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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. If it’s higher than the other bids, you’ll become the highest bidder. 

  • If the auction has a reserve, and your maximum bid is below the reserve amount, this amount will become the new highest bid. If the auction does not have a reserve, or the reserve has been met, our bidding platform will keep bidding on your behalf, in fixed increments, up to your maximum bid to ensure you stay in the lead. If someone outbids your maximum bid, you’ll receive an email to notify you, so that you can increase your maximum bid.

  • If you win the auction, you will be charged a 6% + VAT non-refundable buyer’s fee on top of the winning bid, 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, 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.

• How do maximum bids work?

  • Our bidding platform is automated so that you don’t have to manually enter bids during the auction. When you are ready to place a bid, simply enter the maximum that you are willing to pay for this vehicle (your ‘max bid’). 

  • If your max bid is lower than or equal to the reserve, our bidding platform will use your max bid amount as your first and only bid and won’t place any more bids on your behalf.

  • If your max bid is higher than the reserve, or if there’s no reserve, our bidding platform will automatically increase your bid to the reserve amount and then in fixed increments until you are either the highest bidder or your max bid has been reached.

  • Your maximum bid does not include the non-refundable buyer’s fee. If you win the auction, you will be charged a 6% + VAT non-refundable buyer’s fee on top of the winning bid, up to a maximum of £5,000 + VAT. 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.