Auction Rules
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1.The basics
Cars are sold by online auction. You bid, and if you're the highest valid bid when the auction ends (and any reserve is met), you've bought the car. A bid is a real commitment to buy — don't bid unless you mean it and can pay.
2.Reserve price
A seller can set a hidden reserve — the lowest price they'll accept. If bidding doesn't reach it, the car doesn't sell. You won't see the reserve figure, only whether it's been met.
3.Bidding and proxy (maximum) bids
Each bid must meet the minimum increment shown on the listing. You can set a maximum bid and let the system bid for you up to that amount — it only bids as much as needed to keep you in front. Every automatic bid placed for you counts exactly like a bid you made yourself, so only set a maximum you're happy to pay. Your maximum stays private.
4.The close and last-second bids
Each auction has an end time. To keep things fair, if a bid comes in right at the end, the auction can extend a little to let others respond. The exact timing is shown in the auction itself.
5.Buy Now
Some listings have a Buy Now price. Use it and you've bought the car straight away at that price — same commitment as winning an auction.
6.Once you win
Winning forms a binding contract of sale between you and the seller. You then pay and collect under the normal terms. If you don't pay or collect in time, fees apply and the sale can be cancelled.
7.Playing fair
No bidding on your own car, no fake bids, no rigging prices, and no tactics to manipulate an auction. We can void bids or sales and suspend accounts for this.
8.If something glitches
If a genuine technical error affects an auction, we can pause, extend, or re-run it, and correct obvious mistakes. We're not liable for losses from technical issues beyond our control.
1.Introduction and Scope
These Auction Rules govern bidding, Buy Now, and the conduct and conclusion of sales on Trader.co.uk (the "Platform"). They form part of the Trader.co.uk Terms Suite and apply to all Buyers and Sellers. Capitalised terms have the meaning given in the Platform Terms.
Trader.co.uk's role. Trader.co.uk operates the auction process as the Seller's disclosed agent. We provide the bidding and sale tools only. We do not bid, do not set or influence prices, do not select buyers, and are not a party to the contract of sale, which is formed directly between the Buyer and the Seller.
2.Auction Categories
Auctions are organised into categories. The auction mechanics in these Rules apply to all categories; the categories differ in who sells, what is sold, and the characteristics a Buyer should expect. The category of each auction is shown on the listing.
Public. Vehicles sold by private (non-trade) owners to Trade Buyers. The Seller is an individual selling privately and is not held to trade standards. Buyers should expect a private sale and inspect accordingly.
Trade. Vehicles sold by motor traders to Trade Buyers. This is a business-to-business sale; vehicles may be sold "as seen / as inspected" as set out in the Seller Terms and Buyer Terms.
Salvage. Categorised, damaged, or faulty vehicles sold by traders. These vehicles may be insurance write-offs (including category-marked vehicles), non-runners, or sold for parts or repair. The Seller must clearly disclose the salvage status and category. Buyers must not assume any vehicle in this category is roadworthy or legal to drive, and buy on the basis set out in the Buyer Terms (roadworthiness is the Buyer's responsibility).
Seller. A dedicated bucket in which a single named Seller runs an auction of their own stock. Trader.co.uk acts as that Seller's disclosed agent. Such a Seller may operate their own payment and settlement arrangements (a direct-seller sale), in which case the direct-seller provisions of the Buyer Terms apply (the Seller's details, not PSP details, appear on the invoice, and the purchase is identified as a direct sale).
No guarantee of Vehicle status by category. The category of an auction reflects how it is organised and does not guarantee the status of any individual Vehicle. A Vehicle listed in the Public, Trade, or Seller category may nonetheless be a categorised, recorded, written-off, or otherwise marked Vehicle. Trader.co.uk does not verify or guarantee the HPI status, history, condition, roadworthiness, or marker status of any Vehicle in any category. It is entirely the Buyer's responsibility to carry out their own HPI and history checks and to satisfy themselves as to the status of any Vehicle before bidding or buying.
3.Reserve Price
Setting the reserve. The Seller specifies the price at which they are willing to sell the Vehicle. This price is the reserve. The reserve is not displayed to Buyers.
Reserve met. If, at the close of the auction, the highest valid bid is at or above the reserve, the Vehicle sells to the highest bidder at the amount of that highest bid. By setting the reserve, the Seller authorises Trader.co.uk, as the Seller's agent, to conclude the contract of sale at the highest bid automatically at close (see Seller Terms, clause 2). A binding contract of sale is then formed between the Buyer and the Seller without further action by either party.
Reserve not met. If the highest valid bid at close is below the reserve, the Vehicle does not sell and no contract of sale is formed.
Unsold vehicles — final offer (Stage 2). Where a Vehicle does not sell, the Platform may allow the highest bidders to make a final offer to the Seller, which the Seller may accept or decline. This functionality is planned for Stage 2 and is not available in Phase 1.
