How Japanese Car Auction Proxy Bidding Works

You do not need to be awake at 3am to buy a car at a Japanese auction. With Autoselecta you set the maximum you are prepared to spend on our site, and our team places the bid for you at the auction in Japan. This guide explains how the maximum works, when bids close, the deposit and what happens whether you win or lose.

At a glance

• You set a maximum bid. If the car can be won for less, you pay the lower hammer price.
• If another bidder goes past your limit, you simply don't win the car.
• Bids close at 9pm UK time the evening before the auction day in Japan. Cars with a minimum bid over £30,000 close at noon UK time the day before.
• Deposit: £2,000 held on a Visa or Mastercard for maximum bids up to £30,000, or 10% of the maximum by bank transfer above that. It is returned if you don't win.
• Work out the full landed cost before you choose your maximum.

Your maximum is not what you pay

Say you find a BMW M3 and are prepared to bid £20,000. That is your maximum, not your purchase price. If the car can be won for the equivalent of £17,500, that is the hammer price you pay. Our agent aims to win at the lowest available price without going over the yen amount you have authorised.

If another buyer bids beyond your limit, you don't win the car. So set a realistic maximum, based on recent auction results and your total import budget.

Knowing what a car might sell for

Starting prices at Japanese auctions can mislead. A desirable Porsche 911 might open very low and still attract heavy competition once bidding starts. Where comparable sales information is available, we can show you what similar cars have achieved, allowing for condition, mileage and specification. That gives you a firmer basis for deciding your maximum.

Know the full cost before you bid

Your maximum bid covers only the car's hammer price. Our import cost calculator shows estimated fees, shipping, import taxes and other charges, so you can budget properly. Work out the total landed cost first, then decide your maximum.

When bids close

Bids close at 9pm UK time on the evening before the auction takes place in Japan. For cars with a minimum bid over £30,000, bids close earlier, at noon UK time on the day before, because the bank transfer deposit has to arrive first. Always follow the time shown on the individual listing.

Your account must be verified and the deposit arranged before your bid can be accepted. For a maximum bid up to £30,000 the deposit is £2,000, held on a Visa or Mastercard and not taken unless you win. Above that, it is 10% of your maximum, paid by bank transfer. Once a bid is approved and committed it is binding under our terms, so make sure you are comfortable with the amount.

What happens if you win

If your bid wins, we arrange the next stages of the purchase: settlement, export preparation and shipping. You get a straightforward way to take part in Japanese auctions without handling the bidding yourself.

If you don't win, you don't pay our fee, and your deposit is returned or the card hold released.

Start bidding through Autoselecta

Browse live Japanese auctions or ask our team about a car on WhatsApp.