Vehicle Auctions - Frequently asked questions

How do I get involved with an auction?

Firstly you might like to find your nearest auction house. There are vehicle auction houses in Britain, to find your nearest one, use the map or geographical links on the home page of, the complete directory website to vehicle auctions; CarAndVanAuctions.co.uk.

How you get involve varies, some auction houses require you to register as a buyer beforehand, others, like British Car Auctions (BCA), simply allow you to come along on an auction day and start bidding for cars, vans or trucks, with no paperwork to fill out in advance; simply bid and buy. However, it is advised that if you are new to auctions, you should take your time, visit a few in advance and get used to the pace of the proceedings before you think about bidding.

CarAndVanAuctions.co.uk provides complete contact details and web links to all vehicle auction companies within Great Britain, so find your nearest centre and get in touch in advance to find out details of when sales are held, what is required to start bidding and company-specific terms and conditions.

How do I bid?

Simply raise your hand or catalogue –auctioneers are highly trained and very experienced… they will see you and take your bid. If you get outbid and are still interested, bid again.

Who controls the bidding amounts?

The auctioneer is in control of the bidding at all times. Bidding generally rises in £100 increments, although on high value vehicles it could be £500 or £1,000.

Who sets the values?

The price is set by the bidders in the auction hall. The auctioneer will start the bidding at what he or she believes to be a realistic price for the vehicle. If no-one bids, the starting price will be dropped until bidding starts. Bidding finishes when the buyers stop. If the price is above the reserve value (see below) set by the seller, the vehicle is sold to the highest bidder.

What is the Reserve Value and how is it set?

The reserve value is the lowest amount the seller will accept for the vehicle. If that value is attained or exceeded in the auction hall, the auction house can legally sell the car.

How do I know I’m paying a fair price?

It is up to you to research the value of the vehicle you want to buy, then bid accordingly once you have looked at it and appraised its condition. There is no one ‘price’ for any vehicle - it will depend on the age, mileage, specification, colour and condition and who is prepared to bid on it.

I know buying at auction is different, but how is it different?

For a start the sale is conducted under auction law and the Sale of Goods Act does not apply. The sale is conducted under the Terms & Conditions of the auction house – so make sure you are aware of what that means.

Everything is sold on the auctioneer’s description – not what may be in the catalogue or on an internet listing.

There are three broad categories of description – Sold as seen, Sold with Warranties, Sold on an Engineer’s report. The first means the buyer must make their own mind up about the vehicle as no complaints will be entertained by the seller. Warranties may pertain to mileage or mechanical condition and will be described by the auctioneer. An Engineer’s Report is an independent, third-party report into the mechanical condition of the vehicle, conducted by the auctioneer.

I’ve bid and I’ve won… What happens now?

As the highest bidder you will likely be asked to leave a deposit with the auctioneers. This can usually be cash or via a credit or debit card. The deposit may be £500 or more, so please check with the auction centre before the sale day.

Again, the buying process varies from auction house to auction house, so check in advance.

I was the highest bidder but was below the reserve price. What happens now?

The car will be provisionally sold to you, subject to the seller accepting your lower bid. If they do not accept, they may propose a sum they would accept. You can then choose to agree to that or not. This is called a private treaty sale.

The auction house will handle the negotiations between you and the seller.

How do I pay?

Most auction houses accept credit cards, debit cards, cash and cheques. You will be able to collect your vehicle only after payment has cleared, which will be several days in the case of cheques.

What fees do I pay as a buyer?

On top of the bid value, you will pay a buyer’s fee (also known as the auctioneers’ commission) based on the value of the vehicle you have purchased and you may pay a cash or card-handling fee. Some people opt to pay an indemnity fee which is additional, but it is worth paying as it will protect you for longer if the car is not suitable.

I have a complaint about my purchase. What do I do?

Make you complaint known to auction staff as soon as possible (within one hour of the sale finishing) and the auction centre engineer will assess your complaint.

From more information please visit: www.bca-europe.com or call BCA Customer Services on 0845 600 6644.

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