Frequently Asked Questions

When you find an aircraft you want, enter a bid amount above the current high bid (respecting the minimum bid increment). Your bid is binding -- if you win, you are obligated to complete the purchase. Bids cannot be retracted.

Bid increments scale with the current price. For example: $250 increments up to $10,000, $500 up to $25,000, $1,000 up to $50,000, $2,500 up to $100,000, $5,000 up to $250,000, $10,000 up to $500,000, $25,000 up to $1,000,000, and $50,000 above that.

If a bid is placed within the final 2 minutes of an auction, the countdown resets to 2 minutes. This prevents last-second sniping and ensures every bidder has a fair chance to respond. The extension continues until no new bids arrive within the final 2 minutes.

The winning bidder pays a 5% buyer's premium on top of the final hammer price. This fee is capped at $5,000 regardless of the sale price. For example, on a $100,000 aircraft the premium would be $5,000, and on a $200,000 aircraft it would still be $5,000.

The buyer's premium is collected through Escrow.com as part of the purchase transaction after the auction ends.

Identity verification protects both buyers and sellers. It ensures that bidders are real people with genuine intent, reduces fraud, and creates accountability in every transaction. Verified sellers give buyers confidence that they are dealing with a legitimate party.

We use Stripe Identity to verify a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). The process takes about 2 minutes: you upload or take a photo of your ID and a selfie. Stripe verifies the match and confirms your identity. HangarVault does not store your ID images.

Yes. There is no charge to buyers or sellers for identity verification.

After an auction ends with a winning bid (or reserve met), both parties are connected via Escrow.com. The buyer deposits funds into escrow. The seller transfers the aircraft (title, logbooks, physical delivery). Once the buyer confirms receipt and acceptance, funds are released to the seller.

Escrow.com is a licensed escrow company. Buyer funds are held securely and only released when both parties fulfill their obligations. If there is a dispute, Escrow.com provides a resolution process. Neither party is exposed to fraud risk.

Escrow fees are typically split between buyer and seller, but this can be negotiated. Escrow.com publishes their fee schedule on their website.

At minimum you need: aircraft make/model/year, serial number, registration number, total time, engine time, avionics list, annual inspection status, damage history, location, and high-quality photos. Complete logbooks and maintenance records are strongly recommended.

Listing fees and seller commission details will be published before the marketplace launches. The goal is to keep costs competitive with traditional aircraft brokerages.

Auction durations are set by the seller, typically 7 days. The admin team may adjust the duration during review to optimize for the best outcome.

A reserve price is a hidden minimum price set by the seller. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the aircraft is not sold. The reserve amount is not disclosed to bidders -- they only see whether the reserve has been "met" or "not met."

A no-reserve auction means the aircraft will sell to the highest bidder regardless of the final price. No-reserve auctions generate more excitement, more bids, and often achieve higher final prices than reserve auctions.

Any registered user with a verified account can leave comments. Comments are public and visible to all visitors. Sellers are encouraged to respond promptly to questions.

Comments that violate our community guidelines (spam, harassment, off-topic) may be removed by moderators. Legitimate questions and discussion are always welcome.

Users who hold an FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certificate or Inspection Authorization (IA) can request a verified badge on their profile. Their comments are marked with this badge so buyers can identify expert mechanical opinions.

After creating your account, submit a copy of your FAA mechanic certificate through your profile settings. Our team will verify it and add the badge to your account, usually within 24 hours.