Bid Calculator
How much will I pay in Buyer's Premium on my maximum bid? Work out your auction fees with our bid calculator.
Our free calculator makes it easy to work out your auction fees before you bid.
Unless specified otherwise, bidders can expect to pay our low 20% Buyer's Premium on items offered for sale in our auctions. If applicable, VAT will be applied at the prevailing rate on the Premium.
When you bid in our Royal Wootton Bassett salerooms or on this website, you will pay no further fees. The same is true of telephone bids. However, if you bid through EasyLive or The Saleroom, you can expect to pay further fees set by these platforms.
RWB Auctions Fees Calculator
What Is Buyer's Premium?
Buyer's Premium is the fee charged as a percentage of the hammer price and paid by the winning bidder.
Auction houses charge Buyer's Premium to cover expert identification, valuation, cataloguing, photography, and marketing. It is also how they make a profit since they do not own the items they sell. The Buyer's Premium goes to the auction house, not the seller.
At RWB Auctions, we charge Buyer's Premium at a rate of 20% of the final hammer price.
For instance, if you won a lot with a final hammer price of £100, you could expect to pay £20 in Buyer's Premium with VAT charged on the £20 if applicable.
VAT On Auction Sales
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless specified otherwise.
However, Buyer's Premium is subject to VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%).
This means that for an item with a hammer price of £100, you could expect to pay £124, which includes £20 in Buyer's Premium and £4 in VAT on that Premium.
Internet Commission Fees
Third-party auction websites like Easylive and The Saleroom charge a fee to buyers who bid through their platforms. This is how they make money.
The Saleroom bills these fees as a percentage of the hammer price (plus VAT). Easylive enables the user to choose between a percentage of the hammer price and a flat fee that includes VAT.
Our online bidding platform works similarly to the major auction sites but is free to use. You can avoid additional fees by using our website, bidding in person or submitting telephone bids.
Hidden Auction Charges
Some buyers worry about encountering hidden charges when they buy at auction.
At RWB Auctions, we aim to be straightforward and upfront about the fees we charge. That's why we encourage all buyers to use our bid calculator to check what fees apply to their intended bid.
The only charges not included in this calculator are postage and packing, which is an optional service. If you require delivery, our in-house postage team will calculate a price based on your requirements and the size, value, and destination of your item.
Please contact our team if you require a shipping estimate prior to placing your bid.
--720.jpg "That's what one change checker made when he sold his 'Lines Over The Face' Aquatics 50p with RWB Auctions. This coin was one the star lots in our 8-9 May 2024 sale of coins and medals which included everything from ancient gold to rare modern collectables")