Auction

Buying a classic 
car with SWVA

Whether an experienced collector or new to car auctions, the team of welcoming and experienced auction experts at SWVA are on hand to assist

All our classic cars are assessed by expert valuers and the catalogue description is detailed and accurate to enable you to understand the vehicles for sale, and the estimated guide price. We operate transparent pricing policies, so when buying you will not face any hidden charges.

Quarterly classic auctions are held on Thursdays. Prospective buyers can visit the auction hall prior to the auction date to view all cars displayed in our indoor facility.

Viewing

  • Saturday (prior to auction) 8am-11.30am
  • Monday (prior to auction) 8am-3pm
  • Tuesday (prior to auction) 8am-3pm
  • Wednesday (day before auction) 8am-3pm
People inspecting classic car

Transparent pricing

  • A buyer’s premium of 10% including VAT is payable on the hammer price of each lot 
(subject to a minimum of £150 + VAT.)
  • A £1000 holding fee is required to bid (in person, online, telephone, or commission. 
Fully refundable if no purchase made).
  • We offer a delivery service charged at £2.00 per mile.
  • Free storage for 2 weeks from sale. A £15.00 per day storage fee payable thereafter.

How to bid at auction

All bidders are required to register with SWVA and complete pre-auction registration documents (including a form of ID) to comply with money laundering regulations.

Whether you register online or on-site you will be asked to provide payment details we can use to secure a deposit. We will take a £1000 deposit authorisation from the card provided from all bidders. No payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

Buyers are reminded to allow time for pre-registration on the day of auction. (Online registration for all forms of bidding will open on the Saturday prior to the auction at 9am and close the day prior to the auction at 10pm.)

Once purchased, classic vehicles must be collected within 14 days. After this period a storage fee of £15.00 per day will be payable.

Four easy ways to bid

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1. Bidding in the hall

When attending in person you must have completed your pre-registration (up until 9am on the day of auction). There is no registration fee. The auction takes place in the main hall where each car will be displayed on the video screen with a running update on all current bidding.

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

Our online auction system LiveBid is a fantastic way to bid remotely. Once registered and logged in you will hear the live progress of the auction as our auctioneers accept each running bid.

Any bid you make will automatically show in the auction hall.

Registration for online bidding is FREE but requires a £1000 deposit authorisation. No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

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

Register for Online Bidding
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3. Telephone Bidding

We offer a telephone bidding service which provides you with an opportunity to bid by proxy during the auction. A member of our team will call you during the auction and give you a live update on current bids. On your instruction, they will place your bid.

Please note that there are only 8 telephone bidding slots per lot. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

There is a fee of £10.00 per lot for telephone proxy bidding. Pre-registration is required and a £1000 deposit authorisation payable. No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

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

Register for Telephone Bidding
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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.

An experienced member of our team will discuss which lot and your maximum bid and will bid on your behalf during the auction.

Pre-registration is required and a £1000 deposit authorisation payable. No Payment will be taken unless you successfully purchase on the day of the sale.

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

Register for Commission Bidding

Car, Van, Mini

Upcoming Classic Auctions

View our classic auction catalogues or register for LiveBid

Get in Touch

If you require any guidance or further information about buying or selling a vehicle at SWVA contact us.

Auctioneer