Pickles Auctions is one of Australia's leading asset remarketing and auction companies, operating a large network of online and live auction services for vehicles, industrial equipment, trucks, salvage, and general goods.

Founded in 1964 in Moree, New South Wales, Pickles has grown into a major Australian-owned auction and valuation business with facilities across the country. The company offers asset advisory, traditional and online auctions, and valuation services to government bodies, fleet and lease companies, financial institutions, insurers, and private sellers.

Quick Drive-Through

How Pickles Auctions Works

Pickles hosts multiple auction categories and listing types. It is a nationwide online and physical vehicle auction platform offering 50–100+ vehicles for online bidding on any given day and 1,000+ vehicles in physical auctions across its branches. Buyers can purchase quality vehicles through online bidding, live physical auctions, and Buy Now/fixed-price listings, placing a refundable deposit and only paying the buyer's premium if they secure the deal. Buyers pay applicable fees depending on the vehicle type, which varies by auction type.

Types of Auctions on Pickles

Pickles lists vehicles across a wide range of categories. Usually, 7 different types of auctions are held regularly or occasionally:

1. All Cars: Sedan, Vans & Utes, Wagons & SUVs
2. Hybrid & Electric Cars
3. Prestige, Luxury & Classic Cars
4. Government Cars
5. Industrial: Trucks, Agricultural, Mining, Machinery (incl. Ex-Military)
6. Salvage: Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Trailers & Caravans
7. Others: Motorcycles, Boats, Computers & Phones

Auction Structure

• Auctions are conducted both online and physical across Australia
• Each vehicle has its own scheduled closing time
• Online auctions are typically active for 7 days
• Live physical auctions have no fixed schedule
• A "Last Call" extension applies if bids are placed in the final moments

Information Available on Listings

Listings usually include:

• Vehicle make, model and year
• Odometer (km)
• Transmission and fuel type
• Condition notes
• Service history
• Registration
• Auction location and pickup details

Overall, Pickles positions itself as a transparent and flexible alternative to traditional car buying.

Listings & Vehicle Details

Pickles listings generally include detailed descriptions such as model, year, odometer (km), transmission, fuel type and location details. This allows buyers to shortlist vehicles efficiently before deeper research.

Vehicle Condition

Cars in auctions aren't limited to poor condition or low-quality stock. Auction vehicles can range from well-maintained cars to those that require repairs and maintenance. Pickles vehicle listings can be divided into three broad types:

1. Good Condition: younger, well-maintained vehicles
2. Average Condition: everyday used vehicles and older fleet cars that may show wear and tear
3. Specialty/Problematic: occasional classic or prestige vehicles, as well as cars with mechanical or cosmetic issues

Image Quality

Buyer's Premium & Fee Structure

Instead of inflating car prices with hidden margins, Pickles keeps auction pricing simple and transparent with a clear buyer's premium — charged only when buyers successfully win a vehicle. It depends on the final bid price and auction type:

For a simple example, if a motor vehicle is won at $20,000, the total payable would be: $20,000 (hammer price) + $650 (buyer's premium) + 1.33% of hammer (~$266) = $20,916. This approach separates the auction fee from the vehicle price so buyers are aware of what they're paying for — while allowing vehicles to be bid at their true market value.

Our Rating

We evaluated Pickles across multiple criteria, alongside aggregated online customer sentiment from verified platforms (weighted average: 3.5 / 5 across 1,682 reviews).

Pickles scores strongly for its large national inventory, clear condition reports, high-quality images, and trusted reputation. However, the rating is slightly lowered due to strong bidding competition on popular listings and additional or higher fees on some vehicles, which can reduce overall value for some buyers.

Compare auction houses across Australia → Choose wisely & bid smartly.

Customer Feedback Overview

Who Should Buy From Pickles?

How to Bid on Pickles? Step by Step Guide

• 1
  Create an account and verify your identity and contact information.
• 2
  Pay a $500 refundable deposit (if required) to unlock online bidding access.
• 3
  Choose a vehicle from PicklesLIVE or PicklesONLINE auctions.
• 4
  Place your bid — online: set a maximum bid and the system auto-bids for you; live: bid in real-time in person or via online streaming.
• 5
  Buy Now / Fixed Price — purchase eligible vehicles immediately outside of auction bidding.
• 6
  "Last Call" rule applies — auction closing time may extend if a bid is placed in the final moments.
• 7
  Receive notifications if you are outbid or if you win (online auctions only).

Auction Timing

Pickles auctions run on varied schedules depending on the type (online vs. live) and category. Live auctions have set start times, often in the morning or early afternoon, while online auctions provide a multi-day window where you set maximum bids:

Exact start times vary by auction type and location, so buyers should always check individual listings for precise details.

FAQ — Pickles Auctions