1. Understanding Fees for the Mercedes
When bidding on a Mercedes CLA, the "Hammer Price" is not what you pay. BCA adds several mandatory fees that can significantly increase the total cost.
If you win a CLA for £5,000, you must also pay:
- Buyer's Premium: The standard auction fee (often £500-£700+).
- BCA Assured Fee: ~£42 + VAT (if the car has a mechanical report).
- V5C Fee: £26.00 to process the logbook.
- Online Fee: A surcharge for bidding via BCA Live Online.
- VAT: 20% VAT is added to all the fees above.
2. Condition Grades: What to look for
BCA grades cars from 1 (Excellent) to 5 (Poor). Since many Mercedes CLA examples come from company fleets, they are often well-serviced but may have high motorway mileage.
| Grade | Typical Condition for a CLA |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Ready for retail. Minor smart repairs only. rare to find on older models. |
| Grade 2 | Clean car. May have 1-2 minor dents or wheel scuffs. Common for 3-year-old lease returns. |
| Grade 3 | The "Trader Special". Expect 4-5 panels needing paint, chipped windscreen, or interior wear. Good value if you have a body shop. |
| Unclassified | Risk Warning: Older Mercedes trade-ins often have no grade. These are "Sold as Seen" with no mechanical report. |
⚠️ BCA Outsourced Solutions
If you see a CLA listed under "BCA Outsourced Solutions", be careful. These are often vehicles rejected by other dealers or part-exchanges that haven't been inspected thoroughly. Always check the photos for warning lights on the dashboard.
3. Mechanical Checks for the CLA
Unlike buying from a dealership, you cannot test drive the car. However, for a Mercedes CLA, you should check the BCA Assured Report specifically for:
- Tyre Depth: Fleet cars often return with illegal tyres (under 1.6mm).
- Warning Lights: Look for Engine Management (EML) or DPF warnings, common on diesel Mercedes engines.
- Mileage Consistency: Check the odometer photo matches the listed mileage.
4. VAT Status: Margin vs Qualifying
This is crucial for the CLA. Because many are ex-company cars, they might be VAT Qualifying.
- If it says "Gross" (Margin): You pay no VAT on the hammer price. (Best for private buyers).
- If it says "Nett" (VAT Qualifying): You must add 20% VAT to your winning bid.
Always check the lot listing. If you miss this, a £10,000 bid becomes a £12,000 bill instantly.