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UK insolvency and liquidation auctions explained
A large share of the assets from failed UK companies is sold at auction. If you want plant, machinery, vehicles, stock or equipment at keen prices, the auction room is where a lot of it ends up. Here is how these sales work and how to buy well.
Last updated 2026-09-17.
When a company is wound up, the office holder has to turn its assets into cash quickly and fairly. Auction is one of the main ways they do it, because it reaches a wide pool of buyers, produces a clear market price, and is transparent for the creditors the office holder answers to. For a buyer, that means a steady flow of company assets coming to market, sold to whoever bids the most on the day.
Who runs them and what sells
Insolvency auctions are run by specialist auctioneers appointed by the liquidator or administrator to sell a company's assets on their behalf. What comes up depends on the business. Common lots include plant and machinery, commercial and specialist vehicles, catering and shop fit outs, IT and office equipment, tools, and stock sold in bulk. Bigger cases can include whole production lines or a fleet. Property is usually handled separately, but the movable assets of a failed business are the auction room's bread and butter.
Find the companies behind the assets
Browse the live list of UK companies in an insolvency process, open one for its asset assessment, and see what it is likely to hold and who the appointed office holder is.
How the bidding works
Most insolvency auctions now run online, sometimes with a room as well, over a set window that closes lot by lot. You register with the auctioneer in advance, which usually means giving your details and card, then you bid up to your limit. If you win, you pay the hammer price plus a buyer's premium, a percentage the auctioneer adds on top, and VAT where it applies. After that you collect the goods yourself within a short window, so plan how you will move and store them before you bid.
Sold as seen: the golden rule
Auction lots from an insolvency are sold as seen, with no warranty as to condition, completeness or working order, and often no guarantee of title. There is normally a viewing day when you can inspect the lots in person, and you should always use it. Check condition, count quantities, and look for anything that suggests an item is on finance or subject to a supplier's claim. Once the hammer falls the lot is yours, faults and all, so your inspection is your protection.
Auction or a direct approach to the office holder
Auction is not the only route. For a single high value asset, a specialist collection, or a whole business as a going concern, the office holder may prefer a private sale, and you can approach them directly with an offer before anything reaches the auction room. Auction suits general plant, mixed lots and bulk stock, where a competitive sale gets the best price. A direct approach suits the specific asset or business you really want, where you would rather negotiate than bid against the room. Our guides on buying assets from a company in liquidation and contacting the office holder cover the direct route.
How to buy well at auction
Do your homework on the lots you want and set a firm ceiling for each. Factor in the premium, VAT and the cost of removal and transport, which can be significant for heavy plant. Inspect in person on the viewing day. Do not get drawn into a bidding war above your number, because there is usually another case and another lot along soon. And remember the discipline that runs through all insolvency buying: you are buying as seen, so a sensible margin for risk belongs in every bid.
Work the market, not just one auction
Browse the full list of UK companies in an insolvency process to see what is coming to market and who is selling, then decide whether to bid or approach the office holder direct.
Common questions
What is a liquidation auction?
A sale, run by or on behalf of the appointed office holder, of the assets of a company in an insolvency process. Plant, machinery, vehicles, stock and equipment are sold to the highest bidder, usually online and as seen.
Can anyone bid?
Yes. Insolvency auctions are open to the public. You register with the auctioneer, bid online or in the room, and pay the hammer price plus a buyer's premium and VAT where it applies.
Are goods sold as seen?
Almost always. Assets are sold as seen, with no warranty and no guarantee of title, so you inspect during the viewing and price in the risk before you bid.
Company information, not advice. Always inspect before bidding and take professional advice on any significant purchase.