Buying a car or pickup at Purple Wave means bidding in a no-reserve online auction where the high bid wins no matter how low it is, then paying a 10% buyer's premium on top, plus sales tax on the combined total, within two business days. Every lot sells as-is, where-is, the mileage is only what the meter shows, and you handle pickup. If you can't inspect it, pay fast and haul it on time, sit that one out.
Purple Wave is a Manhattan, Kansas auction company that mostly sells construction, farm and fleet equipment, and its search menus include passenger vehicles, pickups and vans. I read its Terms and Conditions (last updated January 24, 2025) and the bidding FAQ on its Buy page on October 16, 2026. Those are the rules below. A given auction's own Auction Details page can add removal deadlines and inspection times, so read that too.
1. Price the 10% before you bid
The terms define your Purchase Price as the winning bid plus a 10% buyer's premium, and the FAQ says sales tax is calculated on that combined number based on where the item sits, unless you file an exemption. So a fleet pickup you win at $8,000 is $8,800 before tax, and the title assignment will show $8,800 as the sale price because Purple Wave says state rules require the full Purchase Price there. You may also owe use tax or registration taxes in your home state. Build all of that into your bid ceiling before the lot starts closing.
Registering and bidding are free. You give a credit card or a bank reference instead of a deposit, and the FAQ says the card is authorized but not charged. Bids over $10,000 can trigger extra qualification such as a bank letter or a pre-authorization, and Purple Wave says it can strike a bid if you don't cooperate.
2. Know how the clock works
The FAQ says auctions typically close one item per minute starting at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time, and any bid in the last five minutes adds five more minutes. Some lots are grouped, so a late bid on one extends the whole group. Bids are binding once placed. You cannot pull one back because you spotted rust in photo 47 after clicking.
3. Inspect, or accept that you didn't
The terms put inspection squarely on you. Every auction has an inspection period, seller contact details are posted in the Auction Details, and Purple Wave says it does not do mechanical inspections. The terms also say mileage and hours in listings reflect what is on the meter and "may not reflect actual hours or actual mileage," with no recourse if they are wrong. Air conditioning, power seats and other accessories aren't verified, and dents, cracks and rust may be missing from the description.
That is a lot of disclaimers for a vehicle you might buy from three states away, and a clean, freshly washed fleet truck in photos tells you nothing about idle hours or skipped oil changes. Call the seller, ask for maintenance records, and if the bid is real money, pay a local mechanic to look before close. Our fleet auction history report post covers what a work-truck history tends to show.
4. Investigate the title yourself
Purple Wave says it lists salvage, non-highway and other brands "when known," and that title research is the buyer's job. It even suggests giving the VIN to your local motor vehicle office before bidding to make sure nothing will block registration. Decode the VIN on NHTSA's vPIC decoder to confirm the spec, then search NMVTIS for brands and total-loss records. Our checking auction history before bidding guide lays out the order we use.
Titles are mailed by USPS certified mail after payment clears, and Purple Wave can hold the title until funds are confirmed. Plan for a gap between pickup and having a title in hand.
5. Pay on time or pay more
Payment is due by 4:00 p.m. on the second business day after the auction. Wires and cashier's checks are accepted in any amount, cards only up to $3,000, and personal checks of $10,000 or more need a bank guarantee letter. The FAQ mentions a possible $30 late fee. Walk away and you owe a 15% default premium; the FAQ says that is 15% of the hammer price with a $100 minimum, while the main terms say 15% of the Purchase Price. Either way it stings.
6. Remove it before the deadline
You bring the paid invoice, your own loading equipment and labor, and you arrange shipping (Purple Wave does run a separate shipping company if you want a quote). Miss the removal deadline and storage fees can apply. The abandonment rules are harsh: under $2,000 you can forfeit the item and your money, and at $2,000 or more Purple Wave can resell it and charge a 20% administrative fee, minimum $1,000.
How it compares with GovDeals and Ritchie Bros.
GovDeals is a marketplace where each agency sets its own premium and pickup rules, as our GovDeals checklist explains. Ritchie Bros. is also no-reserve but uses a tiered transaction fee plus a documentation fee on titled items; see our Ritchie Bros. checklist. On paper Purple Wave is the simplest of the three on fees, with one flat 10% and a two-day payment window, but the short window means your money has to be ready before close.
CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller with no affiliation to CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Purple Wave. A single report has recently cost about $5.50 as a guest, $4.50 as a member, and both reports together about $6.75, compared with $39.99 to $44.99 retail, though checkout is where the real price shows. Against an $800 premium, that's a small line item. CARFAX's overview explains each section.
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