⏳ First-Time Bidders: Plan for Verification Time
If this is your first time bidding on Garage, your payment method must be verified before you can submit your bid. This is handled securely through Stripe, our payment processor.
Here's what to expect:
You'll be redirected to Stripe to verify your card.
Card verification can take up to 5 minutes.
Once verified, you'll be brought back to a confirmation step — your bid is submitted after you confirm.
⚠️ Important: If the auction ends while you're still completing verification, your bid will not be counted. We recommend placing your first bid well before the final minutes of any auction to allow enough time for this process.
🔔 Bidding in the Last 10 Minutes
Garage discourages last-second bidding (also known as "sniping"). To keep auctions fair for everyone, there's an automatic extension rule:
If a bid is placed when there are fewer than 10 minutes remaining, the auction is extended to 10 minutes from that bid.
This gives all active bidders a fair chance to respond.
You can learn more about the extension rule by clicking the info icon (ℹ️) next to "Time remaining" on the auction page.
💡 Tip: Even if you're cutting it close, the extension window gives you a chance to stay in the bidding — as long as your payment verification is already complete.
✅ Best Practices for Auction Bidding
Don't wait until the last minute if it's your first bid — allow time for Stripe card verification.
Consider using a Max Bid — set the highest amount you're willing to pay and let the system bid on your behalf automatically. This removes the pressure of timing altogether. Learn how Max Bids work →
Watch the countdown timer — click the info icon next to "Time remaining" at any point to review the extension rule.
❓ Need Help?
If you ran into an issue placing a bid, reach out to our team at [email protected], and we'll be happy to help.