Austin Auction GalleryAustin
Auction
Gallery
Upcoming AuctionsLog inSign Up

Buying with us

Buying with Austin Auction Gallery

A transparent, efficient process for collectors and buyers worldwide.

Pre-Register Now

Buying with us

Three steps to bid

From registration through pickup, every step is clear before the auction begins.

  1. 1

    Browse & Register

    Preview every lot in the online catalog, create your free account, and complete any new-bidder approval before sale day.

    Pre-Register Now →
  2. 2

    Bid Your Way

    Bid live in the room, online in real time, leave an absentee bid, or let our staff bid for you by phone — whatever suits you.

    Four ways to bid ↓
  3. 3

    Complete Your Purchase

    Pay your invoice, collect in Austin, or choose an independent professional from our trusted-shipper list. Get quotes before you bid.

    Explore trusted shippers →Authorize a pickup →
Since 1983
Serving Texas collectors
500,000+
Lots sold at the block
$100M+
In prices realized
Register to bid

Registering is free and carries no obligation to bid.

Bidding options

Choose how you bid

Every venue carries the same trusted Austin Auction Gallery service — and the lowest premium when you bid with us directly.

Other Platforms

27–28%Buyer’s premium + card fees

Prefer your usual venue? Bid on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, or Bidsquare with the same trusted service. LiveAuctioneers adds a 3.9% and Invaluable a 2.9% credit-card fee.

LiveAuctioneers ↗Invaluable ↗
Bid on Bidsquare →
Lowest premium

Austin Auction Live!

23%Buyer’s premium · no card or third-party fees

Bid directly on our in-house platform for the lowest buyer’s premium, no credit-card fee, and a seamless real-time experience.

Bid now →

Telephone Bids

23%Buyer’s premium

Submit a phone-bid form and our staff will call before your lots so you can bid live over the phone.

Submit phone bids →

Buyer's Premium

What you'll actually pay

Set a hammer price and compare the total at each venue. Bidding directly with Austin Auction Live! carries the lowest premium.

$5,000

At $5,000, the next bid moves in $500 steps.

Lowest total cost

Austin Auction Live!

23% premium · no card fee

Hammer
$5,000
Premium
$1,150
Card fee
None
You pay
$6,150

Bidsquare

27% buyer's premium

Hammer
$5,000
Premium
$1,350
Card fee
None
You pay
$6,350

$200 more than bidding direct

LiveAuctioneers

28% premium + 3.9% card fee

Hammer
$5,000
Premium
$1,400
Card fee
$250
You pay
$6,650

$500 more than bidding direct

Invaluable

28% premium + 2.9% card fee

Hammer
$5,000
Premium
$1,400
Card fee
$186
You pay
$6,586

$436 more than bidding direct

Bid increments

Bidding rises in set steps. The highlighted row matches the selected hammer price.

Current bidIncrement
Up to $99$10
$100 – $499$25
$500 – $999$50
$1,000 – $1,999$100
$2,000 – $4,999$250
$5,000 – $9,999$500
$10,000 – $49,999$1,000
$50,000 – $149,999$5,000
$150,000 and up$10,000

Totals are hammer price plus buyer's premium and any platform credit-card fee (3.9% on LiveAuctioneers, 2.9% on Invaluable — charged by those platforms, never by us); applicable sales tax is additional. Telephone bids share the 23% direct premium, and Austin Auction Live! has no card fee.

Before you place a bid

Inspect before you bid.

Our specialists make it easy to understand a lot from the gallery or from across the world.

Free public preview

See it in person

Free preview is open Monday–Thursday before the auction at 8414 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78729. Gallery hours are Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:30 AM–3:00 PM.

Plan your visit →
Condition reports & extra photos

Request a condition report

Ask our specialists for a closer look or additional photographs before the sale. All property is offered as is, where is.

Ask about a lot →
Read with confidence

Understand catalog terms

Phrases such as “attributed to” describe a qualified opinion rather than a guarantee of authorship. Our glossary explains the language.

Open the glossary →
Research before bidding

Compare past results

Search prices realized from previous Austin Auction Gallery sales to understand the market before setting your maximum.

Search past results →

After the hammer falls

From winning bid to safe arrival.

Four deadlines and decisions cover nearly every purchase.

  1. 01

    Receive & pay your invoice

    Invoices arrive after the auction and are due within 5 days. Pay by cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or a Texas check with valid ID. Purchases over $10,000 require wire transfer.

  2. 02

    Confirm tax or exemption

    Applicable sales tax is collected unless we have a valid resale or exemption certificate, or a licensed carrier ships the property outside Texas.

  3. 03

    Collect within 10 days

    Paid property must be removed within 10 calendar days. After that, storage is $25 per lot, per day. Contact us before arriving so your purchases can be ready.

  4. 04

    Arrange the handoff

    Choose an independent shipper or authorize someone else to collect. We can often combine invoices so your shipper can collect purchases from multiple sessions in one pickup—call before paying.

Choose a trusted shipperAuthorize a pickupRead complete sale terms

Not ready for the auction room?

Start on your own terms.

Buy outright today, or let the next catalog come to you.

The Warehouse

No bidding. No waiting.

Shop curated estate pieces at posted prices, first-come and first-served. Checkout online, then arrange gallery pickup or an independent shipper.

Shop The Warehouse →

Stay ahead of the sale

Know when catalogs drop.

Get upcoming-auction announcements and be among the first to know when The Warehouse opens each month.

Auction announcements and Warehouse openings. Unsubscribe anytime.

August 2026 Next auction

AUGUST 2026 | SUMMER SIGNATURE ESTATES & EUROPEAN ANTIQUES

August 21-23
Pre-Register NowLeave a phone bid

Answers from our team

Frequently asked questions

69 answers across 11 topics

6 answers in Bidding & Registration

Bidding & RegistrationHow do I register to bid?

Register in person or online via Austin Auction Live!, LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, or Bidsquare, or submit the Telephone Bid Form for phone bids. New bidders should register at least two hours before the auction. Questions: (512) 258-5479.

Bidding & RegistrationWhat are the bidding options?

You may bid live in the gallery, by absentee bid, by phone, or online. Absentee and phone bids must be submitted in advance.

Bidding & RegistrationIs there a buyer's premium?

Yes. The buyer's premium is 23% for in-house bids, 27% through Bidsquare, and 28% for online bids placed through LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable. LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable also add their own credit-card processing fee (3.9% and 2.9%); Austin Auction Live! has no card fee.

Bidding & RegistrationWhat is a telephone bid, and how do I submit one?

Request a telephone bid through the form on our website with your lot numbers and contact details. On auction day, a staff member calls you a few lots before your item, stays on the line, and places your bids in real time. Winners receive an invoice after the auction and can pay online.

Bidding & RegistrationCan I retract or change a bid once it's placed?

Yes, depending on the bidding platform. As long as the lot has not yet been offered, you may retract your bid through your account or by calling (512) 258-5479.

Bidding & RegistrationCan I register to bid in person?

Yes. If you plan to attend the auction at our gallery, register at the front desk when you arrive. Bring a valid photo ID and payment information to receive your bidder paddle. There is no cost to attend or register for any auction.