FINDING VEHICLES TO BUY
Every month we offer around 1,000 vehicles by online auction, sourced from a wide range of trusted vendors including Government departments, finance companies, franchised main dealers and corporate fleets. Whether you're looking for a family car, a commercial vehicle or something a little more specialist, the chances are we have it.
Sale catalogues are published on our website over a week before each weekly Thursday auction. Each listing is packed with the detail you need to bid with confidence:
- Type, age and mileage — our online database surfaces the key facts: what the vehicle is, its age, and the recorded mileage, clearly marked as Warranted or Unwarranted.
- Paperwork — service history, MoT dates, V5C details and any other relevant documents.
- Photographs — we photograph every vehicle from all angles, including interior shots, extras and any notable damage, so there are no surprises.
- Video — we include video footage of each vehicle running, so you can see and hear it before you bid.
- Guide values — where available, we show CAP book values as a market reference. These are trade guides, not guarantees of value, but they give a useful independent benchmark.
- VAT & buyer fees — each lot clearly shows the Buyer's Premium rate applied to the hammer price, along with any VAT applicable to the hammer and buyer fees.
VIEWING & BUYER INSPECTIONS
We welcome prospective buyers to view vehicles in person before the sale. To arrange a viewing, please call us on 01568 611325.
Can't make it in person? Our team are happy to carry out a phone inspection on your behalf — simply call us on 01568 611325 to request this service, and we'll walk around the vehicle and talk you through what we find.
HOW TO BID AND BUY
All Brightwells vehicle auctions run as timed online auctions — the clock counts down and you place your bids before it reaches zero. There are no last-second extensions: when the time is up, the lot is sold. It's a clean, transparent format that rewards prepared bidders.
Getting started:
- Create a bidding account on our website.
- Browse the catalogue, then click Register for Auction on any listing to join that sale.
- A deposit is required to participate. If you don't buy, it's returned in full. If you do buy, it's applied against your invoice. The deposit amount is shown at the point of registration.
Placing bids:
Click on any lot to open its bidding page. You'll see the current bid, the next minimum increment, and a box to enter your maximum bid. The system works as a proxy: if your maximum meets or exceeds the reserve, your bid will be taken up to the reserve automatically. Once the reserve is passed, the increment system takes over — you'll always be shown the minimum amount you need to bid next.
If another bidder has already entered the same maximum as you, you'll be prompted to increase yours. And because proxy bidding works in your favour, you may end up paying less than your stated maximum if no one else bids as high.
Important: bids are contractually binding and cannot be withdrawn at any time. The highest bidder when the clock reaches zero is the purchaser. The auctioneers reserve the right to decline any bid and, in the event of a dispute, may re-offer the lot at their discretion.
For more detail on how timed auctions work, see our Guide to Timed Auctions.
PAYING
Once the auction closes and provisional sales have been confirmed, winning buyers will receive their invoice by email. Payment is due within 48 hours of invoicing, after which collection or delivery arrangements can be made.
We accept bank transfer only — full payment details are included with your invoice. Please do not send a cheque or bring cash to the site. Vehicles cannot be released until payment has cleared in full.
A reminder: bids are binding, and your deposit will be forfeited if you fail to pay for a lot you have won.
COLLECTION & DELIVERY
Our auction centre is located at:
Brightwells Auction Site, Stoney Street, Madley, Herefordshire, HR2 9NH
You are welcome to collect your vehicle during normal working hours: 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays and the Christmas–New Year period). Our compound is fully alarmed and secured with 24-hour monitoring, so your purchase is in safe hands until you're ready to collect.
We ask that vehicles are collected within three days of the sale date. After that, a storage charge of £15 + VAT per day applies.
If you'd prefer to have your vehicle delivered, we have over thirty years' experience arranging transportation across the UK and internationally — whatever the distance, we know the right people for the job. Just ask, and we'll sort it.
When collecting, please check that you have all paperwork before you leave site.
POST SALE PROCESSES AND BUYER PROTECTION
Once you've collected your vehicle, we notify the DVLA that it has changed hands — as required by law — typically by forwarding the transfer slip from the V5C.
Before the sale, we run all vehicles through industry databases to verify they are not recorded as stolen, subject to outstanding finance or registered as an insurance write-off.
For added peace of mind, buyer protection is included within the Buyer's Premium in the form of an Indemnity Scheme approved under NAMA (National Association of Motor Auctions), of which Brightwells is a member. If a vehicle you purchase turns out to breach the terms of the scheme, you may be entitled to reclaim your purchase monies in full. Full terms are available - please call us on 01568 611325.
It's one more reason to buy with confidence from Brightwells.
