Selling a Car at Auction 

If you have one or more vehicles to sell, regardless of whether you are a private seller or trader, an online auction provides an effective way to dispose of your vehicle and obtain the best possible price, without the hassle of searching for a buyer.

Why sell a vehicle by online auction?

Convenience - Auctions provide a risk-free and convenient way to sell your vehicle.  It takes the hassle out of placing adverts, eliminates the risk of bounced cheques, fraudulent buyers and time wasters.  Not to mention having to deal with phone and email enquiries, viewings and test drives.

Cost effective and quick – For a one-off fee, a vehicle can be placed in an online auction and sold within 7 – 10 days.  If not sold first time, the vehicle is usually placed in one or two further auction re-runs at no additional cost.

Maximum exposure -The biggest advantage of selling by online auction, is the potential for increased exposure of your vehicle to a global audience. As you will have several buyers bidding on your vehicle, the potential to maximise the return on your sale is also increased.

Who can sell a vehicle via online auction?

Online auctions like physical auctions are open to individuals, trade and commercial sellers. The quick turnaround times are particularly attractive to sellers with fleets of vehicles to dispose of and car dealers who need to move vehicles off their forecourts quickly.  However, anyone who doesn’t have the time to arrange for the sale of a car through other means would find online auctions beneficial.

How does the online auction work?

Transport - The seller can deliver or for a small fee the vehicle can be collected by the auction house.

Preparation -   Vehicles are washed and photographed ready for the auction, and a Lot number assigned.

Publishing -   The images and details of the vehicle will be published to the auction website.  

Preliminary bids - The vehicle is usually available to view a least 5 days before the auction date. This allows potential buyers to view and place preliminary bids in advance.

Live auction – The live auction takes place online and potential buyers bid against each other by logging into the auction site. 

How to get the best price when selling my vehicle through an online Auction

When selling a vehicle, your primary objective will be to get the best price possible.  To ensure the auction reaches the desired price, you can set a reserve, which determines what the bidding must reach before the sale can be finalised.  To set a realistic reserve, it is best to get an idea of what your vehicle is worth. The auction house will confirm if the reserve is realistic based on the attributes and condition of the vehicle.