OPENLANE Europe (formerly ADESA Europe): How to Buy a Car at a European Online Auction and Arrange Delivery

A Brief History to Avoid Name Confusion

The "OPENLANE / ADESA" confusion didn't appear out of nowhere.

• In 2019, KAR acquired the Belgian platform CarsOnTheWeb and relaunched it under the ADESA Europe brand in June 2019.
• In May 2023, KAR Global announced it would be called OPENLANE. Business scale figures for 2022 were also cited: about 1.3 million vehicles sold on the group's marketplaces and GMV exceeding $23 billion (these are global group figures, not just Europe).
• In November 2023, ADESA Europe officially became OPENLANE Europe.
• A separate British storefront, openlane.co.uk, also operates for professional traders.

Who the Platform Is For — and Who It's Not

OPENLANE states directly: its auctions are available to professional car dealers and traders, not private individuals. Registration requires "legitimate" company details and VAT number, and for continental Europe, NACE codes (business activity type) as well.

Two practical things follow from this:

• Private individuals cannot register directly. They usually buy through a company that already has access and handles bidding/payment/logistics.
• A bid is a commitment. OPENLANE specifically emphasizes: "every bid is binding" — you cannot cancel a purchase if the seller has accepted your bid and the car has been sold to you.

Where the Cars Come From and What's Typically Sold

The platform is oriented toward wholesale sales. In OPENLANE's European communications, lot sources regularly include OEMs, leasing companies, corporate fleets, rental companies, dealers, etc.

Regarding scale in Europe, the company itself cites various figures in different materials:

• A network of professional buyers "around 120,000" in "more than 50 countries" (wording found on the website and in press materials).
• One buyer-facing document states that the marketplace provides access to "more than 12,000 vehicles every day" (this refers to supply on the platform, not sales).

Registration: What They Actually Check and Why Access Opens Gradually

Their FAQ outlines a fairly specific registration scenario:

This is useful to know in advance, so you don't end up in a situation where "you won a lot, but then the platform asks for documents and you lose time".

• VAT entry and automatic VAT verification.
• Filling in company and contact details.
• Email confirmation.
• After your first winning purchase — upload an identity document (verification "within one business day", and until it's passed, you cannot place bids).
• After five purchases — upload company registration documents, after which you receive "full access".

How Bidding Works: Not One "Auction", But Several Formats

OPENLANE has several types of bidding. On one page they list "five types" (dynamic, blind, Buy Now, Target, 24/7 Stock Sale). The most useful differences in practice:

• Dynamic auctions: the current maximum is visible, you can bid manually or use a "bid agent"; the result (whether the seller accepted the bid) is usually known within two business days after closing.
• Blind auctions (for continental Europe): other participants' bids are not visible — you don't see others' bids either.
• Buy Now: you can "reserve" a car instantly by placing a Buy Now price; you can also try below the Buy Now price, but then it works like a regular auction with the seller's decision.
• 24/7 Stock Sale: according to OPENLANE's description, this is a fixed price, "no bidding and no waiting for the auction to end".

What to Look at in a Lot Card Besides the Price

To avoid purchase surprises, what usually matters is not "nice words" but specific fields and documents.

• VAT regime and "margin": OPENLANE separately explains the difference between VAT and margin, noting that a "margin certificate" (PDF) is available for margin vehicles. This affects your accounting and how you calculate the final cost.
• "New" or "used" under EU rules: even if the car is "not from a showroom", under the EU directive a vehicle may be considered "new" if it has been in use for less than 6 months or has mileage of no more than 6,000 km. This matters specifically for VAT logic and documentation.
• Where the car is physically located and where you can pick it up: this directly affects logistics — whether a hub is nearby, how long preparation for handover will take, what documents are needed for pickup.

Payment and Mandatory Fees: What's Known for Certain

OPENLANE puts it this way: registration is free, bids are free, support is free. You only pay if the purchase is successful, and then mandatory fees apply, including "country-specific import fees", "auction fees", and charges for "related customs documentation".

An important payment nuance: their FAQ requires that payments be accepted only from a bank account registered in your company's name and from the country of company registration.

The exact list and amount of fees depends on the country/lot/services and is shown in the order details/vehicle card; OPENLANE directly confirms the fact of mandatory post-win fees.

Export Outside the EU: Documents, Deposit, Exit Confirmation

If the car goes to a non-EU country, OPENLANE has separate rules, and here specific figures appear.

These two things often "break" calculations for those used to counting only the "bid price". In practice, platform fees, logistics, and for exports — a deposit that freezes money until EU exit confirmation — are all added to the lot price.

