How our auctions work.

Buying

1. Create a free account with your real name, address and phone number, and confirm your email.
2. Upload photo ID and proof of address. We check them (usually the same working day) so every bidder is a real, accountable person.
3. Enter your maximum bid. We bid for you automatically, only as much as needed to keep you in the lead, up to your maximum. Nobody — not the seller, not us — sees your maximum.
4. A bid in the last 2 minutes extends the auction by 2 minutes, so everyone gets a fair chance to respond and there's no advantage in last-second “sniping”.
5. If you win and the reserve is met, you're committed to buying the car. We send you the seller's contact details and the full VIN, and the seller gets yours.
6. Arrange viewing/collection with the seller, check the car and V5C in person, then pay the seller directly by bank transfer. Complete the V5C change of keeper online at GOV.UK together.

Reserve prices

Sellers can start bidding at £0 or any amount, and can set a hidden reserve — the lowest price they'll accept. Listings show “No reserve”, “Reserve not met” or “Reserve met”. If an auction ends below the reserve, the seller has 48 hours to accept the highest bid if they want to.

Fees

No buyer’s fee — you pay the winning bid only. Every listing shows the fee and your total before you bid, so there are no surprises. Trade sellers marked “plus VAT” will add VAT at 20% to the winning bid; this is shown on the listing too.

Selling

1. Create an account as an individual or a business. Businesses are shown to buyers as trade sellers with their trading name and address — it's a legal requirement, and buyers trust it.
2. Verify your identity: photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address dated in the last 3 months. Businesses also provide proof of the business (e.g. Companies House record or business bank statement).
3. Fill in the listing — every detail the law requires you to disclose, plus a proper description. Set a starting bid (from £0) and, if you want, a reserve.
4. Upload at least 6 clear photos, photos of the V5C logbook, and one verification photo: the car with its number plate visible and a piece of paper showing the one-time code we give you.
5. We verify the listing (usually within 1 working day): ID, V5C, DVLA record, stolen/finance/write-off history check and MOT mileage history. Then we schedule it to go live.
6. When it sells, we put you in touch with the buyer. Don't hand over the car, keys or V5C until cleared funds are in your account.

Free to list during launch.

What we won't list

• Any car where the seller can't prove who they are or their right to sell it.
• Cars recorded as stolen, or with a V5C that doesn't match DVLA's records.
• Category A or B write-offs (these must never return to the road).
• Cars with outstanding finance, unless the seller provides a settlement letter and settles it before handover.
• Unroadworthy cars described as roadworthy. Cars for spares or repair are only accepted if they're clearly listed that way.
• Cars with a known, undisclosed mileage discrepancy.

Staying safe

• All bidding happens on this site. If anyone contacts you offering the car “off-site”, or asks for a deposit to “hold” it, it's a scam — report the listing.
• Only pay the person or business whose name matches the verified seller and the V5C. Never pay by gift card, crypto, or money transfer services.
• Before paying, check the VIN on the car (base of the windscreen and on the chassis plate) matches the V5C, and that the V5C has a watermark and the serial number isn't in a stolen range.
• Check the full MOT history free on GOV.UK.

Your rights as a buyer

Buying from a trade seller: the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. As our auctions are online-only, you'll normally also have 14 days to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. A trader can't remove these rights with phrases like “sold as seen”.

Buying from a private seller: the car must be as described and the seller must own it, but the extra quality rights and cancellation period don't apply. Read listings carefully and view the car if you can.

Can I view the car before bidding?

Yes — message us with the listing link and we'll pass your request to the seller. You can also arrange an independent inspection (e.g. AA or RAC) at your own cost.

What if I win and change my mind?

A winning bid is a commitment to buy. Failing to complete without a valid legal reason may lead to your account being suspended. Your statutory rights (above) are not affected.

Can I retract a bid?

Only in exceptional cases, such as a clear typing error (e.g. £50,000 instead of £5,000) or if the listing description changes significantly after you bid. Contact us straight away.

Does Northern Car Imports own the cars?

No — unless a listing says Northern Car Imports is the seller, we run the auction and the contract of sale is between the buyer and the seller named on the listing.

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