Auction Terms

1Our role

AusPlates provides the website where plate owners can auction their plates and members can bid. We do not own the plates being auctioned, and we are not the buyer or the seller. The sale contract is between the seller and the winning bidder.

We check listings before they go live, but we cannot guarantee every detail a seller gives us. Buyers should make their own checks before bidding.

2Who can bid

• You must be a registered AusPlates member and at least 18 years old.
• Your account details, including your name, email and phone number, must be true and up to date.
• One account per person. Bidding from more than one account on the same auction is not allowed.
• You are responsible for all bids made from your account, so keep your password safe.

3What sellers promise

When you put a plate up for auction, you promise that:

• you own the plate, or have the legal right to sell it;
• the plate can be legally transferred to a new owner through the relevant state or territory road authority (for example VicRoads);
• the plate is free of any debt, security or claim the buyer has not been told about;
• the description, photos and details in the listing are true and not misleading;
• you will complete the sale and the transfer if the reserve price is met.

4How an auction works

• Each auction shows a start time and an end time. All times are shown in Melbourne time (AEST/AEDT).
• Each new bid must be at least the minimum amount shown next to the bid box.
• The highest valid bid when the timer reaches zero wins. Auctions are not extended for late bids.
• A seller may set a reserve price, which is the lowest price they will accept. The reserve amount is kept private. If the reserve is not met, the plate is not sold, although the seller may choose to contact the highest bidder.
• The bid history shows on each auction page so everyone can see how bidding is going.

5Bids are a commitment

Please check the amount carefully before you press Place Bid. If you make an obvious typing mistake (for example $50,000 instead of $5,000), contact us straight away and before the auction ends. We may cancel a bid made in error, but we do not have to.

6Fair bidding

To keep auctions fair, the following are not allowed:

• sellers bidding on their own plate, or asking family, friends or anyone connected to them to bid to push the price up (“shill bidding”);
• using a second account to bid;
• agreeing with other bidders not to bid against each other;
• bidding with no intention of buying.

If we believe any of these have happened, we may cancel bids or the auction, and suspend or close the accounts involved.

7After the auction

• When an auction ends with the reserve met, we will let the winning bidder and the seller know, and share their contact details with each other so they can complete the sale.
• Both sides should make contact within 2 business days and agree how payment and the transfer will happen.
• Payment is made directly between the buyer and the seller. AusPlates does not take or hold payment for auction plates.
• The plate transfer is done through the relevant road authority (for example VicRoads). Any transfer fees are paid as agreed between the buyer and seller, unless the listing says otherwise.

8If a sale does not go ahead

If the winning bidder does not pay, or the seller does not complete the transfer, please tell us. We may:

• offer the plate to the next highest bidder;
• relist the plate;
• warn, suspend or close the account of the person who did not follow through.

9Changing or cancelling auctions

We may change, end early or cancel an auction, or cancel bids, if there is a mistake in the listing, we suspect fraud or a breach of these terms, the plate cannot be legally sold or transferred, or there is a technical problem that affects the auction. If we do, we will let the seller and bidders know.

10Technical problems

We work hard to keep the website running, but internet and website problems can happen. Please do not leave your bid to the last second, as a slow connection may stop it arriving in time.

If our website or our hosting provider has an outage near the end of an auction, we may extend the auction, run it again, or cancel it, and we will let bidders know. We are not responsible for bids that could not be placed because of internet, device or hosting problems outside our control, except where the law says we are.

11Fees

Any fee for listing a plate for auction is shown before the auction goes live. Bidders do not pay AusPlates any fee to bid or to win.

12Your rights under Australian law

Nothing in these terms removes or limits any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law or other laws that cannot be excluded.

Please note that when you buy from a private seller, many consumer guarantees do not apply. Private sellers must still have the right to sell the plate, and the plate must be free of hidden debts or claims. When the seller is a business, more of your consumer rights apply.

13Our responsibility

We will provide the auction website with due care and skill. As we are not the buyer or seller, we are not responsible for what buyers or sellers say or do, for the plate itself, or for decisions made by road authorities, except where the law says we are.

Where the law allows, our responsibility for a problem with our own services is limited to supplying the service again or refunding any fee you paid to AusPlates for it.

14Disputes

If something goes wrong, we encourage the buyer and seller to try to sort it out together first. You can also contact us and we will try to help, although we cannot force either side to act. You may also contact your state or territory consumer affairs or fair trading office for free advice.

15Privacy

To complete a sale, we share the winning bidder’s and seller’s names and contact details with each other. Your bidding name may show in the bid history. We handle your information as set out in our Privacy Policy.

16Changes and contact

We may update these auction terms from time to time. The version shown here when you place a bid is the one that applies to that auction. These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.

Questions? Email support@ausplates.au or use our contact page.