Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I buy a car through PLC Auction?
Purchasing a car goes through several stages: registration, deposit payment, car selection, participation in auctions or purchase at a fixed price, invoice payment after winning, and further arrangement of delivery and documentation.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sog8N-G7cjE
Do I need to be a car dealer to buy cars on your website?
No, a dealer license is not required. Both private individuals and companies can purchase cars through the service.
How can I choose a car within my budget?
Our platform offers a wide range of filters for selecting cars according to your desired parameters — make, country, price, and others. You can find them on the left side of the Catalog page. You can also always contact our managers via the chat available on the website, by phone number in the site header, or through any social media convenient for you.
Can I find out the final cost of the car in advance?
On each lot's page, there is a calculator that helps you calculate the approximate cost in advance, taking into account the car price, auction fees, logistics, and additional expenses. If a car is participating in auctions, the exact final price cannot be determined in advance — the final bid is formed during the auction. However, some cars have an instant buyout option: such a fixed price will be indicated separately as "Buy Now."
Why are cars at auctions often cheaper than market price?
Auctions sell cars from insurance cases, after leasing, dealer returns, or with damages. Insurance and leasing companies, as well as dealers, are all interested in a quick sale rather than maximum revenue. This is what allows such cars to be purchased below the average market price — often even taking into account delivery and additional expenses.
How will I know what stage my car is at?
The status can be tracked in your personal account. It displays the main stages of the car's movement — from purchase to shipment and delivery.
What is the plc.auction commission?
The plc.auction commission is $500 per vehicle, regardless of its value. The company's commission is included in the final cost of the car calculated in the calculator.
Is it necessary to sign a contract before participating in auctions?
To participate in auctions, it is sufficient to register, complete verification, and make a deposit. The main transaction documents are processed after purchasing the car.
Can I buy a car "turnkey"?
Yes. You can arrange a purchase with full support: from selection and participation in auctions to delivery, documentation, and customs clearance.
How do I place a bid?
To place a bid, select a car and specify the maximum amount you are willing to offer. The system will participate in the auction on your behalf within this limit.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfPLvIgOgs8
How do auctions work?
Once you've set your maximum bid, the system places bids automatically within the specified limit: when you're outbid, it raises your bid by one increment, but no higher than the specified cap. If your bid is the winning one and the seller confirms the sale, the car is considered purchased.
I received an email notification after the auction ended that I was outbid. Why?
This can happen if another participant offered a higher price during the auction. That's why it's better to set the maximum amount you're truly willing to bid up to right away.
Can I participate in auctions in real time?
The final stage takes place taking into account the live auction on the platform's side. You participate through a pre-set maximum bid, and the system places bids on your behalf within the set limit.
What happens after winning a lot?
After winning, you receive an invoice for payment. Once payment is received, document processing and car delivery arrangements begin.
Can I bid on more than one car?
Yes, this is possible. But it is important to consider your budget and payment obligations in advance if several lots are won at once.
What is the deposit amount?
The deposit amount depends on the selected car and the terms of the deal. The exact amount is specified before participating in the auction. You can view it by clicking "Place a bid" — the required deposit will be shown in the preview window.
Why is a deposit needed?
The deposit confirms the buyer's serious intentions and grants access to participate in the auction. It will be credited toward the payment for the car. The deposit is also needed to cover penalties in case the buyer refuses to pay for the car they won.
How do I make a deposit?
After registration and verification, you will receive available methods for deposit payment. Usually, this can be done through your personal account or according to the manager's instructions.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvnzlCza87o
Can the deposit be refunded?
The deposit can only be refunded when the client closes the account. To close the account, the client must not have active bids, active purchases, or other potential financial obligations. There is a $200 USD fee for closing the account, which will be deducted from the deposit amount.
Can my security deposit be used as partial payment for the car purchase?
Yes, the deposit can be credited as part of the payment for the car.
Can my security deposit be used as partial payment for the car purchase?
Yes, the deposit can be credited as part of the payment for the car.
What will be included in the total cost of the car I am buying?
Typically, the total cost includes the car price, auction fees, service commission, document processing, and delivery. Additionally, insurance, customs payments, and other related expenses may be taken into account.
How many days do I have to pay for the car?
Full payment must be made within 3 business days after the invoice is issued.
What payment methods do you accept?
The following payment methods are available for funding your account on plc.auction:
- Bank transfer
- Card payment (Visa, Mastercard)
- Card payment in EUR (Visa, Mastercard, as well as Blik and iDEAL payment systems)
- Cryptocurrency payment
What should I do if I encounter payment difficulties?
If you encounter payment difficulties:
- Check your card details
- Try another payment method
- Check notifications from your bank
- Refresh the page or try again later
- Contact us for help through the platform chat or any other contacts listed at the top of the page
What are the car delivery times?
