At a glance
| What's sold | Used cars, often premium, sports, classic or imported; some motorcycles, campers and trailers |
| Lots located in | Netherlands (100%) |
| Who can bid | Private buyers and businesses with a Troostwijk or Bright account |
| Buyer's premium | 19% (Troostwijk); 12.5% excl. VAT (Bright) |
| VAT on premium | 21% on the premium (Troostwijk, margin lots too; Bright, Dutch standard rate on its 12.5% fee) |
| Payment deadline | 48 hours (Troostwijk); 5 days (Bright) |
| Pickup deadline | 14 days from the first pickup day, then €15 a day |
| Verdict | Bargains exist, but only for buyers who inspect in person |
What's sold
The site sells used cars from dealers and private sellers, many of them luxury, sports, youngtimer or classic models. A lot of cars are imports from Japan, the USA or Switzerland, registered in the Netherlands shortly before the sale. Auctions run roughly weekly from Tiel and Milsbeek, last about two weeks and have one viewing day.
Who can bid
- Private buyers: You bid with a personal Troostwijk account or a paid Bright account. Some Troostwijk auctions want a deposit of at least €200 for bids above €4,000, and you may need to show ID. Which countries are allowed is not confirmed.
- Businesses: A Troostwijk company account needs a VAT ID that passes the VIES check, and the account type is fixed once chosen. You may be asked for a Chamber of Commerce (KvK) or UBO extract. Whether intra-EU 0% VAT applies is not confirmed.
Registration
- Click "Bid now" on a lot to find out whether Troostwijk or Bright handles it.
- On Troostwijk, sign up for free as personal or company; you cannot switch later.
- On Bright, create an account and confirm your email and phone number.
- On Bright, buy a membership: Regular (€5 a year) or Premium (€50 a year).
- On Troostwijk, pay the deposit if the auction requires one.
- Check the name on the invoice, as it cannot be changed after you pay.
Fees and real total cost
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's premium (opgeld) | 19% Troostwijk; 12.5% excl. VAT Bright | 21% VAT on the premium on both, margin lots included; sellers pay no commission |
| VAT (BTW) on hammer | 21% | VAT lots only; margin lots carry no VAT on the hammer price |
| Service fee | €125 per car (Troostwijk) | Plus 21% VAT on VAT lots; Bright not confirmed |
| Remaining BPM (rest-BPM) | Varies, e.g. €1,967 or €8,523 | Dutch and non-EU buyers pay; EU buyers likely pay, then reclaim |
| Export procedure | €242 to €310 incl. VAT | Dutch-registered cars leaving the country |
| Storage (stallingskosten) | €15 a day | From day 15 after the first pickup day |
| Transport | €165 excl. VAT in the Netherlands | Abroad on quote |
Worked example, Troostwijk margin lot:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | €1,000 |
| Premium 19% | €190 |
| VAT 21% on premium | €39.90 |
| Service fee | €125 (checkout €1,354.90) |
| Export procedure, if needed | €242–310 (total €1,596.90–1,664.90) |
This total excludes BPM and transport. On a Troostwijk VAT lot, 21% VAT on hammer, premium and service fee gives a checkout of €1,591.15. On a Bright margin lot: €1,000 + €125 premium + €26.25 VAT = €1,151.25, excluding any service fee (not confirmed), BPM, export and transport.
How bidding works
- Set a maximum bid and the system raises your bid for you in the smallest steps.
- Bid increments are not confirmed on either platform.
- A bid in the last 2 minutes adds 2 minutes on Troostwijk; on Bright, the last 3 minutes add 3 minutes.
- Lots close 2 minutes apart, so track your own lot's closing time.
- Most lots need seller approval (gunning). The seller can decline at no cost; you stay bound for about 48 hours.
- Every bid is binding. You cannot withdraw it and have no cooling-off right (herroepingsrecht).
- Backing out costs a flat 25% plus premium on Troostwijk, or at least 12.5% on Bright.
Watch out
- Buyers often find serious faults the listing missed; cars are sold as is, without warranty.
- Imports can show wrong mileage or an "Undetermined" NAP result; run your own history check.
- BPM and export costs have caught buyers out at pickup; get exact amounts in writing first.
- Pickup can take 2 to 4 hours of paperwork; inspect the car before signing for it.
- Many cars have no valid APK, so book a transporter rather than planning to drive away.
Verdict: A genuine dealer auction where below-trade prices do happen. View every car in person and add up the full cost before you bid.