• EX document (EX-release): OPENLANE states that an EX document is required when exporting "to countries outside the European Union", and if OPENLANE processes the document, it costs 110 euros. It's also stated that the document is sent "approximately within two business days" in digital form.
• Temporary export deposit: OPENLANE states that for export to a non-EU country, a temporary deposit equal to 21% of the total cost (including related fees and expenses) is required, minimum 500 euros. The deposit is returned after receiving "Exit Confirmation" and approval of the final delivery document.

Delivery and Pickup: How It Works at OPENLANE

OPENLANE offers two main vehicle collection options.

There's an honest caveat: "we cannot (yet) provide exact track-and-trace" because they have "more than 20 transport partners". However, they provide estimated preparation times for pickup by country (e.g., Belgium 8-9 business days, France 14-15, Italy 20-22, etc.).

• Order transport from OPENLANE: they have a separate "Transport and logistics" section for buyers, describing the delivery service and assistance with documents/taxes. The "My account" area features order detail viewing, purchase confirmations, "track deliveries", and document access.
• Self-pickup from a hub or from the seller (if available): the FAQ on "pickup procedure" states that you can collect the car at a local HUB, or (if available) order delivery "directly to your office"; there's also a "self-pickup" option from local sellers, but only if the seller has allowed it and the buyer and seller are in the same country.

Vehicle Documents and Late Pickup Penalties

The documents section contains specifics that usually surface "after the purchase", but are better known in advance:

If you arrange delivery through third-party carriers, OPENLANE's documents include requirements for final transport documents (CMR/CoD) and mention that the shipment tracking number appears in "My account" after a certain time.

• After the "vehicle pick-up authorisation" is issued, you have two weeks to collect the vehicle.
• If not collected within this period, an administrative fee of 50 euros plus up to 5 euros per day until actual pickup applies.
• Until accrued fees are paid, documents "will not be released".

Why Private Buyers Usually Purchase Through an Intermediary

The reason isn't "convenience" but access rules: the platform is designed for professionals. A typical scenario for a private buyer looks like this:

• You define your requirements (make, budget, mileage, country, fuel type, VAT regime).
• A company with OPENLANE access selects lots, reviews cards and conditions (including fees and export nuances).
• Bidding and payment are done on behalf of the buying company.
• Then logistics are organized: delivery to hub/warehouse/port, export document processing, exit confirmation (if outside EU).
• Finally, customs clearance and local registration in the destination country are handled.

Pre-Bid Checklist (Short but Practical)

• You have a clear "total cost" calculation, not just the bid: platform fees + logistics + export payments/deposit for non-EU export.
• You've checked the VAT regime (VAT or margin) and understand what documents you'll receive.
• You understand the auction format: dynamic / blind / Buy Now / target / 24/7 stock sale.
• You remember that a bid is binding, and "changed my mind" after the seller accepts the bid doesn't work.
• You account for pickup preparation times and the "two weeks to collect" rule to avoid penalties.

How WESTMOTORS Helps Buy Cars Through OPENLANE Europe

WESTMOTORS handles the entire purchase cycle on OPENLANE:

Want a selection of current lots and a "turnkey" calculation? Leave a request — we'll send options and the final estimate before purchase.

• We select lots matching your budget and requirements, filtering out questionable options by card and sale conditions.
• We provide auction access through a professional account if you're buying as a private client.
• We calculate the final cost before purchase: lot price, platform fees, logistics and documents.
• We participate in bidding or buy the car via Buy Now.
• We organize vehicle collection and delivery along the chosen route.
• We support document processing until you receive the car in your city.

Summary

OPENLANE Europe (formerly ADESA Europe) is a professional platform for wholesale online vehicle purchasing. The rebranding in late 2023 was part of the group's overall transition to the OPENLANE brand.

OPENLANE Europe is a B2B platform, so direct auction access is typically available to dealers and companies. Private buyers more often go through an intermediary: it's simpler for registration, payment, and logistics. Beyond that, everything comes down to three things: choosing the right bidding format (auction or Buy Now), calculating fees in advance, and organizing delivery with documents for your country.

OPENLANE Europe (formerly ADESA Europe) is a professional platform for wholesale online vehicle purchasing. The rebranding in late 2023 was part of the group's overall transition to the OPENLANE brand.

OPENLANE Europe is a B2B platform, so direct auction access is typically available to dealers and companies. Private buyers more often go through an intermediary: it's simpler for registration, payment, and logistics. Beyond that, everything comes down to three things: choosing the right bidding format (auction or Buy Now), calculating fees in advance, and organizing delivery with documents for your country.