Plate auction bidding- any tips?

[Aston Traveller]

I fancy a plate in the next DVLA plate auction and will probably attend in person. Have pre-registered to save hassle. I have a maximum that I am pre pared to pay (accepting the extras etc). Any tips from anyone who has done this. Is it likely to be mainly plate dealers who outbid everyone or do the small fry like me get a chance.
Any thoughts welcome. TIA

[worsy]

I've tried for two in the last 3/4 auctions. Both went well beyond my max.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Aston Traveller said:

Is it likely to be mainly plate dealers who outbid everyone or do the small fry like me get a chance.

You get a very good chance. Think about it - the dealers will only pay enough for a plate to ensure they can re-sell it with a tidy profit margin. It's the private buyers who will bid heavily for a plate they "really want".

Auction prices for very similar plates can vary wildly from one auction to the next. It all depends who's bidding on the day.

Have you Googled your chosen letters on the DVLA website of past auction prices? Loads of useful guidance can be obtained from there.

http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/search/prev...

[Monkeylegend]

When you get to your maximum, sit on your hands, don't nod your head and don't blink. I've watched Bargain Hunt.

[Roo]

A friend of mine bought a plate at a DVLA auction. Decided what he wanted to pay, registered as a bidder and turned up on the day.

Paid almost his maximum for it when taking the fees into account and came away happy.

[Sir Bagalot]

Have both attended, and bid on phone.

Just keep that little piece of paper handy that remind you of the additional fees. Set a limit, and maybe go a little over on the day but not too much.

Don't be afraid to let it go. I lost my 1st choice. Got my 2nd choice a few months later.

[SimonTheSailor]

Monkeylegend said:

When you get to your maximum, sit on your hands, don't nod your head and don't blink. I've watched Bargain Hunt.

And don't sneeze........or you'll add a monkey onto it.

[Aston Traveller]

Ozzie Osmond said:

You get a very good chance. Think about it - the dealers will only pay enough for a plate to ensure they can re-sell it with a tidy profit margin. It's the private buyers who will bid heavily for a plate they "really want".

Auction prices for very similar plates can vary wildly from one auction to the next. It all depends who's bidding on the day.

Have you Googled your chosen letters on the DVLA website of past auction prices? Loads of useful guidance can be obtained from there.

http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/search/prev...

Thanks for that. Have looked at the site. Similar previous ones seem to have varied a lot from reasonable to not in my lifetime. Will have to hope that reasonable comes up this time.

[Aston Traveller]

Monkeylegend said:

When you get to your maximum, sit on your hands, don't nod your head and don't blink. I've watched Bargain Hunt.

Definitely will not go over my maximum. There is a similar plate on the plate auction site for sale that I like so no point in paying more than that one is going for. Probably be less hassle to buy that one but I hope to get this one a bit cheaper.

[Far Cough]

I`ve just done the last one they held but did it online. So simple and you have all the calculators at hand to give you the real price , not just the hammer price. I only bid on 2 plates which took about 1 minute so I`m glad I didnt travel all the way to the venue for 1 minute and then get outbid on both !!

[Fore Left]

Nailed it

[Monkeylegend]

Aston Traveller said:

Monkeylegend said:

When you get to your maximum, sit on your hands, don't nod your head and don't blink. I've watched Bargain Hunt.

Definitely will not go over my maximum. There is a similar plate on the plate auction site for sale that I like so no point in paying more than that one is going for. Probably be less hassle to buy that one but I hope to get this one a bit cheaper.

I have never bid at an auction, but I imagine it is very easy to get carried away and end up spending more than you wished.

[tobinen]

If you have a fixed maximum you won't go over, why attend? Just do it online to the maximum.

[Joeguard1990]

If its just the one plate and you already have a max price just do it online, why attend...?

[Aston Traveller]

Joeguard1990 said:

If its just the one plate and you already have a max price just do it online, why attend...?

.A nice run out and I have never bid at an auction before so should enjoy the day with hopefully a success on the plate front.

[MrReg]

Check to see what others have sold for recently - too many times I've been to auctions and see someone who thought they could buy it at the reserve (starting price) only for the postal bids to up it 4 times! A wasted journey.
Go with plenty of time to sit there and watch beforehand.
You'll see that the majority of dealers sit on one table. You can notice them as the cards that they hold up have "memorable" numbers on them.
When it comes to yours don't be the first to bid. See who bids first whether internet, dealer, or other.
Have your maximum and don't go over it, unless it's a close thing with a different bidder.
People often say the atmosphere is electric when there...I just find it boring and dull.
Good luck!

[Aston Traveller]

Thanks for the info. That was interesting. Have to see how it goes.