The final price to be paid after winning an auction may include various fees, which are worth considering before entering the bidding.

1. Auction fee:

• Unless otherwise specified, auction organizers typically add a standard auction fee to the winning bid amount.
• Information about the amount of this fee (e.g., as a percentage) can be found in the terms and conditions of the specific auction. The rate is determined by the seller’s internal policies, but it most commonly amounts to around 20%. For example, if the final price is 1,000, the buyer is required to pay 1,200 (1,000 plus a 20% auction fee).

2. Shipping costs:

• Shipping costs are usually covered by the buyer and may depend on factors such as the item’s weight and size, location, and the chosen carrier.
• The auction organizer should provide estimated shipping costs either before or after the auction.

3. Custom duties and fees (for international orders):

• If the item is shipped to another country, import duties and standard taxes for your country may apply.
• To obtain information about potential fees, you can contact your local customs office.
• In some cases, an additional 8% VAT fee will be applied to items imported from outside the EU. Information about this will be visible in the lot’s description.

4. Shipping insurance:

• For valuable items, shipping insurance may be required or recommended, which involves additional costs.

5. Bank transfer fees:

• If you are making an international payment, your bank may charge additional fees for the transfer or currency conversion.

6. Droit de suite fee:

• This fee is based on European Union legislation and constitutes income for the artist or their heirs.
• It usually ranges from 0.25% to 5% of the sale price of the artwork and depends on its final price.
• Information about the auction fee amount set by the organizer can be found in the auction terms and conditions, as well as in the Auction fee section on the specific auction page under the About the Auction link or on the individual lot’s page. For more information about the droit de suite fee, please refer to the What is the droit de suite fee?