FAQs

IS THE AUCTION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR DO YOU NEED TO HAVE A DEALER’S LICENSE?

• The auction is open to private buyers and dealers alike, to both consign and purchase items. If you are a dealer, you will need to provide us with your dealer license and reseller permit so that we can process your paperwork appropriately.
• You must be 18 years old or over to bid and purchase.

HOW DO I REGISTER TO BID?

Online:

1. Go to https://postfallsautoauction.hibid.com/auctions/
2. Click “Login/ New Bidder”.
3. Create a username and password or login to your account.
4. Enter your current address and up-to-date contact information. If you already have an account, be sure everything looks correct. If you have a new address or phone number, please update it here as we cannot do that for you. If you use a fake name or false identification, we will be forced to decline you. Please use your legal name and information.
5. Scroll down to “payment options” and enter your credit or debit card information. We will run this card for the 25% due on Saturday and the remaining balance owed on Monday, unless you come in to pay or we hear from you for alternative payment methods.
6. Once you have done this and agreed to our terms and conditions, you are set to bid.
   If you have questions or issues finding any of these steps, we also have a tutorial video on how to do this under “How to Buy”. This video also covers bidding.

In-Person:

1. Check-in at the front desk to get registered to bid.
2. Please have a valid ID on you such as a driver’s license or state identification card.
3. Be prepared to look over and sign our bidder terms and conditions. Once you do so you will receive a bid card and be able to place bids in the auction house.

HOW DO I BID?

• Make sure you have followed the steps above to get registered to bid.
• From the homepage on postfallsautoauction.com, click the orange “Auction Catalog” tab in the upper right-hand corner. This will transfer you to the Post Falls Auto Auction catalog on the HiBid website.
• On this page, there are multiple ways that you can get to the full inventory and details of the current catalog:

1. Click on the upcoming auction date above the photo of one of the items in the auction, it will say for example “4/24/21 Auto Auction”.
2. Click on the photo of the item for the auction listing.
3. Click on the words “View Catalog” on the bar below the auction information.
4. Click “Lot List” in the options area where “Auctions” and “Auction Map” can also be found.

(You are also able to view past auctions on this same page by clicking “Past Auctions” at the very top of the page. Please note that “lot passed” or “make offer” inventory from past auctions is only available for purchase for roughly the first week after the most recent auction.)

• Find the item in our auction catalog that you are interested in and click “Bid”. Clicking the “Bid” button to place a bid will give you two options. You can either select to bid up in the next increment that is auto-populated OR set your Hi-Bid.
• A Hi-Bid allows bidders to set a maximum bid and continue to participate, even if they are unable to be actively bidding. Setting your Hi-Bid does not automatically bid you up to the amount set, you must have another bidder bid against you first. If the item meets the reserve amount before a bidder’s Hi-Bid amount, a bidder could potentially win the item for less than their Hi-Bid.
• You may pre-bid on items up until they go live during the auction. Pre-bidding gets some of the bidding done on an item before it goes live, lets the bidder establish a history with items they’re interested in, and helps bidders make sure they are properly registered to bid. It also allows the bidder to place a Hi-Bid or proxy bid.
• On the day of the auction a live internet stream will start at 10 am Pacific, allowing you to be able to see the auction in real-time online. By clicking the “Live Webcast” button you will also be able to hear the auctioneer. Bids placed online and in person will happen and be tracked simultaneously.

BID INCREMENTS

Your bid must adhere to the bid increment schedule.

• If no pre-bidding has occurred on an item, the lot will start at $300.

** For example, at 1O am when lot 101 becomes available for live bidding, online bids change from pre-bids to live bids, and the current winning pre-bid will be where live bidding starts. Hi-Bids that have not been met will stay active as more bids are placed. **

WHAT ORDER ARE THE ITEMS AUCTIONED OFF IN?

• Each item up for auction will be numbered starting at 101 and sold in numerical order. Each lot will last roughly 1-2 minutes and be bid on by both online and in-person bidders.

CAN I PREVIEW THE CARS/ WHERE ARE THE CARS BEING SOLD?

• All vehicles are sold from our auction location:

Post Falls Auto Auction
1094 N McGuire Rd
Post Falls, ID 83854

• Our preview days are held the week of the auction only, during the following times:
• Thursday and Friday 8 am until 5 pm (hours may vary during winter)
• Saturday 8 am until 9:30 am before the auction

**Due to insurance and safety regulations, children 14 and under are not allowed out on the lot or in the bidding area. They may still come into the lobby and office area; seating is available there for families who would like to attend preview days or the auction. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter!**

ARE THE CARS TAKEN ON A TEST DRIVE AND WHAT DO THE REMARKS IN THE CATALOG MEAN?

• We test drive each vehicle unless stated otherwise and notate issues found that could not be noticed during a stationary inspection. We do not test vehicles over 40 mph, nor do we test 4-wheel drive capability. For example, if the engine knocks, but the vehicle drove fine, we DO NOT notate that in the catalog.

