Online Absentee Bidding at Auction

A Simple Guide to Buying Without Being in the Room

Can’t attend the auction in person? Absentee bidding makes it easy to take part wherever you are. Whether you're hoping to acquire a rare painting, a piece of design history or a unique collector’s item, absentee bidding, also known as commission bidding, allows you to place a maximum bid in advance of the sale, ensuring your interest is represented even if you can’t be in the room.

You can leave an absentee bid securely online, by phone, or by visiting us in person at any of our offices. Once the sale begins, our specialist team will bid on your behalf, only increasing in line with competing bids, up to your stated maximum.

At Lyon & Turnbull, we offer a straightforward and confidential absentee bidding service, giving you peace of mind that your bid will be handled with care. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or buying for the first time, absentee bidding ensures you never miss the chance to own something special. With our new competitive bidding feature, found on every lot page, you can even track your bid status before the sale begins, giving you more confidence and control over the buying process.

Browse Our Auctions

Browse & bid in our forthcoming auctions and find out more information about viewing details.

Add a Lot Alert

Try our lot alert service. If a forthcoming lot matches your search criteria you'll get an email with the lot details.

Our Auction Calendar

What Is Absentee Bidding?

Absentee bidding allows you to submit a maximum bid for a lot before the auction begins. When the sale starts, a specialist or auctioneer will execute bids on your behalf, only increasing in line with other competing bids, up to your maximum limit. This ensures you pay only what’s necessary to secure the lot, potentially even less than your highest bid.

How to Place an Absentee Bid On Our Website

Placing an absentee bid online with Lyon & Turnbull is simple:

Browse our auction calendar for any forthcoming sales. You can explore detailed lot information, images, and, with our new competitive bidding feature, see how many bids have been placed.
Create an account, or sign in to register to bid online.
Submit your maximum bid online. As further absentee bids come in, you’ll be able to track your position and adjust your bid accordingly giving you more confidence and control. In the event of two identical bids, the first one received will take precedence. Absentee bids must be received 30 minutes in advance of the sale starting.
On sale day, you can choose to watch the auction or join the action via live online bidding. If you've placed an absentee bid, our team will bid on your behalf up to your maximum but if you’d prefer to bid in real time, simply log in and take part live.

BUY

Looking For More Ways to Buy?

In addition to placing an absentee bid on our website, we also accept bids via email, phone and in person at our offices in Edinburgh, London & Glasgow.

Browse our 'How to Buy' guide to find out more.

Why Choose Online Absentee Bidding?

✔ Convenient: No need to attend in person or join live online.

✔ Secure: Your bid is confidential and handled with care.

✔ Efficient: You only pay what’s necessary to win, up to your hammer price limit*

✔ Accessible: Ideal if you're in a different time zone or unavailable on the day.

^{* All bids are subject to buyers' premium.}

Questions? We’re Here to Help

If you’re new to absentee bidding or would like assistance placing your bid, our team is always happy to help. Contact the department handling the sale, or call us on 0131 557 8844

Frequently Asked Questions

Thirty minutes prior to an auction beginning, you can submit absentee (commission) bids up to your maximum limit which we then execute on your behalf. Live‑online bidding starts when the auction begins: you can participate in real time via our platform.

Yes! With our new competitive bidding tool, you’ll see your current position compared to other bids, and you're free to increase your maximum anytime before the sale begins.

You must submit your absentee bid at least 30 minutes before the auction starts.

If you’re looking to bid over £6,500, you’ll need to provide two forms of ID (photo ID plus a proof of address). You can upload these documents to your account or email them ahead of bidding.

No. We only bid up to your stated maximum however remember to factor in buyers' premium.

You can submit a higher absentee bid before the sale begins, significantly increasing your chances of success, or opt to bid live on saleday.

You’ll receive an invoice in your account. Payment options include bank transfer or credit/debit card. Items must be paid for before collection. Our Client Services team can guide you through collection or shipping options.

Absolutely! If you’ve already placed an absentee bid, the auctioneer will bid on your behalf up to your maximum. However, if you wish to bid higher and take part live, simply log in before the auction begins to participate in real time

Your absentee maximum bid still applies. You only need to act further if you wish to raise your maximum or bid live.

Online Absentee Bidding at Auction

A Simple Guide to Buying Without Being in the Room

Browse Our Auctions

Add a Lot Alert

Our Auction Calendar

What Is Absentee Bidding?

How to Place an Absentee Bid On Our Website

Looking For More Ways to Buy?

Why Choose Online Absentee Bidding?

Questions? We’re Here to Help

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between absentee bids and live‑online bidding?

Can I adjust my absentee bid after submission?

When is the cut‑off time for absentee bids?

Do I need ID to place absentee bids?

Will I pay more than my maximum bid?

What happens if someone outbids me?

After I win, how do I pay and collect my purchase?

Can I switch from absentee to live‑online bidding on sale day?

What if I’m the highest absentee bidder and don’t want to continue live?