Before You Go
You need:
• Your gate code (shown on the pickup instructions screen and emailed to you after payment clears) — this is the primary credential the seller uses to release the vehicle
• Your win confirmation or receipt (most yards will look it up, but having it speeds things up)
• Photo ID if requested by the specific seller (not a platform-wide requirement; some seller locations may ask)
• Transport capacity appropriate for the vehicle (this is more important than it sounds — see below)
About Your Gate Code
Your gate code is the unique identifier that lets the seller release your vehicle to you. Codes are:
• 6 characters, alphanumeric, uppercase only
• Ambiguous characters excluded (no B, G, I, L, O, Q, S, Z) so the code is easy to read aloud
• Unique to your payment and the seller location — never reused
NOTE If your win includes vehicles from multiple sellers or multiple seller locations, you get multiple gate codes. Each code unlocks the vehicles at its specific seller location. |
The gate code card on your pickup instructions. Sample code shown — your actual code is unique to your payment and seller location.
Step 1 — Plan Your Pickup
Pickup card on the checkout Step 3 screen. Seller address and "Call ahead to schedule pickup" reminder on the left, vehicle detail in the middle, gate code on the right.
1. Find the seller's pickup address and hours on the Step 3 pickup instructions screen or your Vehicle Detail Page.
2. Call ahead if the yard has limited hours or specific pickup procedures.
3. Plan on transportation for every pickup. Even if the listing showed a vehicle started at inspection, most seller locations do not allow vehicles to be driven off the lot. Autura Marketplace is an as-is marketplace and does not guarantee start, drive, or operational status at pickup. Plan to flatbed or tow the vehicle by default.
4. If a transport company will pick up for you, share your gate code with them along with the pickup details.
5. Check the pickup instructions for the seller's pickup window and any cut-off time. Many sellers begin charging storage fees after a posted cut-off — these fees are billed by the seller, not Autura.
6. Check the pickup instructions for any loading assistance or transport services the seller offers. Pricing for those services is set by the seller; review and confirm before you arrive.
WATCH OUT Yards do not stay open late for surprise arrivals. Plan your timing and arrive within the yard's posted hours. |
WATCH OUT Storage fees from the seller can add up quickly after the pickup window closes. Confirm the cut-off before you commit to a transport schedule. |
Step 2 — Arrive at the Yard
7. Bring your gate code. Provide the gate code to the seller (yard staff) when you arrive.
8. The seller enters the code in the platform. The system displays your account information and payment summary on their screen so they can confirm the pickup.
9. The seller marks the vehicle as Picked Up and releases it to you.
NOTE Always provide the gate code to the seller through the platform process. Verbal codes or workarounds bypass the validation that protects you. Use the official release flow. |
NOTE Some seller locations may also ask for photo ID. This varies by seller and is not a platform-wide requirement — bring ID just in case. |
Step 3 — Verify the VIN Before You Take Possession
Before you take possession, confirm the VIN on the physical vehicle matches the VIN on your win, the listing, and the title paperwork.
10. Locate the VIN plate on the vehicle (typically the dashboard near the windshield, the door jamb, or the engine bay).
11. Compare it to the VIN on your receipt and the title paperwork.
12. If anything does not match, stop. Do not take possession. Notify the seller and contact Autura support.
WATCH OUT VIN mismatches are taken seriously and resolved quickly, but taking possession before a mismatch is resolved creates a paperwork problem we cannot easily unwind. Stop at the yard and document the discrepancy with photos. |
Step 4 — Walk Around the Vehicle
Autura Marketplace is an as-is marketplace. The enforced condition fields on the listing summarize what the seller reported at the time of inspection. Items such as drivability, key status, mileage, and reported damage are not guaranteed by Autura — they are descriptive information, not warranties.
The reason to walk around the vehicle at pickup is to identify any change of condition between the inspection and your pickup (for example, damage caused while the vehicle was on the lot, or a part that was present at inspection but is now missing).