CATALOG REMARKS

Test Drive

• “Front End Issues” -This generally pertains to the suspension or drivetrain components of the front end.
• “Rear End Issues” -This generally pertains to the suspension or the drivetrain components of the rear end.
• ”Transmission Issues” -This could mean the transmission slips or is stuck in one gear, etc.
• ”Runs Rough” -This means the engine was underperforming or the vehicle was smoking or producing off-colored smoke during the test drive.
• “Underpowered” -This means the engine isn’t supplying the normal amount of power to the vehicle. Normally these items take a while to get up to speed, or they may not get up to speed.
• “Front End Noise” -This generally pertains to an abnormal engine noise.
• “Smokes” -This means that there was abnormal or excessive smoke coming from the tailpipe

Title Brands (Found During an Autocheck, in Mnvtis, or Based off the Title/Vehicle)

• “Former Rental” -The item was a former rental or fleet vehicle.
• “Rebuilt/Salvage Title Record” -The item was a salvaged vehicle that is now rebuilt and road operable.
• “Structural Damage or Structural Alteration Record” -The item has had either damage or an alteration to the frame. Severity is unknown.
• “Not Actual Miles” -The item has a potential odometer rollback/rollover, or mileage discrepancy reported.
• “Lemon Law” -The item had a “substantial defect” covered by warranty, that occurred within a certain time after purchase and continues to have the defect after a “reasonable number” of repair attempts.

WHAT FEES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BUYING A VEHICLE?

• 10% buyer’s premium (this is based off of the winning bid amount for the item. Ex: $1,000 winning bid x 10% = $100 buyer’s premium)
• $75.00 document fee per titled item
• $14.00 title fee per titled item
• 6% sales tax (no tax charged to out of state residents, except for on non-titled items)
• $40 out of state title fee per item for purchasers outside of ID, WA, and MT (This fee is used to rush title vehicles into Post Falls Auto Auction’s name so that titles can be sent directly to purchasers.)
• $10 30-day trip permits are available to non-Idaho residents (Idaho residents will receive a trip permit with their title transfer paperwork.)
• There will be an additional 2% processing fee on total balance when paying by card or check

Here are some examples of what fees look like to our different buyers:

WHAT DO I DO AFTER I WIN A BID?

• Visit our front desk at 1094 N McGuire Rd Post Falls, Idaho.
• You will be required to be here to sign legal documents needed to purchase a vehicle and transfer a title. Please bring valid identification for this.
• If you are putting the vehicle in someone else’s name they will need to be here in person at the time of paperwork, also with a valid ID. There is a $20 change fee per item to do so. Please let us know that you would like to change names before we begin paperwork.
• If you are unable to complete these documents in person, a VIN-specific power of attorney will need to be completed and notarized, then sent to us. Transport will also need to be arranged by the winning bidder and arrive no later than the Friday after the auction. We cannot release the vehicle to transport until we receive the completed power of attorney, so please let us know promptly if this is how you plan to complete paperwork. Please call for further questions related to this.

– 25% of the invoice total is due Saturday, the day of the auction, and is non-refundable.
– The remaining 75% of the total invoice is due by no later than the Monday after the auction

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE?

• You have until the Friday following the auction to pick up the vehicle. If you will need a transportation company to pick up the vehicle for you, please be aware that we will need to have all paperwork and payment completed prior to that.
• Any persons leaving an item past the following Friday will accrue a $50 per day storage fee.
• PFAA is not open Sundays for pickup and only open on Saturdays while an auction is taking place.
• Hours of operation for pickup are Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm.

DOES POST FALLS AUTO AUCTION SUPPLY TRANSPORT OF A VEHICLE?

• PFAA does not supply any kind of transportation. It is solely up to the consignor and purchaser to arrange transport of any items brought to or taken from our facility, and within the appropriate timeframe. A list of viable transportation options can be provided upon request.

DOES POST FALLS AUTO AUCTION SUPPLY TRIP PERMITS OR TEMPORARY REGISTRATIONS FOR PURCHASED ITEMS?

• If you are a resident of Idaho, you will receive a temporary trip permit as part of your title transfer paperwork. The length of this permit is typically 3 days, as you can immediately go in to register.
• If you are an out-of-state resident, you may purchase a 30-day trip permit for $l0. The purchaser of the vehicle is the only person that can have the trip permit issued to them. If your driver’s license or ID card is expired or has been hole punched, we are legally unable to issue you a permit.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY TITLE AND HOW DO I REGISTER MY CAR?

• If you are a resident of Idaho, you will receive a pink carbon copy of your Idaho 502: Certificate for Application of Title that you complete with us when purchasing the vehicle. This document allows you to immediately register your vehicle, prior to receiving a title for it. Idaho’s time for processing and sending out titles varies and can take 30-90 days after paperwork is submitted.
• If you are a Washington resident your title paperwork will be sent to a Department of Licensing of your choice, in the county you reside.
• If you are a Montana resident your title paperwork will be sent to the Motor Vehicle Department in the county that you reside in.
• If you are a resident of any other state not mentioned above, you will be charged an additional $40 title transfer fee. This fee is used to rush title the vehicle into Post Falls Auto Auction’s name so that a title can be sent directly to you. PFAA does this to avoid any potential issues that could arise when dealing with unfamiliar out-of-state licensing departments. Please be aware that receiving your title will be delayed, as Idaho title processing times can vary. Your title will be sent directly by 2Day FedEx signed into your name once we have it.

➔ Title work can take PFAA up to 30 days to complete and mail out. Your DOL/MVD will contact you by phone or postcard when these documents arrive. Once you have received notification, we recommend promptly going down to register and transfer the title into your name to avoid accruing fees.