4.Bidding
Valid bids. A bid is valid only if placed by a registered, verified Buyer in accordance with these Auction Rules and any bidding increments or minimums shown on the listing. Trader.co.uk may reject or remove a bid that does not comply, or that we reasonably consider fraudulent, manipulative, or made without intention to complete.
Bids are commitments. Every bid is a genuine, binding commitment to purchase the Vehicle at the bid price if it is the winning bid at close and the reserve is met. You must not bid unless you intend and are able to complete the purchase.
Bidding increments. Bids must meet the minimum bidding increment shown on the listing or in the auction interface. We may set and adjust the increment structure (which may be a fixed amount or tiered by price band); the increment that applies to a Vehicle is the one displayed for that Vehicle at the time of bidding.
Proxy (maximum) bidding. The Platform offers proxy bidding. You may set a maximum bid — the highest amount you are willing to pay for the Vehicle. The Platform will then bid automatically on your behalf, in the applicable increments, only as much as needed to keep you as the highest bidder, up to (but never exceeding) your maximum.
Automatic bids are binding. Each bid placed automatically on your behalf up to your maximum is a genuine, binding commitment to purchase, to the same extent as a bid you place manually. By setting a maximum bid you authorise the Platform to place those bids on your behalf and you are bound by them. You must not set a maximum bid unless you intend and are able to complete the purchase at any amount up to that maximum.
How proxy bids work. Your maximum bid is confidential: it is not shown to other Buyers or to the Seller, and only the current highest bid is displayed. If two Buyers set the same maximum, the maximum set first takes priority. A proxy bid only wins the Vehicle if it is the highest valid bid at close and the reserve is met; the Platform will not conclude a sale below the reserve, whatever your maximum. A proxy bid placed in the closing period may trigger an extension in the same way as a manual bid (see clause 5).
5.Auction Close and Anti-Sniping
Stated close. Each auction has a stated end time shown on the listing.
Anti-sniping extension. To ensure a fair close, the Platform may automatically extend an auction where a valid bid (including a proxy bid) is placed shortly before the scheduled close, and may continue to extend it while late bids are placed. This gives all bidders a fair opportunity to respond to late bids. The extension period, and the window in which a late bid triggers it, operate as shown on the listing or in the auction interface, and we may adjust them.
6.Buy Now
Instant purchase. Where a listing offers Buy Now, a Buyer may commit to purchase immediately at the stated Buy Now price. Submitting Buy Now forms a binding contract of sale between the Buyer and the Seller at that price, concluded by Trader.co.uk as the Seller's agent under the authority in Seller Terms clause 2.
Availability. Buy Now may cease to be available once bidding on a listing has begun or reached a level set on the listing, as indicated on the Platform.
7.Formation of the Contract of Sale
A binding contract of sale is formed between the Buyer and the Seller at the moment: (a) the auction closes with the highest valid bid at or above the reserve; or (b) a Buyer submits Buy Now; or (c) where offers are enabled, the Seller accepts a Buyer's offer. Trader.co.uk concludes the sale as the Seller's agent and is not a party to it.
On formation, an invoice is created and the Buyer's payment obligations under the Buyer Terms (including the 24-hour payment deadline) and the Seller's obligations under the Seller Terms apply.
8.Buyer Default — Non-Payment or Non-Collection
If a winning Buyer fails to pay within the time set out in the Buyer Terms and Fees & Payments Schedule, or fails to collect within the collection window, the consequences in those documents apply (including late payment and relist fees, and the Seller's right after 7 days to charge storage or cancel).
Second-chance / underbidder offers. Where a winning Buyer defaults, the Seller may, at the Seller's discretion, use the Platform's second-chance tool to offer the Vehicle to an underbidder. Trader.co.uk provides the tool only: we do not choose the underbidder, do not negotiate, and do not contact bidders on the Seller's behalf. Any resulting sale is solely between the Buyer and the Seller.
9.Anti-Manipulation and Fair Conduct
To protect the integrity of the auction, you must not: place bids you do not intend to honour; use shill bidding, or coordinate bids with others, to inflate prices; bid using multiple or fake accounts; manipulate reserves or listings; or otherwise interfere with the fair operation of the auction.
Trader.co.uk may cancel bids, remove listings, void a sale affected by manipulation, and suspend, restrict, or remove accounts, at our reasonable discretion, including where we reasonably consider it necessary to protect the Platform, other users, or our legitimate business interests.
10.Errors and Technical Issues
We may correct genuine and material errors (for example a clear pricing or listing error) and may pause, extend, cancel, or re-run an auction affected by a technical fault, fraud, or other material issue. Where we do so we will act reasonably and, where practicable, notify affected users. Trader.co.uk is not liable for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control, or for the performance or timing of the PSP.
11.Relationship with Other Documents and Governing Law
These Auction Rules are subject to the order of priority in the Platform Terms; for auction conduct, these Auction Rules take precedence. The Fees & Payments Schedule prevails on all fee amounts. These Auction Rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.