Questions about buying at auction

Most of what costs a first-time bidder money is not the bidding. It is the fees on top, the deadline to collect, and what you are actually allowed to do with the thing once you have won it. Here is the plain version.

The basics What it really costs Collecting what you won Category rules About AuctionRadar For auctioneers
The basics

Does AuctionRadar run the auctions?

No. We are a search engine for auctions, not an auction house. We never take bids, never handle payment, and never hold the goods. Every listing links straight to the company running that sale, and you register and bid with them.

Is it free?

Searching is free and always will be. We make money from auction companies who want more visibility, not from buyers trying to find things.

Do I need an account for each auction house?

Usually yes. Auction platforms require registration before you can bid, and many ask for a card on file even when the sale is free to enter. That is normal. Register a day or two ahead rather than ten minutes before a lot closes, because some houses approve new bidders manually.

What does "soft close" or "extended bidding" mean?

A bid placed in the final moments pushes the closing time out, usually by two to five minutes, and it keeps extending until nobody bids. It exists to stop last-second sniping. In practice it means a lot does not close when the clock first says it will, so do not walk away assuming you won.

What it really costs

What is a buyer's premium?

A percentage the auction house adds to your winning bid. It is the single biggest surprise for new bidders. Rates commonly run 10% to 18%, and some online platforms add a further fee on top of the house's own.

Do the maths before you bid. A $1,000 hammer price with a 15% premium and 6% sales tax is about $1,219 out the door, before you have moved it an inch.

Is there sales tax?

Usually, unless you hold a valid resale or exemption certificate and file it with the auction house before the sale closes. Filing it afterwards rarely works.

Are there other fees?

Depending on the sale, you may see a card-processing fee, a documentation fee on titled vehicles, a loadout or rigging charge on heavy equipment, or a cleaning deposit on storage units. These are set by the auction house and listed in their terms.

What does "as-is, where-is" mean?

You buy the item in its current condition, at its current location, with no warranty and no returns. Descriptions are a courtesy, not a guarantee. If a detail matters to you, inspect it or ask before bidding, not after.

Collecting what you won

How long do I have to pick things up?

Less time than people expect. Removal windows are frequently 24 to 72 hours, sometimes a single scheduled afternoon. Miss it and many houses treat the lot as abandoned and keep your money.

Will they ship it?

Some will, many will not. Small lots from estate and coin sales often ship; equipment, vehicles and storage units almost never do. Assume you are collecting in person unless the listing says otherwise, and factor the drive into what you bid.

Who loads it?

Usually you. Larger sales may offer loadout assistance for a fee on set days. For anything heavy, confirm what equipment is on site before you win it, not after.

Category rules worth knowing

Storage units: what am I actually buying?

The entire contents of a unit, largely sight unseen, sold because the renter stopped paying. You typically cannot enter the unit before bidding and must clear it completely within a short window, sweeping it out. Personal items, papers and photographs normally have to be returned to the facility.

Vehicles: what does the title status mean?

It decides whether you can register and drive it.

You can filter by title status, plus condition, drivetrain, fuel and body type, on the vehicle listings.

Browse vehicle auctions

Coins, cards and collectibles: does grading matter?

Enormously, the grade often is the price. A third-party graded and sealed item from PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, PCGS or NGC carries a large premium over the same item raw, because someone independent has vouched for it. Counterfeit slabs exist, so verify the certification number with the grading company for anything expensive.

Check what things actually sold for

Firearms: how does the transfer work?

Modern firearms must ship to a licensed dealer (an FFL) near you, who runs the background check and transfers it, usually for a fee. Antique firearms made before 1898 and certain curio and relic items follow different rules. The auction house will state what applies; do not assume.

About AuctionRadar

Where do the listings come from?

Public listings published by auction companies and government surplus programs across the United States, brought into one searchable index. We link back to the source for every single lot.

How current is it?

Listings refresh continuously through the day. Bids and closing times move fast near the end of a sale, so always confirm the current bid on the auction house's own page before acting, that page is the authority, not ours.

What are "sold prices"?

Hammer prices from auctions that have already closed, kept so you can see what similar items normally fetch before you decide what to bid. Prices shown are the hammer price and exclude buyer's premium and tax.

Can I get told when something I want comes up?

Yes. Save a search, "restaurant equipment within 50 miles", "Morgan dollars", "F-250", and we will email you when a matching lot is listed.

Set up a free alert
For auctioneers

How do I get my auctions listed?

Free, and most companies are already in our directory. Claim your company and you can post upcoming sales yourself. We never take bids and never charge commission, every listing sends bidders straight to your own site.

Claim your company

How do I get a listing removed?

Ask us and we will remove it. We index public listings and we honour removal requests without argument.

Something here not answered? Email [email protected]. Nothing on this page is legal or financial advice, and an individual auction house's own terms always override these general rules.