13. Compare the physical vehicle against the photos and condition information on the listing.
14. If you notice anything that changed since inspection — new damage, missing items, parts that were on the listing photos but are no longer on the vehicle — photograph it on-site before you leave.
15. If you see something concerning, stop and call your Buyer Account Manager or Autura support before you take possession or leave the yard.
WATCH OUT A change of condition between inspection and pickup is different from a vehicle simply being in as-is condition. Variations within the normal range of used vehicles, items not running as expected, and minor wear are part of buying as-is. Our team focuses claim review on changes that occurred AFTER the inspection — not on the original condition itself. |
If There Is a Change of Condition Between Inspection and Pickup
If something has clearly changed between when the seller inspected the vehicle and when you arrived to pick it up, Customer Service or your Buyer Account Manager may be able to help on a case-by-case basis. This is not a formal claim process — outcomes depend entirely on what is documented and the specifics of the situation.
• Document the change with photos on-site before you leave.
• Cite the specific item on the listing that has changed (a missing part, new damage, etc.).
• Contact your Buyer Account Manager or Autura support before you leave the yard if possible.
NOTE Listing details such as drivability, key status, mileage, or reported damage describe the vehicle as inspected. They are not guarantees and are not the basis for a refund or return. Our team is glad to help when there is a clear change of condition between inspection and pickup, but we cannot make exceptions for as-is items. |
Step 5 — Take Possession and Sign Out
16. Once the vehicle is released and you are satisfied with the inspection, take possession and prepare to transport.
17. The seller marks the vehicle as Picked Up in their system. Your Won status updates to Picked Up.
18. Download your final receipt from the Vehicle Detail Page or from My Autura → Buying → Picked Up.
Using a Transporter
Most pickups are handled by transport companies. Autura Marketplace does not arrange or recommend transporters.
• Share your gate code and pickup details with your transporter. Whoever has the gate code can pick up the vehicle — the gate code is the credential the seller validates at pickup.
• Confirm the seller's pickup window, address, and any loading instructions with your transporter ahead of time.
• If your transporter notices a change of condition on-site, they should stop, document with photos, and contact you immediately before taking possession.
WATCH OUT Once a vehicle leaves the lot, any concern becomes much harder to address. Make sure your transporter knows to stop and call you if anything looks different from what the listing showed. |
Title and Registration
The seller handles all title and registration paperwork. Autura Marketplace does not issue, transfer, or facilitate titles — that responsibility sits entirely with the seller per the requirements of the state the vehicle is being sold from.
• Title handling varies state to state. Check the title and registration regulations in the state the vehicle is being sold from AND in the state where you intend to register the vehicle (typically your DMV).
• If you are exporting, your export documentation depends on the title being in your name or your business's name. Plan that timing into your pickup.
• For state-specific title questions, contact the DMV in the state the vehicle is in and the DMV in your home state.
NOTE Title delivery is the most common post-pickup support topic. If you have not received your title within the timeframe quoted by the seller, contact your Buyer Account Manager or Autura support — we can follow up with the seller on your behalf, but we do not issue titles ourselves. |
After the Sale
A few things happen automatically after pickup:
• Your Won status updates to Picked Up.
• Your account activity is reflected in your account standing. Consistent on-time payment and pickup support expanded access over time — your Buyer Account Manager can discuss this with you.
• Your transaction history is available in two places: Settings → Wallet → Transaction History, and My Autura → Won (each vehicle card shows its sale and payment detail).
• PDF receipts remain available for download from My Autura → Won or from the Vehicle Detail Page.
A Note on Sales Being Final
All sales on Autura Marketplace are final. We do not offer returns or refunds. As-is means as-is — listing details describe the vehicle as inspected and are not warranties. The one situation where our team may be able to help is a clear change of condition between inspection and pickup, handled on a case-by-case basis. Bid carefully and read the listing thoroughly before bidding.
Need Help?
For help with a gate code issue, a VIN mismatch, a change-of-condition concern, a title follow-up, or any post-sale question — the in-platform chat is the fastest way to contact support but alternatively, you can use the following:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (888) 998-6085
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 AM – 5 PM Pacific Time