Skip to the content

Is a winning bid legally binding?

Buying at Auction · Revised 3 August 2026

VALÉORINE editorial artwork: translucent ivory planes rising in an open ascending composition on charcoal

Yes. A bid is an irrevocable offer, and when a lot closes to your bid a binding contract of sale is formed. Bids cannot be retracted once placed, so please satisfy yourself as to condition, authenticity and cost before bidding.

Share

If this answer does not address your circumstances, write to us. Enquiries are reviewed individually and answered in writing.

Related questions

Related guides

VALÉORINE editorial artwork: translucent ivory planes rising in an open ascending composition on charcoal

4 min read

How to Buy at Auction

A first purchase at auction is less daunting than it appears. This guide sets out the whole sequence in order, from reading a catalogue entry to collecting the property, and explains what is expected of a buyer at each stage.

Read the guide

VALÉORINE editorial artwork: two interlocking ivory rectangles on charcoal

3 min read

How to Register for an Auction

Registration is the point at which an interested reader becomes an approved bidder. This guide explains the four stages, why each exists, and how long each is likely to take.

Read the guide

VALÉORINE editorial artwork: small ivory planes ascending in even increments across charcoal

3 min read

How Auction Bidding Works

The mechanics of a timed online sale: how increments are set, how a maximum bid is executed on your behalf, what a reserve does, and why the closing time can move.

Read the guide