At a glance
| What's sold | Used business assets from insolvencies, lease returns and closures |
| Lots located in | Germany (100%) |
| Who can bid | Businesses only, with a VAT ID or tax number |
| Buyer's premium | 18% of hammer price (the terms say 15%) |
| VAT on premium | 19% on hammer price plus premium |
| Payment deadline | 3 working days after the invoice |
| Pickup deadline | One set day, usually 09:00-15:00, a few days after closing |
| Verdict | Small, seller-friendly liquidator with very few buyer reviews |
What's sold
BHV is a small family business based in Schleiden. It sells used business assets from insolvencies, ended leases and business closures, such as construction machinery, workshop tools, office furniture, IT, gym equipment and vehicles. Sales are small, run a few times a month and often have fewer than 20 lots.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: Not allowed. Only traders (Gewerbetreibende) can bid, so there is no 14-day right of withdrawal.
- Businesses: You sign up as a sole trader or a company and give a VAT ID or tax number. BHV may ask to see your trade licence (Gewerbeschein). There is no general bidding deposit. If you are based outside Germany, EU included, you pay 19% German VAT as a deposit. Your invoice address must match the address on your VAT ID.
Registration
- Go to the sign-up page and pick "Einzelfirma/Kaufmann" or "Firma".
- Fill in your name, company, address, country and phone number.
- Add your tax number or VAT ID (Steuernummer / Ust-id-Nr.).
- Set a username and password, pass the captcha and submit. It is free.
- Wait for BHV's approval email. BHV does not have to accept you.
- Keep your Gewerbeschein to hand in case BHV asks for it.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (Auktionsgebühr) | 18% of hammer price | Lot pages and the price calculator use 18%; the terms say 15% |
| VAT (USt) | 19% | Charged on hammer price plus premium; most businesses can reclaim it |
| Dismantling and loading | Per lot | Offered on some lots only; no standard rate |
| Building-damage deposit (Kaution) | Per lot | Only where the lot page announces it |
| Export paperwork | EUR 75 + VAT | Only if agreed in advance |
| Payment fees | None stated | You pay your own bank charges |
| Storage or late pickup | Not confirmed | You carry follow-on costs and any third-party storage |
Worked example (German business, collecting yourself):
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | EUR 1,000.00 |
| Premium 18% | EUR 180.00 (net EUR 1,180.00) |
| VAT 19% on EUR 1,180.00 | EUR 224.20 |
| Dismantling, transport, storage | Not confirmed |
| Total paid | EUR 1,404.20, excluding those costs (EUR 1,180.00 net if you reclaim VAT) |
How bidding works
- Auctions are timed and online. You can set a maximum bid, and the system bids for you up to it.
- Each lot shows the next minimum bid (Minimumgebot). There is no published increment table. Observed steps were EUR 10 at low prices and EUR 200 at around EUR 14,000.
- Closing times are hard, with no extension. Lots close one minute apart. Most contested lots are won in the final 1 to 5 seconds.
- BHV sets the starting prices. It may reject bids it considers too low and may refuse any bid without a reason.
- A conditional sale (Zuschlag unter Vorbehalt) binds you for up to 15 working days, while BHV can still turn you down. Lots under finance can be renegotiated after closing.
- Every bid is binding and you cannot withdraw it. If two bids are equal, the earlier one wins.
- BHV does not guarantee the site will be available. You cannot claim back a bid lost to a technical fault.
Watch out
- Risk is yours from the hammer, but you own the item only after payment and BHV's written release (Freigabeerklärung).
- Lots are sold as seen. Hours and mileage are not binding, even on the meter, and photos may show items not included.
- Bring your own crew, tools and forklift unless the lot says otherwise. Contractors wait one hour at most.
- If you fail to pay, BHV can resell, bill you for any shortfall and keep the premium.
- Foreign buyers forfeit the VAT deposit if stamped export proof is not received within 3 months.
Verdict: Plan for roughly 1.4 times your bid plus transport, and check you can make the single pickup day before bidding. Only bid on items you have inspected or can afford to lose.