A max bid helps you stay competitive in an auction without going over budget. You set the highest amount you’re willing to bid on an object and we place bids for you – always within that limit.
How a max bid works
- You enter the max amount you’re willing to bid on an object.
- We place the minimum bid needed to put you in the lead.
- If someone outbids you, we bid again for you – using the smallest possible increment.
- We stop when your max bid is reached.
We’ll never bid more than the limit you set. If bidding goes beyond your max bid, we’ll notify you so you can decide what to do next.
Example: max bidding in practice
- Your max bid is €100
- The reserve price is €80
What happens:
- We place a bid of €80 to meet the reserve price
- Another bidder places €85 → we bid €90 for you
- If no one bids again, you win and pay €90
- If another bidder bids €105, we stop at €100
Max bid means you never overbid – you win with a bid that's just above the next highest bidder. You stay competitive, without exceeding your limit.
Note: if your max bid was €70, this amount would be bid in an attempt to reach the reserve price.
Why did my bid go straight to my max bid?
This can happen in a few situations:
- The reserve price is equal to or higher than your max bid
We bid up to your limit to get as close as possible to meeting the reserve price. - Another bidder has a max bid just below yours
If the next minimum bid would already be your maximum, we place it immediately. - Another bidder has the same max bid
Whoever placed their max bid first becomes the highest bidder. - Another bidder has a higher max bid
We bid up to your limit so you stay as close as possible.
In all cases, we always stop at the limit you’ve set.
Can I change my max bid after placing it?
- You can increase your max bid by placing a new bid with a higher limit.
- You can’t lower or cancel a bid once it’s been placed.
All bids are binding. This keeps auctions fair for buyers and sellers.
What happens when I reach my max bid?
Once your max bid is reached:
- We stop bidding for you.
- We notify you so you can decide whether to place a new bid.
Who can see my max bid?
Your max bid is private.
- Only you and Catawiki can see your max bid.
- Other bidders and the seller can’t see your limit.
- Bids shown in the bid history don’t indicate whether they’re part of a max bid.
Can I place a max bid if I’m already the highest bidder?
Yes. If you’re already in the lead and then place a max bid:
- We won’t bid again unless someone outbids you.
- Your max bid simply protects your position.
What happens if I place a max bid in the final minute?
If you place an auto bid in the last minute of an auction, we’ll extend the auction end time by 90 seconds. Please be aware, if you place an auto bid in the last 15 seconds of a Live Auction, we’ll extend the time by 10 seconds. This gives other bidders time to respond.
If someone bids again and you haven’t reached your limit, we bid for you and extend the auction again.
What happens if my max bid doesn’t reach the next increment?
If the next bid increment is higher than your max bid, we’ll still place a bid up to your limit. For example, if the current bid is €220 and your max bid is €230, we’ll bid €230 – even though the next increment would normally be €240.
Can I cancel a max bid?
No. You can’t cancel or lower any bid once it’s placed. This applies to all bids and helps keep auctions fair.