/
/
/
/
/
3. Auction process

3. Auction process

Be fully informed and confident in navigating our auction platform. Whether you’re a first-time bidder or a seasoned pro, you’ll find all the essential details to help you engage with ease and make the most of your auction experience.

3.1 What’s the most effective way to search for vehicles?

Are you looking for a specific car? Or a range of different cars that suit your client base or car business? You can use different search options to look for cars.

There are three ways to find the vehicle you’re looking for, but firstly, we recommend that you log in immediately for the best browsing experience. Once you have logged in, our marketplace will automatically filter to show only UK stock:

  1. Quick search
    Do a quick search from the home page, by selecting a handful of criteria. Click the ‘Search’ button and you’re on your way. The amount of criteria is limited here. So if you want to do a more detailed search, pick option 2.
  2. Advanced search
    Click on Find cars and use the most appropriate search criteria: the make, model, fuel type, price range or perhaps the type of auction … You decide. Plus, you can log in and save the search filter to make everything even quicker and easier next time around.
  3. Auction overview
    You can also filter results from the Auctions page. Set your filters on the left-hand side of the screen and you’ll find the vehicle you’re looking for quickly and easily. You can also save these searches for later.

 

Here are some special tips you can keep an eye out for:

Email notifications
You can ask the system to notify you whenever vehicles matching your saved searches appear on the website. There’s no need to browse through the 12,000 vehicles on offer every day. You just need to relax and wait. To receive email notification, follow the following steps:

    1. Log in to ‘My account’.
    2. Click ‘Settings’ then ‘Notifications’.
    3. Tick the box to ‘Authorise receiving emails based on my Saved Searches criteria’.

3.2 How does the auction process work?

Once you are registered with OPENLANE, you are able to participate in the auctions. Find out all there is to know about how you can bid here. You’ll find a variety of auction types on our online car auction. Each type has its specific advantages.

In preparation for winning, we always recommend reading up on the process from bidding to payment and on to delivery.

3.3 How can I place a bid?

Once you have registered with a valid VAT number and email address, you can bid and buy in our auctions. Find out all there is to know about how you can bid here. Please keep in mind that every bid is binding. It is not permitted to cancel a placed bid.

Can’t place a bid?
There are different reasons why you may not be able to place a bid:

  • You are not logged in. Yes, we know, but it happens far more often than you would believe.
  • Our system checks VAT numbers to ensure they are valid. If it believes yours is invalid, it automatically blocks you.
  • One of your payments is late. According to our Terms and Conditions, must pay for a vehicle within two business days of confirmation. Our system will send you a reminder after four business days. After six days, your account will blocked and you will not be able to bid.
  • Customer service has revoked your right to use your account for reasons such as pending final delivery documents, unwanted behaviour, canceled cars, unprofessional communication or conduct, etc.
3.4 I won the auction, Do I always get the vehicle?

If your bid is the highest at the end of the auction, it does not automatically mean you win the vehicle if the reserve has not been met. In that case, the final decision is up to the seller. The seller can decide whether to accept the bid or refuse it, or sometimes negotiate. A decision is made within two business days. Every bid remains valid until the final decision is made.

How do you find out whether the seller has assigned the vehicle to you?

1. Via My account:
• When the seller agrees to assign the vehicle to you, the vehicle moves from “Awaiting seller agreement” to “To complete” in “My orders”. Here you need to confirm the vehicle.

• If the seller decides not to assign the vehicle to you, the vehicle will automatically move from “Awaiting seller agreement” to ‘My lost cars history’ in the ‘Archive’ folder. This last folder also includes vehicles you bid on but did not win. It stores every bid over the past three months.

2. By email:
You can choose to receive automatic emails that let you know whether or not you have been assigned the vehicle. You can change your email settings in ‘My account’ in ‘Account Settings’ under ‘Adjust my notification settings’.

3. Guaranteed assignment
If you don’t want to wait on a sellers response? There are alternatives. OPENLANE runs auctions where there is guaranteed assignment. Look for Buy Now auctions, where you can avoid the whole bidding process! The vehicle will be assigned to you when the auction concludes.

Click here to find out more about the different types of auctions OPENLANE run and how they might benefit you and your particular situation.

3.5 What if I want to cancel my purchase?

You cannot cancel a bid you have made. The seller has the choice of refusing your bid, but this is entirely at the discretion of the seller.

Every bid is binding. If your offer is accepted and the vehicle is sold to you, you cannot cancel your bid or the purchase. The payment must be made.

If you refuse to pay? You will be breaking a legal contract. Aside from the obvious legal ramifications, you will be blocked from bidding.

For a full explanation of our policy with regards to cancellations please read our Terms and Conditions.

3.6 How do I make a complaint?

Did the condition of the vehicle or the service you received fall short of your expectations? We want to know about it! We have procedures in place to ensure your claim is handled fairly and quickly.

Please read our claims policy. It has detailed information about how we process complaints. It also includes a list of elements that are excluded. You can find our claims policy in ‘My account’ under ‘Claims’.

If your complaint is something we cover in our claims policy, you can submit your claim directly in ‘My claims’:

  • Select ‘Claims’.
  • Select ‘File a new claim’.
  • Select the correct vehicle.
  • Enter the claim details and add any additional images/videos or documents that support your claim.

If you cannot find your vehicle in the ‘claims’ section, please send your claim and any additional supporting documents/videos/images directly to claims@openlane.co.uk

Our claims department will analyse your claim and check whether your claim is valid based on our terms and conditions. You will be informed directly via email from claims@openlane.co.uk

You have five days to accept the outcome. If your bank details are required, we will ask you to provide them within these five days.

Not finding what you are looking for?

Use the self-help assistant

Share: