Premium car auctions

Frequently asked questions

• How does bidding work?

  • We use an automated bidding system to make things easy for you! Simply enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a vehicle. Our bidding platform will automatically bid on your behalf in fixed increments until you are either the highest bidder or your maximum bid has been reached.

  • If the auction has a reserve, and your maximum bid is the first to meet or exceed the reserve, our bidding platform will use the reserve amount as your first bid. Otherwise, our bidding platform will always place your first bid at one increment above the current bid. Our bidding platform will then increase your bid in fixed increments until you are either the highest bidder or your maximum bid has been reached. If someone outbids your maximum bid, you’ll receive an email to notify you, so that you can increase your maximum bid and stay in the lead.

  • If you win the auction, you will be charged a 6% + VAT non-refundable buyer’s fee on top of the winning bid, with a minimum of £295 + VAT, up to a maximum of £5,000 + VAT. Keep in mind that all bids are binding and cannot be cancelled. If you fail to pay the Buyer's fee or complete the transaction, you will be in violation of the Auction Terms and Conditions and PistonHeads reserves the right to remove you from the site.

• How much is the buyer’s fee if I win?

  • The non-refundable buyer’s fee is 6% of the selling price + VAT, with a minimum of £295 + VAT, up to a maximum of £5,000 + VAT. Keep in mind that all bids are binding and cannot be cancelled. If you fail to pay the Buyer's fee or complete the transaction, you will be in violation of the Auction Terms and Conditions and PistonHeads reserves the right to remove you from the site.

• As a buyer, what is the concierge service?

  • Concierge service is a premium service for sellers where we handle cleaning, viewings, storage and sale administration. Buyers can visit the relevant concierge partner for viewings instead of making arrangements with the seller.

• How do I know a seller is trustworthy?

  • As part of the consignment process, a member of the PistonHeads team will speak with each seller to get a description of the vehicle. Any seller that we have deemed to have misrepresented their vehicle is banned from the site. We take our reputation seriously and hold our buyers and sellers to high standards.

• Can I inspect the vehicle in person during the auction?

  • We strongly encourage you to view and inspect the vehicle in person before placing a bid. 

  • To arrange a viewing with the seller, simply click on the Q&A section of the listing to be taken to the corresponding forum thread. You’ll then be able to click on the Seller’s profile and send them a direct message with your request. Bidders should aim to only use direct messages to arrange viewings. 

  • If you are unable to view the vehicle during the auction, we encourage you to use the Q&A forum thread to ask for more information.

  • If the seller is using the concierge service, you can arrange a viewing by contacting our concierge service provider directly. If you are unable to visit the vehicle in person during the concierge service providers regular business hours, as indicated on the auction listing, you can view the walkaround video posted in the Q&A thread.

• What is a 'Buy it Now' listing?

  • A 'Buy it Now' listing gives you a second chance to make an offer on a vehicle that was previously listed at auction.

  • Sellers will set a fixed price for the vehicle. If you agree to the vehicle's list price, all you have to do is click 'Buy it Now' to make an offer and begin the purchase process. Once an offer has been made, the vehicle will not be available to other buyers.

  • Similar to our auction listings, once you have made an offer, your credit card will automatically be charged the 6% + VAT non-refundable buyer's fee on top of the fixed price, up to a maximum of £5,000 + VAT.

  • You will then receive an email from PistonHeads with instructions on how to contact the seller to arrange payment and the collection of the vehicle.