is recognized based on their grant date fair value on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

The fair value of restricted stock units are determined based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on the grant date. The awards and units vest over time and compensation expense is recognized based on their grant fair value ratably over the requisite service period.

The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same way the payroll costs or service payments are classified for the related stock-based award recipient.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. This standard requires, among other things, recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences, measured by enacted rates attributable to temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, and net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards to the extent that realization of such benefits is more likely than not.

The Company’s management evaluates its tax positions to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on the technical merits of the tax position. Management has analyzed the Company’s tax positions and has concluded that as of December 31, 2022, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. Under the Company’s policy, interest and penalties would be expensed as incurred and reported within the Other income section of the Consolidated Statements of Operations

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency – The functional currencies of the Company’s Canadian and French subsidiaries are the applicable local currency. The translation of the applicable foreign currency into U.S. dollars is performed for assets and liabilities using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and for revenue and expense activity using the applicable month’s average exchange rates. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are included as a component of the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reported within the Other income financial statement line item of the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders – Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, adjusted to reflect potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock method for the purchase of the Company's common stock, stock option awards and restricted stock units. Due to the Company’s loss from continuing operations, net of income taxes: (i) convertible preferred stock, (ii) unvested restricted stock and other awards, (iii) stock options, and (iv) shares subject to the employee stock purchase plan, were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, as the effects would be anti-dilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders are equal for the years presented.

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments – Fair value accounting is applied for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity, associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2: Inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s financial instruments primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, debt securities, trade and finance accounts receivable and accounts payable whose carrying values approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments.

Reclassification

Reclassification – The Company reclassified accrued interest on marketable securities from Other current assets to Marketable securities as of December 31, 2021 on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, to conform with the current period presentation. The reclassification is a change from one acceptable presentation to another acceptable presentation with no impact to reported current assets.

Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements – The following table provides a description of accounting standards that were adopted by the Company as well as standards that are not yet adopted that could have an impact to the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Accounting Standard Update	Description	Required date of adoption	Effect on consolidated financial statements
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13, 2018-19, 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-10, 2019-11, 2020-02, 2020-03)	The guidance changes the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing of when such losses are recorded.	December 31, 2022	The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company reviewed all other recently issued accounting standards and concluded that they were not applicable to the consolidated financial statements.