How it works

For buyers

1. 1

   Create an account & verify

   Register with a valid government ID and proof of address (not older than 3 months). All bidders must be at least 18 years old. Verification is required by EU anti-money-laundering rules.

2. 2

   Browse and bid

   Every bid is legally binding. Use Maximum Bid (proxy bidding) and our system will bid on your behalf up to your ceiling, securing the lot at the lowest possible step above competing bids and the reserve. Identical maximum bids are ranked by which was registered first.

3. 3

   Pay through escrow

   When you win, the hammer price is added to the buyer’s premium and fees and held in escrow. Funds are only released to the seller once the lot has arrived as described.

4. 4

   Receive your lot

   Class 2 valuables (antiques, art, collectibles) ship through specialist carriers with full liability up to €50,000 per parcel, including restoration costs after partial damage. Climate-controlled transport protects wood, canvas and other sensitive materials.

For sellers

1. 1

   Register as a professional

   Auction houses and professional dealers must provide an Art Market Participant (AMP) registration number before they can list. Hobby sellers are not accepted on this platform.

2. 2

   Submit a lot

   Provide images, dimensions, condition notes and provenance. Where helpful we apply UV testing, joinery analysis and XRF spectrometry to confirm authenticity. Condition reports are subjective expert opinion based on visual inspection — they are not formal conservation reports.

3. 3

   Auction goes live

   Bidding runs to a fixed end time. Once the hammer falls, the buyer is notified and the escrow process begins.

4. 4

   Get paid

   After the buyer confirms safe delivery, escrow is released and your payout (net of commission and any applicable resale right) is wired to your registered account.

Fees the buyer pays

Buyers pay the hammer price plus the items below. All amounts include VAT where applicable.

Buyer’s premium (standard)

22% – 33.6%

Buyer’s premium (motor vehicles)

10% + VAT

Hammer fee

€8 per lot

Resale right (Droit de suite, lots > €1,000)

4% / 3% / 1% (sliding scale)

Right of withdrawal

Under EU Directive 2023/2673, online buyers have 14 days to withdraw from a distance purchase. The right does not apply to public auctions where the buyer was given the opportunity to attend in person. From June 2026, CatchMe will provide a clearly visible, one-click withdrawal control alongside the bidding interface.