HOW TO BUY WITH H&H
Many people are put off buying and/or selling at auction because they feel intimidated by their unfamiliarity with the process. At H&H we are committed to demystifying auctions and welcome any questions no matter how big or small.
While there are no guarantees of success, there are certain factors that buyers need to take into account when deciding whether or not to take the plunge.
Here is a brief general guide to buying at auction:
Is There a Catalogue Available?
What kind of items will be on offer?
How Will You Know Who I Am?
Can I View the Lots and Their History Files?
Are There Any Warranties Offered with the Lots?
Can I Change My Mind After I Have Purchased a Lot?
Are There Any Other Charges?
How Fast Will the Auctioneer Go?
If I Buy Something How Can I Pay?
When Can I Remove What I Have Bought?
Can Someone Deliver the Motorcar or Motorcycle For Me?
Can I Insure My Purchase and Drive it Home?
Can I Bring a Trailer?
If I Can't Make it to the Sale, How Can I Bid?
Will Refreshments be Available on Site?
N.B. Prospective purchasers are respectfully advised to read our Terms and Conditions of Sale carefully before bidding on any lot, as they form the terms of your contract with us, whether or not you are a successful bidder.
A printed catalogue is produced in advance of every auction and contains a full listing of the various motorcar, motorcycle, bicycle and automobilia lots on offer (any late entries are covered by a separate addendum). All vehicle entries are photographed and described, while some automobilia items are illustrated too. The contents of the printed catalogue are reproduced on our website often with additional photographs.
A printed catalogue allows two people to access the auction on Sale Day (those attending by themselves or as an extra may wish to purchase a reduced rate wristband entry). Unless the sale is being held in conjunction with another event there is no charge for attending the auction on the official View Day. Printed catalogues can be purchased in advance of a sale from our head office or at the auction venue itself. Please contact us for information regarding any entry restrictions / additional charges which might apply if the auction is being held alongside another event.
Please be aware that H&H Classics Limited has the right at its sole discretion, without assigning any reason whatsoever, to refuse admission to any of its sales or indeed its premises by any person.
The purchase of a catalogue does not constitute an entry ticket or guarantee entry.
Catalogue can be bought online here
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Our sales normally contain approximately 80 motor cars and motorcycles, 20 bicycles and several hundred lots of automobilia. Although, we specialise in the sale of collectors' vehicles, our auctions often house an eclectic mixture of lots encompassing most eras and price ranges. If you have something very specific in mind then please apply to be put on our Wants List; that way you will be notified when we are entrusted with a lot that meets your requirements. Our website is regularly updated and allows potential purchasers to view the contents of an auction before deciding whether or not to buy a printed catalogue.
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Our auctions are based on trust but we do have to comply with certain legislative requirements and to establish that you can prove your identity. We therefore require all intending purchasers to complete a Bidder's Registration Form, which is in the back of the catalogue, giving full identification and appropriate references, and also to produce identification in the form of a current driving licence or passport. This will enable you to bid at the sale by means of a number allocated to you.
We also need to know that you can pay for any items that you bid for and so we require you to provide bank references for any significant potential purchases (above £50,000) and this process should be completed at least 48 hours before the appropriate sale.
All lots sold will be invoiced to the registered bidder. If you lose your catalogue or bidder's number, please notify reception immediately.
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We normally have a View Day immediately preceding the Sale Day during which lots can be accessed between 12pm and 6pm or 2pm and 7pm. There is also viewing on the morning of the sale from 9am onwards. Vehicles are sold as static exhibits and are not driven through an auction hall. However, those attending the View Day can ask members of staff to start engines for them where this activity is permitted by the venue’s Health and Safety policy. Engines cannot be started on the Sale Day.
The Documents Office is open during those times stated above. We recommend that the relevant history files are examined in detail prior to bidding on any lot.
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No, all lots are offered on an as seen basis.
Furthermore, you should bear in mind that most collectors’ motorcars and motorcycles are used for pleasure motoring (high days and holidays etc) rather than as a means of everyday transport and thus it is not unusual for them to be stood for long periods of time. We therefore advise that at least a cursory check over by a mechanic prior to road use is in order and indeed we welcome independent mechanical inspections by prior arrangement on View Days.
The printed catalogue describes the motor cars and motorcycles to the best of our ability using information supplied by the vendor, but should we receive pertinent information about a lot after the publication of the catalogue, we shall add a Saleroom Notice to the vehicle in question.
Please note that such Saleroom Notices can be added at any time up until the start of the auction. H&H Classics Ltd cannot be held liable for a Saleroom Notice becoming detatched from a lot. Please contact the Enquiries Office to ascertain whether a vehicle you are interested in is subject to a Saleroom Notice.
We are happy to offer our opinion as to the general condition of any vehicle at the sale. However, our experience is likely to have been limited to starting an engine and selecting first and reverse gears while a vehicle is manoeuvred into position. We do not conduct formal road tests nor are we qualified engineers. Please remember that our comments on a vehicle are an opinion only and should not be relied upon. In short, you should satisfy yourself as to the completeness, condition and integrity of any lot prior to bidding.
It is also important to note that some catalogue illustrations are historical and may show the vehicle in a better condition than it is now offered.
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Not under any circumstances.
Lots are not sold as an option and there is no cooling off period. Once the auctioneer drops the gavel (hammer) a contract is made and you are obligated to proceed with that said contract.
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Like the vast majority of auctioneers, H&H Classics Limited charge what is known as a buyer's premium.
For full details of our charges, click here.
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You should expect the auctioneer to offer circa 30 Vehicles and 100 lots of Automobilia per hour and we usually envisage the sale lasting about three to four hours.
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For immediate clearance of Lot(s) full payment must be made to H&H Classics Limited by means of Banker's Draft, Building Society Cheque, Maestro, Solo, Visa Debit or Visa Electron, Cash up to £9,000 or Interbank Transfer by 12.00 noon the day following the sale. Payment by credit card is acceptable, but is subject to a surcharge of 4% plus VAT on the Total Amount Due. In any event purchasers are reminded that clearance of Lot(s) may only be effected once we have received cleared funds in our account.
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All lots are held at the purchaser's risk at the fall of the hammer and must be removed not later than 4pm on the day following the sale. If they are not removed by then we shall have them taken into store at the buyer's expense.
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Yes.
Our preferred transport company will be on site to provide advice and quotations but if you would like details of another company or have any questions then please do not hesitate to talk to Deanne Walsh in the office.
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Yes.
First of all you must check that it has a current MOT and road fund licence but a representative of Footman James & Co. should be on site to give instant quotations and cover.
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There should be adequate parking available for trailers, transporters and motor cars alike but please come early as we do get very busy and the parking close-by can become full.
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We are able to offer buyers the ability to submit commission bids and telephone bids prior to the auction and even bid live online during the auction. We will execute commission bids or telephone bids when instructed and prospective bidders must complete the appropriate forms at least 24 hours prior to the auction. References are required for either method and interested bidders are required to pay a refundable deposit of approximately 10% of the intended bid amount.
Lot(s) will be bought as cheaply as is allowed by other bids and reserves.
Live bidding online is available through our partners i-bidder. You must register on the i-bidder website.
Click here to submit a commission bid or telephone bid form
Click here to find out more about bidding live online during the auction
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Most venues we attend have their own on site cafe or restaurant. Those that don't are usually not far from local amenities.
We look forward to being of service to you either now or in the future. In the meantime if you have any questions at all then please do not hesitate to contact us.
TEL: 08458 334455 (+44 1925 210035 outside UK)
FAX: 08458 334433 (+44 1925 730830 outside UK)
Email: info@handh.co.uk
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