SWVA

How can I bid for a classic car at auction?

If you are thinking of bidding in one of our classic car auctions, here you will find all of the information you need to know. SWVA offers an enjoyable and simple purchasing process with multiple ways to bid, whether you’re in the hall or on the other side of the planet! Everyone is welcome to bid in our classic car auctions, whether you are a trader or a private buyer.

1. Bidding in the hall

If you wish to attend the auction, you must register with us either online or on-site. We will be taking registrations on the day of the sale, however, please ensure you are on site early in order to complete your registration before the auction starts. If you choose to register on-site for hall bidding you have until 9am on the day of the sale to complete your registration.

Whether you register online or on-site You will be asked to provide some basic details and payment details that we can use to secure a deposit. We will take a £1000 deposit authorisation from the card provided from all bidders.

A buyer’s premium of 10% including VAT is payable on the hammer price of each vehicle lot subject to a minimum of £150 + VAT.

2. LIVEBID – Online Bidding *No Online Fee!*

Our online auction system has been up and running for nearly 10 years now and is a fantastic way to bid remotely. Not only can you view the cars live as they come through the hall, but you can also hear our auctioneers as they take bidding. Registration requires a £1000 deposit authorisation. No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

To register for online bidding click here.

*Registration for LIVEBID closes at 10pm the day before the auction.

3. Telephone Bidding

PLEASE NOTE: Telephone bidding is limited to 8 slots per car, if this has been exceeded you will need to register for commission bidding or LIVEBID instead. It is therefore advised you register for this method early to avoid disappointment.
Telephone bidding is a great way to bid by proxy during the auction. We will call you several lots before the one you want to bid on, then we will talk you through the auction, updating you on the current bid and bidding for you when you tell us to. Phone bidding costs £10.00 and we require a deposit authorisation of £1000 per car. To register for phone bidding you will need to fill out our online form, you will then be redirected to the Worldpay website where you will be asked to authorise your deposit(s). No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

To register for telephone bidding click here.

*Registration for telephone bidding closes at 10pm the day before the auction.

4. Commission Bidding

If you cannot attend the auction and are unable to bid remotely, you can leave a commission bid on a lot before the start of the auction. Just tell us the lot you want to bid on and the maximum amount you would like to bid. We will then bid for you during the auction, up until either you win the lot or we reach your maximum bid. Commission bidding requires a deposit authorisation of £1000 per car. To register for commission bidding you will need to fill out our online form, you will then be redirected to the Worldpay website where you will be asked to authorise your deposit(s). No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

To register for commission bidding click here.

*Registration for commission bidding closes at 10pm the day before the auction.

Buyer’s Premium:

10% INCLUDING THE VAT with a minimum fee of £150 +VAT

Vehicle Descriptions:

If you are unable to view the car of your choice before the auction, give us a call to pre-book a slot for a call-back on one of the viewing days when one of our staff to call and give you a “walk-around” description of the car. Please note this is not a detailed description, only an opinion.

The last “walk-around” slot will be 3:00pm an Thursday 26th January

Sold as Seen:

All lots are sold as seen with no warranties implied or given. It is advised that you inspect the vehicle, and its paperwork, prior to bidding on one of our allocated viewing days. Vehicles cannot be started on these days and keys will not be given out however you will have a chance to hear and see the vehicle running as it is driven through our auction hall on the day of the sale.

Viewing Days:

You can now attend our viewing days without an appointment. Simply just sign in and out at reception when arriving and departing. Please only attended on viewing days that are advertised.

Hotels:

If you are not local and are planning on staying in a hotel then please click here for a list of local hotels and contact details

Payments:

All vehicles must be paid for by the following Monday at noon. Payment can be made by BANK TRANSFER ONLY.
*Card payments can still be used to pay deposits.

Once paid for, unlike most other auctions, we are happy to provide 2 weeks FREE undercover storage while you arrange your collection.*
*Please note that after 2 weeks a fee will incur.

If you have any questions about bidding on our auctions, or any of the cars entered into our sale, please get in touch. Remember that our classic car auctions get very busy so if you are thinking of registering for any of the remote bidding options please don’t leave it until the last minute!
Contact us: classics@swva.co.uk Tel: 01202 745466