Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers: How to bid & buy

See our FAQs on bidding and buying, along with how-to videos.


You can search our website using keywords, equipment types, makes, models and other criteria. You can also browse by industry (for ex. Construction, agriculture, transport trucks etc.), then drill down to specific types, makes and models. You can also filter by location, make, model, year and other criteria. Start browsing & searching inventory here.

We conduct live auctions at physical auction sites, with real time bidding onsite and online. We also sell via our online Timed Auctions – an automated system with no auctioneer. You can bid in person, online, via our mobile app or via PriorityBid.

The auctioneer (or Timed Auction system) will introduce each lot and ask for bids. If no one places a bid, the ask price is lowered. When a bid is placed, the auctioneer raises the ask price. Bidding continues until no more bids are placed, and the item is sold to the highest bidder. Learn more about how our auctions work.

Our primary auction type is heavy equipment and truck auctions, and we also conduct on-the-farm auctions where we sell from the consignor’s farm or property selling agricultural equipment and farmland, as well as conducting real estate auctions.

Yes, equipment is available for in-person inspections at our permanent auction sites and local storage yards. Viewing is available two weeks prior to the start of each auction. Please contact the site to make arrangements outside of this time and to confirm hours of operation. Viewing is only available on equipment that has been delivered to the site (check each individual item’s listing on our website, and under the “Detailed equipment information” tab, look for “In Yard – Yes/No”)

Equipment sold from a consignor’s property can also be viewed in person by arranging a time and date with the seller.

For each item listed on our website you’ll find detailed equipment information; multiple hi-resolution photos of the exterior, interior, engine, components; results of basic functional tests; and more. On many items we also post operational & walk around videos and 360-degree inspection videos (see below).

Our heavy equipment auctions are conducted at 40+ permanent facilities around the globe, with in-person and online bidding. We also conduct auctions at temporary locations, as well as online-only auctions with equipment in multiple locations.

Yes, all our auctions are open to the public. Anyone can register and bid – from private individuals to small and large businesses.

How to get 360 views of equipment in inventory

You can now access a panoramic 360 view of the exterior and interior of equipment and trucks that will be selling at upcoming auctions.


How to place an online bid deposit at Ritchie Bros.

This video gives you an overview about how to place refundable deposit in order to bid and buy at our auctions.


How to bid online at a live Ritchie Bros. auction.

Find out how to bid online in real time at any live Ritchie Bros. auction around the world. Bid via our website from your computer or mobile device.


How to bid in our online Timed Auctions.

Learn how to bid in our automated online Timed Auctions – an automated online auction system with no auctioneer and multiple bidding options.


Helpful tips on how to inspect equipment

For more articles on how to inspect a wide range of equipment types and trucks, visit our blog, Ritchie Hub.