Monterey Car Week Tickets

Monterey Car Week does not have a single ticket, and that is the first thing to understand. It is a cluster of events, each with its own access: some ticketed and exclusive, some free or community-accessible, and some in between. Planning by ticket type, not by day alone, will save you money and frustration.

At the exclusive end, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday is the signature ticketed event, and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel Valley is one of the week's most exclusive gatherings, combining automobiles, new-car debuts, and hospitality. Auctions from RM Sotheby's, Gooding Christie's, Bonhams, Mecum, and Broad Arrow are also ticketed or registration-based in practice, and Saturday night traditionally brings some of the biggest cars of auction week across the block.

In the middle, events like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Concorso Italiano, and the Porsche Werks Reunion are ticketed but more accessible than the Concours or The Quail, and they reward advance purchase because the most popular days sell out. The Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance is one of the best free ways to see Concours cars, because the cars actually get driven around the Peninsula.

At the free or community-accessible end, events like Peninsula Cars & Coffee in Seaside, Exotics on Broadway in Seaside, Concours d'Lemons, the Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally, and the unofficial show in downtown Carmel during Car Week let you see a remarkable range of cars without a ticket. The practical plan: pick one anchor event per day, buy the exclusive tickets early, and fill the rest of the day with free gatherings and driving — Carmel Valley Road, Laureles Grade, and Highway 1 are part of the experience themselves. Because dates, venues, and ticket details change each year, confirm each year's official ticket details before booking. Connect with Alex Brant for a local Car Week plan that fits how you actually want to spend the week.