Car & Classic offers an automated service to make bidding easier. Instead of manually bidding during the auction, simply tell us the maximum amount you’re prepared to pay and automatic bids will be placed on your behalf until we reach the amount you submitted.
How do bidding increments work?
When you submit a max bid, the automatic bids we place on your behalf will be made in set increments. During an auction, you can bid any amount you’re willing to pay as long as it’s above the set bidding increment. For example, for auctions under £9,999, bids can be any amount that’s at least £100 more than the previous bid. As the value of a vehicle increases during an auction, the bidding increment may also increase.
The benefit of using increments is that if you submit a max bid far higher than the current bid and no one outbids you, you’ll win the auction for less than you were prepared to pay.
The bidding increments are:
| Bid amount | Increment |
| £0 to £9,999 | £100 |
| £10,000 to £49,999 | £250 |
| £50,000 to £99,999 | £500 |
| £100,000+ | £1,000 |
What happens if my bid is lower than the reserve?
If your max bid is lower than or equal to the reserve, we’ll automatically use your max bid amount as your first and only bid and won’t place any more bids on your behalf.
What happens if my bid is lower than the reserve?
If your max bid is lower than or equal to the reserve, we’ll automatically use your max bid amount as your first and only bid and won’t place any more bids on your behalf.
What happens if my bid is higher than the reserve, or if there’s no reserve?
- We’ll keep you as the highest bidder using our set bidding increments until you win the auction, or until we reach your max bid amount.
- If you place a max bid and are outbid immediately, that means another bidder has placed a max bid higher than yours.
- If the next bidding increment would take you above your agreed maximum bid, we will bid just below your maximum.
What happens if two people place the same bid?
If someone else enters the same max bid as you, whoever placed their bid first remains the lead bidder.
Can reserves be lowered during an auction?
Yes, reserves can be lowered by the seller at any time, including in the final moments of an auction. Even if the reserve is not met after you’ve placed your max bid, all bids are binding and you may still win the auction!