The delivery time depends on the country of dispatch, route, destination port, and method of transportation. Exact times are calculated individually for each car.
What is included in the car delivery cost?
The cost usually includes transportation of the car to the port, loading, sea or container delivery, and processing of accompanying documents.
How do I calculate the cost of car delivery from abroad?
A preliminary calculation can be obtained on the lot page using the calculator. The final cost depends on the route, type of car, and additional services.
What is paid separately from delivery?
Insurance, customs payments, brokerage services, taxes, delivery within the destination country, and other additional expenses may be paid separately.
Can I track the delivery status?
Yes. The delivery status of your car, as well as the approximate arrival time, will be indicated in your personal account after purchase or winning the auction.
Can I order delivery if the car was not purchased through PLC Auction?
Yes. We provide car delivery services regardless of the platform where it was purchased.
Is there a car delivery service to a home address?
Yes, we can arrange delivery to an agreed address.
What documents will I receive after purchasing a car?
1. Title document
2. Invoice
3. Auction sheet — a report on the car's condition (*not available for all lots)
4. Payment confirmation
5. Export and customs documents
What documents on the car should be checked before bidding?
Before bidding, it is important to pay attention to the type of documents, the possibility of export, the status of processing, and the prospect of car registration in your country.
What types of title can and cannot be purchased?
Can be purchased:
- Clean Title — clean title, car without serious insurance cases
- Salvage Title — insurance total loss, requires restoration; a popular choice for import and repair
- Rebuilt/Reconstructed — previously salvage, has passed restoration and inspection
- Flood / Fire / Hail — damage from water, fire, or hail; can be imported, but requires assessment of repair scope
Purchase with caution / for parts only:
- Parts Only / Non-Repairable — not subject to registration, only for disassembly into parts
- Certificate of Destruction — the car has been officially decommissioned, registration is impossible
- Bill of Sale Only — no original title, difficulties may arise during customs clearance
Before purchasing, we recommend checking which titles are accepted for import into your country.
Do you help with customs clearance?
Yes, you can arrange support for customs clearance and preparation of the necessary documents.
Where will the documents be sent?
Documents are sent to the address you specify or transferred to a port agent at the destination.
Can I come to the location to inspect the car before purchase?
Usually no, as the cars are located at auction sites and are not always available for personal inspection. However, you can order an additional inspection.
What does an additional car inspection include?
An additional inspection may include examination of the car by a specialist, photo and video documentation, inspection of visible damage, and preparation of a report on the overall condition of the car.
Can I check the car's history by VIN?
Yes, before bidding, you can check the car's history by VIN code on the checkcar.vin service website.
How do I estimate the possible repair cost?
You can preliminarily estimate the repair cost based on photos, lot description, VIN report, and results of additional inspection.
Which cars are better not to buy without additional inspection?
Without additional inspection, it is better not to buy cars with serious damage, problematic documents, missing keys, signs of severe accident, or disputed technical condition.
What is the "On Approval" auction type?
This auction type is unique in that the seller always has the final say.
* Auction Principle: Unlike standard auctions, winning an auction does not guarantee an immediate sale. The seller reserves the right to accept or reject the highest bid.
* Decision Time: After the auction closes, the seller has up to 7 business days to make a decision on the item.
* Bidder Obligations: The maximum bid set at the auction close is legally binding. Bidders cannot revoke their bid or refuse the item while the seller is making their decision.
* Possible Outcomes: The seller can confirm the sale, reject the bid, or offer the buyer their own price (counteroffer).
What is the "Minimum Bid" auction type?
This auction type is unique in that it has a minimum price (reserve) for which the seller is willing to sell the item. * Auction Principle: The seller sets a minimum price for the item in advance. Bidders bid normally, increasing their bids.
* Automatic Sale Condition: If the final bid during the auction reaches or exceeds the minimum set by the seller, the item is immediately considered sold to the winner.
* If the minimum is not reached: If the bidding ends below the minimum price, the auction moves to the "On Approval" status. The seller has up to 7 business days to accept the highest bid, reject it, or make a counteroffer.
* Bidder Obligations: Every bid placed is legally binding. If your bid is higher than the seller's minimum price, you are obligated to purchase the item.
What is "Buy It Now"?
This format allows you to purchase an item instantly, completely bypassing the lengthy waiting process and competitive bidding.
* Functionality: The seller sets a fixed price for which they are willing to sell the item immediately. * How it works: Any registered bidder can click the "Buy Now" button before the regular auction ends. At that point, the auction for the item stops, and the bidder who clicked the button is declared the winner.
* Bidder's Obligations: Clicking the "Buy Now" button is an irrevocable action and is considered the winner of the auction. The buyer is obligated to pay for the item at the stated fixed price within the timeframe specified by the rules.
* Availability: The "Buy Now" feature is only active until the item is sold in the live auction or until regular bids exceed the fixed price (depending on system settings).
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