FAQs

An auction is a public sale, where assets are sold to the highest bidder.

Any item can be sold at an auction; from coins, antiques, cars, property and heavy machinery.

Tirhani Auctioneers specialises in vehicle, earthmoving equipment, residential and commercial real estate auctions.

The terms and conditions of an auction are referred to as the Rules of Auction. These rules can be found as an attachment to each auction publicized and are on our website. The Rules of Auction are also provided on the day of the auction, with any special rules being announced prior to the start of the auction.

Registration begins with a bidder registration form that can be downloaded off of the Tirhani Auctioneers website (www.tirhaniauction.co.za). This form must be completed, submitted with your FICA documents and proof of payment of the registration fee.

FICA documents are your Proof of Identification and Proof of Residence. Click on documents tab to download the FICA requirements.  

A bidder number is a number that is given to a registered bidder for use at an auction. The bidder number is used by the auctioneer during the auction in order to identify you, as well as by the auction administration department when processing refunds, invoices and payments.HATW

The registration fee is a compulsory charge that applies to all auctions; it is determined by the seller and varies per auction. Upfront payment of the registration fee is required by anyone wishing to participate in the bidding process.

Items for sale in an auction are arranged into lots. The auction begins when a starting bid for a lot has been determined by the bidders, with guidance from the auctioneer.

A starting bid is the minimum amount that a bidder is willing to pay for an item. It is typically used to start the auction off at a point that is deemed to be reasonable for the associated item. A starting price is established at the auction and is announced to the bidders.

For example – a VW Polo Vivo would have a starting bid of R20 000 or R30 000 and not that of R200 or R300.

Bidding is the process in which you register or show your interest in purchasing the item currently on auction. This is done by raising your hand or paddle in order to gain the attention of the auctioneer. Bidding takes place in increments as determined and facilitated by the auctioneer through constant verbal cues until the item is sold.

For example – the next bid for a VW Polo Vivo with a starting bid of R20 000 could be determined as R22 000. The auctioneer will ask, “do I have R22 000?” Which means, is there anyone willing to pay R22 000 for the item. A bidder who is willing to pay R22 000 will then raise his or her hand. The auctioneer will acknowledge the bidder and say, “I have R22 000”.

Yes, additional charges such as admin fees, document fees, VAT and auctioneer’s commission may apply to items purchased at an auction. All applicable charges are stipulated in the Rules of Auction and made available on the Tirhani website (www.tirhaniauction.co.za) prior to the auction taking place.

The preferred method of payment is that of an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). We unfortunately do not accept credit or debit cards for payment.

Cash deposits can be made directly into our account. However, it should be noted that cash deposit fees will apply. No cash payments will be accepted on the premises.

Yes, the auction does not have to come to an end before payments can be made. You may approach our onsite staff at one of our mobile offices and they will assist in generating an invoice for any purchase made.

Auction finance is pre-approval for the finance of an asset you wish to purchase in an auction. The finance is facilitated prior to the auction. Tirhani Auctioneers has a partnership with Auction Finance (www.tirhaniauction.co.za) who offer a wide range of services. Please visit the Auction Finance website for more information.

An online auction is a conventional auction that takes place on an internet-based platform, for a pre-determined period of time. Auction software is used to monitor activity, regulate bids and close each lot sequentially.

A vehicle document fee is an administrative levy that is exclusive of the purchase price. Vehicle document fees vary from auction to auction and will be stipulated on the rules of auction.

After receiving the Original Registration Certificate, together with a completed Notification of Change of Ownership (NCO) and a copy of the Sellers Identity Document, the buyer visits a local licensing department with their Identity Document. The buyer also needs to complete a Change of Ownership form, which can be obtained from the licensing department.

No, all bank repossessed auctions are subject to VAT, as the entities that are involved (the auction house and the bank) are VAT vendors. Government garage vehicles are not subject to VAT, although there will be a VAT amount payable on the portion of the invoice that applies to the auctioneer’s commission.

Once all the necessary documents, as mentioned above, are provided to the licensing department, this process should take a couple of hours.

• Code 1 – Brand New
• Code 2 – Used
• Code 3 – Rebuild
• Code 4 – Breaker (car must be broken up and used for spare parts)