Auction Rules
Draft — pending legal review. This text explains how Going Once Cars will work. It is not final and may change before launch.
These rules explain how every auction on Going Once Cars works. They are part of our Terms of Use.
1. Who can bid
Anyone aged 18 or over with a Going Once Cars account, an active yearly plan (Basic or Trader), a saved valid card and a verified ID.
2. How long an auction runs
24, 48 or 72 hours, as chosen by the seller. The end time is shown on the listing.
3. Bids
Every bid is binding and can't be withdrawn. A bid must beat the current bid by at least the minimum step: €50 below €5,000, €100 from €5,000, €250 from €15,000 and €500 from €30,000.
4. Auto-bid
You can set a maximum. We then bid for you in the smallest steps needed to keep you in the lead, never above your maximum. Other bidders can't see it. If two bidders set the same maximum, the one who set it first leads.
5. Late bids add time
A bid in the last 2 minutes extends the auction by 2 minutes, so everyone can answer it. This can happen more than once.
6. Hidden minimum price
A seller can set a hidden minimum price. Bidders see whether it has been reached, never the amount. If bidding ends below it, the seller has 24 hours to accept or decline the highest bid. If the seller accepts, the highest bidder must buy the car at that bid.
7. Winning
When the countdown reaches zero, the highest bidder wins, provided the minimum price is reached or the seller accepts. We tell the winner right away in the app and by email.
8. Plans and buyer fee
Your plan sets your buyer fee: 5% of the final price on Basic and 3.5% on Trader, at least €99 and at most €599. The rate of the plan you have when you win applies.
9. Payment
Pay Going Once Cars, never the seller, within 3 business days of the end of the auction: the final price plus the buyer fee of your plan. Pay by card, or by bank transfer with the payment reference shown in the app.
10. If the winner doesn't pay
The sale is cancelled and bidding on the account is blocked until we have reviewed it; we may also suspend the account. We offer the seller the next-highest bid, or the seller can relist the car for free.
11. Pickup and release code
After payment, choose one of the pickup times we offer. You receive a 6-character release code. At the handover the seller checks your ID against the name we send them, you both sign the sale contract we prepare, and the seller enters your code. 1–2 business days later we pay the seller the final price minus the €50 success fee.
12. If the car isn't as described
Check the car before you sign. If it is materially different from the listing, don't sign and don't share your release code: contact us and we will help. We keep holding the money while we look into it.
13. Cancelled auctions
We may cancel an auction, a bid or a sale if a listing is wrong, if we suspect fraud or if the car can no longer be sold. If we cancel a sale you have already paid for, we refund you in full.
Questions about this document? Write to us at legal@goingoncecars.com.