After You Win a Bid
Winning an auction is just the beginning. Here's what happens next — from payment to pickup — and how AutoRetta keeps you organized every step of the way.
The Win Lifecycle
Every bid you win moves through five stages. AutoRetta tracks each one in your Bid Tracker so nothing falls through the cracks.
You won the auction
The auction host marks you as the winning bidder. AutoRetta reflects this in your Bid Tracker under the "Won" group when your status is updated.
Complete payment
Open the receipt from your won bid (receipt icon). Review the estimate, then use Pay to open a secure card checkout powered by Stripe. You pay AutoRetta for the vehicle purchase; auction fees are shown separately as amounts collected on behalf of the auction host. Complete payment within the window required by the host (often 1–3 business days).
Payment confirmed
After your card payment succeeds, your bid can move to Paid. Status may also update when our systems process the payment confirmation.
Vehicle is staged at the lot
The auction yard will notify you when your vehicle is ready. Coordinate pickup — bring a valid ID and any required paperwork. Third-party transport can be arranged if needed.
It's yours!
Mark the vehicle as picked up in your Bid Tracker to complete the lifecycle. Your receipt and status history stay in your account for reference.
Using the Bid Tracker
Your dashboard's Bid Tracker shows every bid you've submitted through AutoRetta. Statuses update when auction results are known. Bids are grouped into four categories:
Bids submitted and awaiting auction results.
Awarded through ready-for-pickup — your post-win queue.
Vehicles you've marked as picked up.
Bids that did not win at auction.
Expand a card to advance post-win steps, confirm purchase price where needed, or remove a bid from tracking. Won bids show a Receipt icon — open it for the full breakdown, payment button, and timeline.
Your Auction Receipt
Every won bid has a receipt that pulls together vehicle context, costs, and next steps:
Vehicle details
Year, make, model, VIN, and yard when available.
Cost breakdown
Winning bid plus line items. Auction host fees (payment, online bid, gate, environmental) are grouped so you can see what goes to the auction versus AutoRetta's $0 broker fee.
Pay by card
Use Pay on the receipt to complete purchase payment through Stripe. This is separate from wallet deposits used for buying power when bidding.
Save or print
Save PDF or print from the receipt — the printable copy uses a dark logo for readability on paper.
Fulfillment timeline
Awarded → Payment Due → Paid → Ready for Pickup → Picked Up, with your current stage highlighted.
Listing link
Jump to the original listing when a URL is available.
AutoRetta's fee is always $0.00
The receipt marks the AutoRetta broker fee as FREE — we don't add a platform markup to your purchase. Learn why →
For photo galleries on listing pages, you can use keyboard arrow keys to move between images — see Vehicle detail tips.
Important reminders
Pay winning bids through AutoRetta
Complete vehicle purchase payment using the Pay flow on your receipt (Stripe). Do not send payment to unrelated third parties. Your Wallet is for buying power when placing bids — it is not the same checkout as the post-win Pay button.
Payment deadlines are strict
Auction hosts typically require payment within a short window after the sale. Late or missed payments can result in forfeiture or account issues. Contact support immediately if you need help.
Factor in all fees before bidding
Your out-of-pocket cost is higher than the hammer price. Use the fee estimate in the bid panel and the receipt's auction-fee section before you commit.
Storage fees accumulate quickly
After any grace period, yards often charge daily storage. Pick up promptly to avoid extra cost.