How to buy a car at a bailiff auction in Poland

2026-09-14

A bailiff auction (licytacja komornicza) is a way to buy a car in Poland well below market price — often 20–40% cheaper. A court bailiff (komornik sądowy) sells a vehicle seized from a debtor, and the starting price is set below its real value by law. This guide explains, step by step, how to buy a car at a Polish bailiff auction: who can take part, how much you must pay, how the auction runs and which mistakes to avoid.

What a bailiff car auction is

When a debtor fails to pay, the bailiff may seize their property, including a car. The seized vehicle is valued by an expert — the suma oszacowania (appraisal sum) — and then offered for public sale. The goal is to satisfy the creditor, so the bailiff wants a sale, not the highest possible price. That is why real bargains exist.

First and second auction

First auction (pierwsza licytacja) — the starting price (cena wywoławcza) is 3/4 (75%) of the appraisal sum. If no one bids the starting price, the auction fails.
Second auction (druga licytacja) — the starting price drops to 1/2 (50%) of the appraisal sum (for movables, including cars). This is usually the best moment for a bargain.

If the second auction also fails, the creditor may take the item over at the second-auction price; otherwise enforcement against that item is discontinued.

Who can take part

Any adult with full legal capacity may bid — a private person or a company. Some people are excluded: the debtor, the bailiff, their spouse, children, parents and siblings, and officials present at the auction. Foreigners living in Poland can generally bid on the same terms.

You need an ID document and, for electronic auctions, an account on the e-licytacje portal. We cover registration in the separate guide on the Polish bailiff e-auction step by step.

Deposit (rekojmia) — how much to pay

To take part, you must pay a deposit (rekojmia, often called wadium) of 1/10 (10%) of the appraisal sum.

if you win — the deposit counts toward the purchase price;
if you lose — the deposit is refunded within a few days;
if you win but do not pay the balance on time — you lose the deposit and the car goes to another auction.

The deposit is paid before the auction to the account named in the notice (obwieszczenie). Always confirm the exact amount and deadline in the notice itself — it is the source document.

Step by step: from search to collection

Step 1. Find the listing

Auction notices (obwieszczenia) are published on the e-licytacje.komornik.pl portal, on bailiff offices' websites and on court noticeboards. Watch several sources at once — good cars go fast. If you would rather not search dozens of pages by hand, Brykam monitors auctions for you and alerts you before others notice a deal.

Step 2. Read the notice

The notice lists the vehicle (make, model, year, VIN, mileage), the appraisal sum, the starting price, the deposit amount, the date and place (or a link to the electronic auction) and inspection rules. Read it carefully — it is the key document.

Step 3. Inspect the car

The bailiff usually sets an inspection date. Use it: check the body and interior and start the engine if possible. Note that a test drive is usually not possible, and you buy the car "as is". More on this in the article on risks of buying a car at auction.

Step 4. Pay the deposit and verify the VIN

Pay 10% of the appraisal sum by the deadline. Before that, check the VIN — history, damage and any registered pledges (zastaw rejestrowy).

Step 5. Bid

At the set time the auction begins. Bids rise by the postąpienie — the minimum bidding step (for movables usually 1/10 of the starting price, unless the notice says otherwise). Set your limit in advance and stick to it.

Step 6. Award (przybicie) and payment

When the highest bid is reached, the bailiff grants the przybicie — formally awarding the item to the winner. You then pay the balance above the deposit by the deadline. After full payment comes przysądzenie własności (transfer of ownership) and release of the car with the documents needed for registration.

Step 7. Registration

With the sale record and documents you register the car at the traffic department (wydział komunikacji), pay the tax and arrange insurance. An auction car is registered like any other.

How much you can save

Because the start is 75% (first auction) or even 50% of the valuation (second auction), real savings often reach 20–40% of market value. We show the mechanics and worked examples in the article on how much you can save at a bailiff auction.

Common beginner mistakes

Skipping VIN and legal checks — the most expensive mistake.
Emotional overbidding past your limit.
Not reading the notice — missing the deposit deadline disqualifies you.
Forgetting extra costs — transport, repairs, registration, a possibly missing key.
Assuming a test drive is available — it usually is not.

A bailiff auction is a real path to a cheap car, but it takes a cool head and preparation. To be sure you never miss the best listings, see the Brykam pricing — we do the monitoring and alerts for you, 24/7.