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 Business), a saved valid card, an ID verified with our provider Didit (or by our team in a manual check) and no open non-payment strike.
2. How long an auction runs
From 1 to 7 days, 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Every bid is binding and can't be withdrawn.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 by push notification, by email and in the app, with the total to pay and the deadline.
8. Buy Now
A seller may set a Buy Now price: at least 10% above the starting price and not below the hidden minimum. Until bids reach 80% of the Buy Now price, any buyer who may bid can take the car at that price. When you confirm, the car is reserved for you for 15 minutes: the clock stops, no one else can bid or buy, and you pay by card straight away (price plus your buyer fee; no bank transfer). Once paid, the auction ends and the car is yours; pickup, handover code and payout work as for any win. If you do not pay in time or give the car back, the auction continues with the stopped time added back (at least 10 minutes left), and bidders are told. Three unpaid Buy Nows within 30 days pause Buy Now on your account; bidding is not affected.
9. Fixed-price listings
A seller may sell at a fixed price instead of an auction, for 7, 14 or 30 days. There is no bidding and no hidden minimum: the first buyer who completes a Buy Now payment gets the car, with the same 15-minute reservation and card payment. The seller may lower the price while the listing is live; people watching the car are told. Offers are not available.
10. Plans and buyer fee
Your plan sets your buyer fee: 5% of the final price on Basic and 3.5% on Business, at least €99. The rate of the plan you have when you win applies.
11. Payment
Pay Going Once Cars, never the seller, by 17:00 on the 3rd business day after the auction ends: 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, from a card or account in your own name. We never accept cash.
12. If the winner doesn't pay
The sale is cancelled, the buyer owes a €50 cancellation fee and gets a non-payment strike: they can't bid or buy until the fee is paid, and a second unpaid car suspends their account. A winner who cancels before the deadline pays the same fee but gets no strike. The seller has 24 hours to offer the car to the next-highest bidder at that bidder's highest bid, who then has 24 hours to accept; otherwise the seller can relist the car for free.
13. Pickup and handover code
After payment, choose one of the pickup times we offer. You receive a 6-character handover code. At the handover the seller checks your ID against the name we send them, you check the car, keys and papers, you both sign the sale contract we prepare, and only then do you give the seller your code. Never share it earlier: we will never ask you for it by phone, email or message. 1–2 business days after the seller enters it, we pay the seller the final price minus the €50 success fee.
14. 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 handover code: contact GOC Support from the pickup and we will help. If you find a significant hidden defect after the handover, tell us within 48 hours in your purchase thread or at buyer@goingoncecars.com; claims about theft, an altered VIN, undisclosed liens or odometer tampering have no time limit. While we still hold the money, we keep holding it while we look into it.
15. 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.