BCA Answers Your Questions

Learn more about how to buy at BCA in each country

BCA is the largest European used car marketplace

Get to learn BCA

1. Who are BCA?

British Car Auctions is part of BCA Marketplace plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. We are bringing together used car sellers and buyers. We sell more than one million vehicles annually and are Europe’s largest vehicle remarketing company.

2. In which countries do BCA sell cars?

We are managing used car sales around 50 centres across 10 countries: France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and UK.

3. Where do the vehicles come from?

We develop partnerships with many contributors, sometimes exclusively, to offer a wide selection of cars. Vehicles for sales come from dealer trade-in, finance and leasing houses, rental companies, manufacturer, fleet operators and adminitrations among others. BCA features a unique used vehicle stock.

4. What type of cars can I find?

We sell a wide variety of cars, commercial vehicles, damaged cars, non-runners, two-wheelers and even trucks and machinery!  The vehicle type is mentioned on the vehicle detail page.

5. How can I find a car?

In the menu, you can either search for a specific vehicle in stock or search for a sale in the calendar. The calendar will contain a selection of similar vehicles to offer you a larger choice.

Get to know all about BCA´s sales

Discover our different types of sales, who is eligible to attend and how to register with us.

1. What is a sale and what do X-Bid, Live Online, Buy now, Auction in hall... means ?

A sale is an event, online or in hall where we present a wide range of vehicles. Access to our sales is reserved for professionals from the automotive industry. At BCA, we provide different type of sales:

  • Bid now: this type of sale gives you the opportunity to place bids in online auctions, at any time of the day directly within vehicle detail page.
  • xBid: Most of the bid now sales end with an X-Bid session which start 5 minutes after the first sale. It is a new opportunity to bid on the vehicle.
  • Live Online:  An "In house" application which allows you to attend an auction from your home, either the auction takes place physically in "an auction place" or only online. You can hear the auctioneer and send a message to ask questions.
  • Auction in hall: In Netherland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal, some auctions take place in a hall so you can go there to bid and buy in person.
  • Buy now: you can find and purchase vehicles online 24/7 at a fixed price.
  • Sealed bid: You place a bid of the amount of your choice, you can modify this amount whenever you want. After the auction has ended the highest bidder receives a notification by email.

2. How to register?

To register at BCA, fill in the online form, we'll call you back asap to learn more about you and ask you to provide a few documents. You can also register by calling the customer service.

3. What are the required documents to register and when will I be able to buy

In order to gain access to international auctions, you need to submit the following documents by mail to BCA.  

  • Extract from trade register ≤3 months
  • Copy of the ID Card of the company owner (front and back)
  • If the buyer is not the owner: the purchasing power of attorney + copy of the ID Card of the buyer

 

4. How long does it takes to get registered?

It takes within 24 to 48 hours to register.

5. What should I do if I did not receive the activation email?

If after 48 hours of your online registration you have not received the activation email sent by the Customer service :

  1. Check your spam box
  2. If the email is not there, please contact the Customer service, from 8:00 to 17:00 to +46 (0)8 549 531 40 or by email

6. In which country should I register?

You should register with your local BCA subsidiary. If you came from a country where BCA is not present we will automatically assign your account to the team best placed to support you.

7. I want to buy in another country, should I register again?

No, once you are registered in a BCA, you can get access to all international sales across Europe. Please contact your local center and request the access. Further information or documentation might be required.

All about BCA buying process

From bidding to receiving your invoice, all the information you need to know.

1. Can I cancel a bid?

At BCA's auctions, all bids are binding. If you win a vehicle, you are required to complete the deal and pay for the vehicle. 

2. Is it safe to buy online?

The BCA website respects all the standard practices of online security. To bid and buy, all the users have to connect with secure passwords. The website uses the standard internet cryptographic Protocol SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), supplying a safety and an integrity of the data for the web communications.

 

3. How do I know if I have won a vehicle?

You will be notified via email shortly after the end of the sale.

Furthermore, you will also find this information under MyBCA (with the exception of purchases done on Live Online)

 

4. What and how to pay?

Payment must be made by bank transfer within one (1) day. Please note that the purchase fee and payment information may vary depending on the country and the auction. 

5. Can I receive an invoice without VAT when I buy to a foreign sale?

Professionals can receive invoices without VAT under certain conditions. Please refer to the guide for more information.

 

Get your car deliverd

Get more information about car delivery

1. Does BCA can help to deliver a car?

Yes, BCA can help to deliver you the vehicle. For more details, please refer to the Delivery section.

2. Does BCA can help to export vehicles?

Yes, BCA can help you to get some documents and deliver the vehicle abroad. For more details, please refer to the Export section.

Submit a claim on a vehicle you purchased

At BCA we want to ensure your satisfaction. Thus why we have a dedicated team to process your claims. We accept claims on certain vehicles and conditions.action. Thus why we have a dedicated team to process your claims. We accept claims on certain vehicles and conditions.

1. Can I submit a claim on a vehicle purchased at BCA?

At BCA we want to ensure your satisfaction. We have a dedicated team to process your claims. If after carefully studying our terms and conditions you would like to submit a claim, to do a claim go to this page.

2. In which case can I claim?

You can open a claim if:

(a)    The vehicle has been or has been deemed to be condemned by a damages regulator without this being reported

(b)    Has a significantly higher odometer reading than stated on either through the sales description or through the photo of the odometer in the inspection

(c)    Has been driven significantly longer than the meter indicates

(d)    Has other external and / or internal damages that seriously affect the condition of the vehicle and  this has not been reported

3. How to open a claim when I purchased on a european sale?

You open a claim on the same website as you log in. Please refer to the country claim policy in the pdf guide to ensure the eligibility of your claim which depends on local rules.

Not familiar with auctions?

Visit the Jargon Buster page to learn more