---
title: "Start price versus the seller reserve"
description: "Why you cannot always buy at the start price and how the seller reserve works."
url: "https://motovulkan.com/en/blog/auction-start-price-vs-reserve"
published: "2026-06-10T08:00:00.000Z"
category: "Guides"
---

# Start price versus the seller reserve

Why you cannot always buy at the start price and how the seller reserve works.

Beginners often confuse the start price with the actual purchase price. Let us clear up the difference.

### The start price

This is the price at which bidding opens. It draws attention but is rarely final: once bids appear, the price climbs.

### The seller reserve

Many lots carry a hidden minimum price below which the seller will not sell. If bidding does not reach that threshold, the lot stays unsold even though bids were placed.

### What this means for you

Relying on the start price alone is a mistake. We analyse statistics of similar sold lots to gauge a realistic range and, together with you, set a sensible maximum bid.