- On BCA's standard (Blue) rate card, an £8,000 car carries a buyer's fee of £805.83 before VAT, or £967 with it.
- The fee rises in price bands, from £47.50 on the cheapest lots to £1,397.50 just under £25,000.
- VAT-registered dealers can usually reclaim the VAT on the fee. Transport and any extra charges come on top.
How BCA buyer fees work
When you win a car at BCA, the hammer price is only part of the bill. BCA charges the buyer a fee on every vehicle, set by the price the car sold for. The higher the price, the higher the fee, in steps of £250 for most cars.
The rates below are BCA's Blue (Standard) rates, effective from 30 March 2026. BCA offers different rates to regular buyers, so check which rate card applies to your account.
The 2026 standard rates at a glance
| Selling price | Fee, net of VAT | Fee, with VAT |
|---|---|---|
| £2,000 – £2,249 | £511.67 | £614.00 |
| £5,000 – £5,249 | £690.00 | £828.00 |
| £8,000 – £8,249 | £805.83 | £967.00 |
| £10,000 – £10,249 | £869.17 | £1,043.00 |
| £12,000 – £12,249 | £938.33 | £1,126.00 |
| £15,000 – £15,249 | £1,049.17 | £1,259.00 |
| £20,000 – £20,249 | £1,230.00 | £1,476.00 |
| £24,750 – £24,999 | £1,397.50 | £1,677.00 |
Source: BCA Blue (Standard) Buyers Fee Rates, effective 30 March 2026. Above £24,999, BCA asks buyers to contact its customer services.
What an £8,000 car really costs you
Take a car that sells for £8,000. The standard fee is £805.83, and a typical regional move to your forecourt costs around £250. Before you've prepped it or put it on sale, it has cost you £9,056.
Do you pay VAT on BCA fees?
Yes. VAT at 20% is charged on the buyer's fee, which is why £805.83 becomes £967. If you're VAT registered, you can usually reclaim it. Most used cars are sold under the margin scheme, so there's normally no VAT on the hammer price itself.
How to pay less
Buy regularly and ask BCA whether you qualify for a lower rate card. Or buy some of your stock where there's no fee at all: direct from the people who own the cars. Every car you buy from a local seller skips the buyer's fee, the transport and the bidding.
Common questions
How much is the BCA buyer's fee on a £5,000 car?
On the standard rate card, a car selling for £5,000 to £5,249 carries a fee of £690 before VAT, or £828 with it.
Is the BCA fee the same for every buyer?
No. The rates here are BCA's standard rates. Buyers with a specific arrangement can have different rates, so check the rate card on your account.
What does BCA charge above £25,000?
The standard rate card stops at £24,999. For vehicles above that, BCA asks buyers to contact its customer services.
See what the fees come to on the auction cost calculator, or try the live demo.
