Registration & ID Requirements

You will need to register for each auction that you would like to participate in. If you are bidding online, you can do this through your online account. If you are wanting to bid via one of the other methods available, you can do so in person, or contact us via phone or email: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | bid@dreweatts.com.

Before we get started, please note that it is now a requirement of Dreweatts that we undertake identification and address verification from clients in order to comply with money laundering regulations and fraud prevention. As such, we advise clients to register at least 48 hours in advance of the auction as you may be asked to provide documents to verify your identity. If you have not already done so, all clients must provide two forms of identification before they can bid.

To verify your personal account, please submit:

1. a passport or photographic driving licence and
2. a utility bill or document showing proof of name and address.

Please email a copy of the following information to live@dreweatts.com or upload the required documents via the secure portal: My Acarta

The Different Types of Auction

At Dreweatts, we offer Live Online Auctions and Timed Online Auctions. What's the difference?

Live Online Auctions are auctions with an auctioneer taking to the rostrum on the day of the auction. For these auctions, you can bid online, in person, by telephone, or leave a commission (absentee) bid. With a live video feed from the auction room, you can follow the action of the sale day from anywhere. 

Timed Online Auctions are purely online auctions - there is no auctioneer. Similarly it is not possible to bid by telephone or leave a commission bid direct with Dreweatts.  Commission bids can be left via your online bidding account. 

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Online bidding

Dreweatts offers you the opportunity to bid online via our bidding platform, Dreweatts Live. This allows you to participate and bid from anywhere in the world with no additional bidding fees. Simply create an online account and register online in advance for the auction. Once you are approved, you are ready to bid both prior to the auction and live on the auction day.

Our auctions are also listed on 3rd party online platforms. Please note there may be a surcharge for bidding via these platforms and we advise you to check with the platform before bidding. 

To create an online account or register for an auction, please click here.
For more information about creating an account, registering, and bidding online, please click here.

Telephone Bidding

Dreweatts offers the facility to bid by telephone. You will need to book a telephone line in advance of the auction. Dreweatts will call you when your lot(s) are about to come up for sale, enabling you to bid live on the telephone in real time.

Please note there is a limit to the number of telephone bids that we can execute for any particular lot, therefore telephone bids have to be accepted on a first come first served basis. Requests for telephone bids should be made by 4pm on the day before the auction takes place.

Commission (Absentee) Bids

If you are unable to attend the auction in person or bid online whilst the auction is taking place, you may wish to leave a commission (or absentee) bid. Simply complete a commission bid form while at Reception or email bid@dreweatts.com detailing which lot(s) you wish to bid on, with your maximum hammer price for each lot, and your name and address. Dreweatts will bid on your behalf taking into account any other bids and the reserve price. Commission bids may also be left via your online bidding account.

Please note if two or more people submit commission bids at the same figure the first bid received will be executed in the auction. 

Bidding in Person

Bidding in person is a great way to experience the thrill of the sale. Once you have registered with our reception team, you will be given your bidding paddle. You can then take your seat and start bidding on the lots that you are interested in. If you are a successful buyer, the auctioneer will ask you to state your paddle number and shortly after this you will be able to pay and collect your item.

What will I be charged?

The buyer pays the hammer price, buyer’s premium (+ VAT) and any other applicable fees for every lot won in the auction.  

Breakdown of buyer’s premium

For all auctions (except Wine auctions) buyer’s premium is charged per lot at 26% of the hammer price (31.2% including VAT) up to and including £20,000, 25% (30% including VAT) of the hammer price from £20,001 up to and including £500,000, 20% (24% including VAT) of the hammer price from £500,001 up to and including £1,000,000, and 12.5% of the hammer price (15% including VAT) in excess of £1,000,000. 

For Wine auctions, the buyer’s premium is charged on every lot at the rate of 20% of the hammer price (24% inc. VAT). In the event that a lot has the symbol β beside the lot number in the catalogue, this indicates that the item is under Bond and if released for delivery to a UK address will additionally be subject to UK DUTY and VAT thereon at 20% on the hammer price.

For example:

• Hammer price: £100
• Premium at 26% of £100 = £26
• VAT at 20% of £26 = £5.2
• Total price: £131.20 

Lot Description | Symbols Glossary

Please note that other fees, such as Artist Resale Rights (ARR or Droit de Suite), CITES and VAT may apply and where these are applicable, lots will be marked with symbols. Find out more.

3^rd party bidding platforms

Lots bought via a 3rd party bidding platform may be subject to an additional online commission fee which is charged by the 3rd party platform.

How to make a payment

Your invoice will be sent by email after the auction along with a payment and collection fact sheet. To make a payment online, please click here.

Collection and delivery

We are unable to store sold lots at our salerooms, therefore it is your responsibility to make payment and arrange collection within four working days of the sale taking place.

All items not collected within four working days of the sale (by 4pm) will automatically be sent to commercial storage and will subject to a storage charge. Collections can be made from Monday – Friday. We regret that collections are not possible at the weekend. If you are unable to collect yourself, we can supply a list of UK and international shipping companies who will be able to provide you with a shipping quote.

Please note that due to our busy auction calendar, the time available to collect direct from Dreweatts is subject to change. Please always check the information guide for each auction. This can be found online via the auction listing under 'Important Information'.

For further details, click here.

Need more information?

For any other enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us on: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | info@dreweatts.com

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