Buyer's Guide — Passenger & Commercial Vehicles
Buy with Confidence
at Auction
Australia's largest vehicle auction network. Whether you bid online, in the auction lane or through our timed BidNow platform — getting started takes less than five minutes.
The Process
Four steps to your next vehicle
From registration to driving away — here's what to expect when buying at Manheim.
Register for Free
Create your National Member account online in minutes. You'll need a valid photo ID to complete registration.
Browse & Preview
New catalogues drop every week. Use Visual Condition Grades, PPSR checks and online inspection reports to research before you bid.
Place Your Bid
Choose your channel — Simulcast, BidNow, or in-lane. Add your billing details and you're ready to bid the moment an auction opens.
Pay & Collect
Pay by EFT, BPAY, or card via our secure Invoice Portal. Collect your vehicle from the site once payment clears.
How to Bid
Three ways to buy at Manheim
Pick the channel that suits you — all three are live in the same auction ecosystem.
Payment & Deposits
Secure, straightforward payments
Your billing details are captured once and used securely. Deposits are applied automatically when you win.
How to pay your invoice
When you win, you'll receive an invoice notification with a link to our secure Online Invoice Portal. You have until 4 pm the day after purchase to pay the balance.
- Credit Card or PayPal — via the secure invoice portal (fees apply). Manheim does not store your card details.
- EFT or BPAY — download your invoice from the portal and transfer directly. Allow 24 hours for funds to clear.
- In person (Credit Card only) — at the cashier desk on site. Cash and cheques are not accepted.
| Sale Price | Automatic Deposit |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | No deposit taken |
| $501 – $10,000 | $500 or 10% (greater) |
| $10,001 and over | $1,000 deposit |
Collection Deadlines
Your vehicle can be collected once your invoice is fully paid and funds have cleared. Late fees apply if you don't arrange collection on time.
Collect by 4 pm — next business dayPayment Security
Manheim never stores your credit card or PayPal information. A temporary $1 pre-authorisation may appear from 'Cox Automotive' or 'Manheim Pty Ltd' to validate your card.
Video Guide: Billing & Deposits
In-Lane Buying
Registering at a physical auction
Available at Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. Here's what to bring and expect on the day.
Bring Photo ID
A valid government-issued photo ID is required on arrival. This is used to verify your identity and issue your Buyer Number.
Complete Buyer Registration
Fill in the Buyer Registration Form on arrival. Separate forms for Consumers and Dealers.
Raise Your Card to Bid
Once you have your Buyer Number, enter the auction lane and raise your card or hand to signal your bid.
Resources
Downloads & guides
PDFs, registration forms, and condition grade guides — everything you need in one place.
Need to Know
Useful information
Everything you need before, during, and after your first auction.
Vehicle checks — PPSR, WOVR and reserve prices
All vehicles are sold in catalogue order. Before listing, each vehicle is checked against the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to confirm there's no money owing on it.
All vehicles are also WOVR checked — the Written Off Vehicle Register. If a vehicle appears on the register, it will be listed through a Salvage auction rather than the standard passenger vehicle catalogue.
Reserve price — the seller's minimum acceptable price. Reserves are confidential and not all vehicles have one. If the reserve isn't met, the lot is 'referred' and you may receive a call to negotiate.
Auction outcomes: 'Sold' = highest bid at hammer fall or auction end. 'Referred' = reserve not met — if you're the top bidder, expect a call from our team before 5 pm.
Some BidNow auctions include a Bid Extension feature: bids placed in the final minutes automatically extend the auction until bidding stops.
Test drives & vehicle inspections
For health and safety reasons, test drives are not available at Manheim. Road test reports may be conducted at the absolute discretion of Manheim staff.
All vehicles are WOVR checked before listing. Detailed Visual Condition Grade reports are available online for each listing — these provide a standardised assessment of vehicle condition and are your primary research tool before bidding.
Check our Visual Condition Grades guide to understand how vehicles are assessed and graded.
Unregistered vehicles & state permits
It is illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle on public roads. State-specific permit options are listed below:
- VIC: Obtain an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (UVP) from VicRoads, which includes CTP insurance for the permit period.
- NSW: Unregistered vehicle permits are available from Service NSW. You'll need your Manheim tax invoice, CTP in place, and a pink/blue inspection certificate to register.
- QLD: Apply for an Unregistered Vehicle Permit through the DTMR website, or obtain CTP from one of four QLD providers (RACQ, Allianz, Suncorp, QBE). If the vehicle has an RWC and you hold a QLD CRN, Manheim Brisbane can arrange new registration.
- TAS: Apply for a Short Term Unregistered Vehicle Permit (MR23) at any Service Tasmania outlet.
- WA: Arrange to tow the vehicle, or obtain a Temporary Movement Permit from the DoT.
Log books & accessories
Where 'books' are indicated in a listing or condition report, this refers to the presence of instruction manuals rather than a full service history. Log book service history is noted separately in Visual Condition Reports.
Log books and accessories, where available, must be collected within 7 days of purchase. Items not collected within this window will be disposed of.
Buyer fees
Buyer fees apply to all vehicles and assets sold at Manheim. Full details are published in our Terms & Conditions, and are also displayed on site, in auction catalogues, and at the cashier.
Always factor buyer fees into your maximum bid to avoid surprises.
Ready to start bidding?
Registration is free and takes less than five minutes. New catalogues are added every week across passenger, commercial, salvage, and industrial vehicle categories.