Guide · BidBridge ZA

How auctions work
on BidBridge

From registration to settlement — everything you need to know before you place your first bid.

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Register & complete FICA

Create your BidBridge account and upload your FICA documents. This is a legal requirement under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act and must be completed before you can place any bids.

What you need

SA ID or passport, proof of address (not older than 3 months), bank confirmation letter

Verification time

Our compliance team reviews documents within 24 hours on business days

💡 Companies and trusts must also provide their CIPC registration certificate and resolution to bid.

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Pay your session deposit

Once FICA-verified, a refundable deposit is required to participate in each auction session. This gives the auctioneer confidence that registered bidders are serious buyers.

Deposit amount

R 50,000 per session — payable by EFT only. No cash or card payments accepted.

Refund policy

Fully refunded within 5 business days if you are not the winning bidder on any lot.

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Preview lots before the auction

All lots are available for viewing before the auction date. For property, viewings are by appointment. Industrial and general goods can be inspected at the Linbro Park yard.

Property viewings

By appointment only — contact our team to arrange access to the property.

Equipment & goods

Open yard viewing at Linbro Park — Mon to Fri, 08:00–16:00, 3 days before auction.

💡 All lots are sold voetstoots (as-is). We strongly recommend inspecting before bidding — no complaints are accepted after the fall of the hammer.

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Bid live — online or in person

On auction day, log in to your account to bid online in real time, or attend in person at our Linbro Park facility. Bids can be placed simultaneously by online and on-site bidders.

Online bidding

Live via this website. Outbid notifications sent instantly via email and SMS.

On-site bidding

Linbro Park, Johannesburg. Doors open 30 minutes before start time.

Bid increments

Minimum increment set per lot — displayed on each lot page before bidding opens.

Reserve price

Some lots have a reserve price. If not met, the seller may decline the highest bid.

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Settle & collect your lot

If you are the highest bidder when the hammer falls, you become the purchaser. Settlement and collection must be completed according to the auction terms.

On hammer day

10% of the hammer price payable immediately on fall of hammer.

Balance

Remaining 90% payable within 30 days of the auction date.

Buyer's premium

10% + VAT added to the hammer price — this is the auctioneer's fee.

Collection

Movable lots: collected from Linbro Park on settlement. Property: transfer via attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bid if I'm not South African? +

Yes. Foreign nationals may bid subject to providing a valid passport and proof of address. Additional FICA requirements may apply. Contact us before registering.

What happens if I win but can't pay? +

Failure to settle forfeits your deposit and may result in legal action. Please ensure you have financing in place before bidding on high-value lots.

Is there a buyer's premium on all lots? +

Yes. A buyer's premium of 10% + VAT (15%) is added to the hammer price on all lots. This is the auctioneer's commission and is payable by the buyer.

Can I bid on behalf of someone else? +

Yes, with a signed Power of Attorney. The authorising party must also be FICA-verified. Contact us for the correct documentation before the auction.

How do I know if the reserve price is met? +

The lot page displays "Reserve met" or "Reserve not met" in real time as bids come in. The seller may choose not to accept a bid below the reserve price.

What if I get outbid at the last second? +

Our system uses automatic time extensions. If a bid is placed in the final 2 minutes, the lot timer extends by 2 minutes to allow a counter-bid. This repeats until no further bids are placed.

How auctions workon BidBridge