At a glance
| What's sold | Used insolvency and liquidation stock: CNC and metalworking machines, workshop gear, office furniture, vehicles |
| Lots located in | Germany (100%) |
| Who can bid | Approved businesses only, from any country |
| Buyer's premium | 18% of the hammer price |
| VAT on premium | 19% on hammer plus premium; on the premium only for private-insolvency lots |
| Payment deadline | Due at once; invoice sent by email within 24 hours |
| Pickup deadline | One fixed date per auction; vehicles within 8 working days |
| Verdict | Low prices and little competition, but terms favour the seller |
What's sold
Venta24 sells estates from insolvencies (Insolvenz) and liquidations (Liquidation), mainly around Hagen, Witten, Iserlohn and Aachen. Most lots are metalworking machines such as CNC machines. You also find workshop equipment, office furniture, stock, cars, vans, trucks and trailers. Everything is used and sold as it stands (wie sie stehen und liegen).
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You cannot bid. If you register as a business but buy for yourself, you give up consumer protection.
- Businesses: You must be a business (Unternehmer) and the operator must approve you; you have no right to be admitted. Any country is allowed. EU businesses outside Germany must give a VAT number. No ID check, document upload or deposit is mentioned for registration. Foreign buyers pay the VAT as a deposit (Kaution).
Registration
- Open the registration form and enter your company name (Firma), which is required.
- Add your address, authorised representatives, phone number and email.
- Pick a bidder pseudonym that does not reveal your identity.
- Enter your VAT ID if you are an EU business outside Germany.
- Submit the form and wait for the operator's approval.
- Click the link in the confirmation email, which also accepts the terms.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (Versteigerungsaufgeld) | 18% | On every lot unless the lot page states otherwise |
| VAT | 19% | On hammer plus premium; on the premium only for private-insolvency lots. Treatment of margin-taxed (§25a) vehicles not confirmed |
| Storage (Lagerungskosten) | EUR 100 per item per day | If you miss the pickup date |
| Vehicle standing fee (Standgeld) | Not confirmed | Starts after 8 working days |
| Second pickup appointment | Not confirmed | Charged to you if one is offered |
| Dismantling, transport, disposal | Your own cost | No shipping service |
| Handling, admin or payment fees | Not published | |
| VAT deposit (foreign buyers) | Full VAT amount | Refunded only against stamped original export documents |
Worked example, standard lot:
| Step | EUR |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | 1,000.00 |
| Premium 18% | 180.00 |
| VAT 19% on 1,180.00 | 224.20 |
| Other fees | None if you collect on time |
| Total paid | 1,404.20 |
This excludes transport, dismantling and storage. On a private-insolvency lot, VAT applies to the premium only (19% of 180.00 = 34.20), so you pay 1,214.20.
How bidding works
- Bid above the next minimum and the bid agent (Bietagent) raises your bid in minimum steps up to your maximum.
- Increments grow with the price, for example EUR 50 up to 1,000 and EUR 100 up to 5,000.
- Lots close 20 seconds apart. A bid in the final minute resets the clock to 1 minute. The server time decides.
- Bids are binding until you are outbid. You cannot withdraw them, and you must take what you win.
- On a reserve lot (Zuschlag unter Vorbehalt) you stay bound after the close for up to 10 days while the operator decides, or up to 30 days for lots sold under §168 InsO.
- The sale only exists once the hammer is confirmed by email. The operator may withdraw, split or merge lots, end auctions early or cancel a sale.
- The operator accepts no liability for bids lost to technical faults.
Watch out
- Miss the pickup slot, often only 3 to 5 hours on one day, and you can lose both the lot and your money.
- Risk passes to you at the hammer; there is no insurance or guarding.
- Warranty is excluded and catalogue details are not binding, so attend the viewing (Besichtigung).
- Papers for financed vehicles (KFZ-Brief) can take about a month; do not resell before they arrive.
- Almost no public buyer reviews exist to check the operator's track record.
Verdict: Many lots sell at or near the start price, so it is worth using if you can inspect and collect in person. Budget for the full gross cost and long reserve lock-ins.