How to buy a car at auction
We're committed to helping buyers get great results. To help you achieve this, we've put together a thorough step-by-step guide to buying your new car at auction so you know what to expect come the sale day.
You'll find some bonus FAQs below these four steps, plus our auction dictionary will get you up to speed with key terms.
1. Search and register for upcoming car auctions
We run weekly car auctions across five UK sites in Chelmsford, Donington Park, Prees Heath, Wakefield and Westbury. There are different types for different buyer needs, such as fleet and finance, dealer and car manufacturer sales, so it's worth comparing them to find the best vehicles for your stock profile.
You can attend our auctions in person to inspect vehicles beforehand and join in the dynamic buying experience. Alternatively, bid online against people in the room via our real-time Aston Barclay LIVE platform.
Many of our sales require you to pre-register, so please check with the auction prior to the sale if you intend to bid. This involves paying a deposit, usually £400 by card, to receive a bidding number before the sale starts. It will be refunded to you if you don't bid or are unsuccessful.
If you don't pre-register and are the highest bidder, you'll need to pay a deposit to the rostrum clerk (auctioneer's assistant).
Documents needed to buy a car at auction
You'll also need to provide valid photo ID (UK passport or driving licence) and proof of your personal or business address (e.g. a recent utility bill or bank statement) when registering, if you don't already have a Buyer Account with us.
Mercedes-Benz sale requirements
All bidders at our Mercedes-Benz UK sales must also consent to their details being shared with Mercedes-Benz UK. You can request full details of these requirements from the auction centre office.
Motability requirements
Please note that only our trade account holders can buy vehicles offered by Motability. Please speak to your chosen auction centre for further information.
2. Research the vehicles you're interested in
It's a good idea to do your research in advance. Sale catalogues for all our sites are available to view online, or you can collect them from the auction on sale day. You can also use our website to search for your ideal car.
Vehicles are available to view at our centres up to an hour before the sale start time and are all 'sold as seen'.
You won't be able to test drive the cars, but you can review our independent inspections, which provide detailed descriptions and data on all vehicles on offer at our auctions.
3. Bid for the vehicles you want
Each car available for auction is assigned a 'lot' number, which tells you when it will appear in the auction running order. When your lot is called, the car is driven into the auction hall, and the auctioneer announces a starting price and starts the bidding.
You make a bid in person by raising your hand and/or nodding, with competing bids placed in the same way or online. Our auctioneers are skilled at recognising bids from their audience, but it's your responsibility to be seen so please make your bidding intentions clear and precise. The asking price will keep increasing until there are no more bids, leaving one clear winner.
Once the hammer falls and you are the highest bidder, you enter into a legal contract to complete the purchase, with no opportunity for you to change your mind. This means it's best to set a budget and try to stick to it in the heat of auction.
At the end of bidding, the rostrum clerk will confirm if the car has been purchased outright or if the bid is 'provisional', which means it's not reached the reserve price set by the seller. Once we've received your deposit, we'll negotiate with the seller on your behalf and try to reach an agreement on a final sale price.
If we can't reach an agreement and you choose not to increase your bid, we'll refund your deposit.
4. Finalise a sale
If you bid successfully, you'll need to fully settle your purchase by close of business on the day following the auction. You'll also need to remove your vehicle from our site within this time.
A will be added to the vehicle price, which our auction staff can inform you of beforehand. You can settle your balance by debit card or bank transfer. There are transaction fees associated with some forms of payment, so please check with the auction office.
Once you've made the full payment, we'll release all the vehicle's documents and keys to you. It's your responsibility to make sure your new vehicle is roadworthy and complies with the Road Traffic Act before it leaves the auction centre.
All vehicles are sold in accordance with our General Conditions of Auction, copies of which are displayed throughout our centres. We also have Online terms and conditions for our Aston Barclay LIVE users. Please read these carefully before you decide to bid and buy. You can contact us or ask a member of staff if you need more guidance.
Car auction FAQs
Can anyone join car auctions?
We have auctions open to trade and private buyers, so please check the details of the auctions you're interested in. Many of our auctions require you to pre-register with your trade account or photo ID and proof of address. For certain auctions and vehicle types such as those offered through the Motability Scheme, you'll need to hold a trade account with us.
If it's your first time at a vehicle auction, we recommend observing some auctions first to get a feel for how the process works.
Can I attend a car auction online?
Yes ‒ all auctions across all our sites are open to online bidders via our Aston Barclay LIVE platform. This allows you to join live auctions and place bids from the comfort of your home, desk or on the go. Or you can place a proxy bid in advance ‒ your highest bid, which our system will place on your behalf.
Check our car auction schedule and start buying
View our current auction schedule to choose from dozens of sales and thousands of vehicles, either in person or online.
We hope this guide has given you the information you need to join the Aston Barclay buying experience, but please contact us on 01924 927576 or email buyerservices@astonbarclay.net if you have any questions. Our team are on hand to help whether you're looking to buy in volume or as a private buyer.
