Selling cars, motorbikes or machinery by online auction works well when buyers trust the listing and know the full price before they bid. This guide covers the settings that matter for vehicle lots: reserves, a buyer's premium, access fees and deposits, the listing itself, and how the sale is completed. It uses BidKing Pro as the example.
Reserve prices: protect the seller's floor
Most vehicle sellers have a price they won't go below. Set it as the lot's reserve.
- Bidding can start low to draw interest, but the vehicle sells only if the winning bid reaches the reserve.
- If it doesn't, the lot ends without a winner.
- BidKing checks the reserve against the winning bid itself, before any buyer's premium is added.
Say on the listing that a reserve applies, even if you keep the amount private, so bidders aren't surprised when a lot doesn't sell.
Buyer's premium: how auction houses earn on each sale
A buyer's premium is a percentage added to the winning bid and paid by the buyer. Many vehicle auctions charge one. In BidKing Pro:
- You set the percentage on each auction's admin form.
- It's applied once, when the auction settles: a winning bid of $8,000 with a 10% premium means the winner pays $8,800.
- The lot page shows a "Buyer's Premium" badge with the percentage, so bidders see it before they bid.
- Buy Now purchases are not charged the premium.
Our buyer's premium guide covers how to set and disclose it.
Access fees and deposits: know which you're offering
Vehicle auctions often ask bidders to commit something before bidding, to filter out people who won't complete. There are two different tools, and it matters which one you describe.
- A one-time access fee. BidKing's Auction Unlock add-on (bundled with PrizeX, an add-on for BidKing) charges a fee from the bidder's wallet before their first bid on a lot. It is refunded only if you cancel the lot before a winner is declared. A lot that ends normally keeps it, including when it doesn't sell, so describe it as a fee, never as a deposit.
- A refundable deposit. BidKing has no built-in deposit that is held and returned. If you want one, take it outside the site, for example by bank transfer, and approve bidders manually.
Whichever you use, explain it on every lot. Bidders who think they paid a deposit and then lose it will complain, and in some places that's a consumer-law issue too.
Photos and inspection details
A vehicle listing sells on detail. Each BidKing item takes up to five photos (a main image and four more) and a full description. Use them for:
- Photos: with five, pick the front three-quarter view, interior, odometer, engine bay and any damage, photographed honestly. Link a fuller gallery from the description.
- Vehicle details: make, model, year, mileage, fuel, transmission, service history and number of owners.
- Documents: what's included (registration, service book, spare key), and any outstanding finance or known faults.
- Inspection: whether buyers can inspect before bidding, and where. An independent inspection report linked in the description builds trust.
- Collection or delivery: who arranges it, and by when. BidKing Plus and Pro can add a flat shipping fee to an auction item.
Settlement through the cart
When the lot ends, a scheduled job declares the winner, so cron must be running.
- The win appears in the winner's account, and they pay through the normal cart and checkout.
- They pay the winning bid, plus the premium and any shipping fee.
- Payment uses the gateways you've switched on: 11 come with every edition, including Stripe and PayPal. There's also a manual bank transfer option, useful for large amounts.
Set and publish a payment deadline for winners, and decide what happens if a winner doesn't pay, such as offering the vehicle to the next bidder privately or relisting it.
Legal and licensing for vehicle sales
Vehicle sales come with their own rules:
- dealer or auctioneer licensing;
- title or registration transfer;
- roadworthiness or emissions certificates;
- consumer rights on used vehicles;
- taxes on the sale and on the premium.
These differ by country and often by state. You, as the operator, are responsible for meeting them. Check with a local lawyer before you list your first vehicle.
Common questions
Can I charge a buyer's premium on vehicle auctions in BidKing?
Yes, in BidKing Pro. You set a percentage per auction. It's added to the winning bid once at settlement and shown on the lot page. Buy Now purchases aren't charged it.
Is the reserve checked before or after the buyer's premium?
Before. The winning bid itself has to reach the reserve, and the premium is added afterwards.
Can BidKing take a refundable deposit from bidders?
No. The Auction Unlock add-on charges a one-time access fee per lot, refunded only if you cancel the lot. For a refundable deposit, take it outside the site and approve bidders manually.
Do I need a licence to auction vehicles online?
In many places you do, as a dealer or an auctioneer, and title transfer rules apply too. The operator is responsible, so check with a local lawyer.