Goal of the buyer onboarding flow
For buyers (especially £6k–£20k cars), the flow must:
Build trust before asking for commitment
Make auctions feel safe and normal
Prevent non-serious bidders
Set expectations around payment, collection, and warranty
Reduce failed transactions
The key is: browse freely, commit deliberately.
OVERVIEW: 6 STEPS (OPTIMISED)
1️⃣ Browse freely (no account)
2️⃣ Create account (before bidding)
3️⃣ Identity & contact verification
4️⃣ Bid confirmation & rules
5️⃣ Win auction → payment flow
6️⃣ Collection & completion
1️⃣ STEP ONE: Browse Cars (No Account Required)
Purpose:
Lower barrier to entry. Let buyers explore before committing.
Buyers can:
View all listings
See photos, descriptions
See:
Free HPI check (via VDI)
Free 3-month Handler warranty
Auction end time
Current bids
What’s locked:
Placing a bid
Watching auctions
Messaging sellers
CTA on listings:
👉 Sign in to bid
2️⃣ STEP TWO: Create Account (Before Bidding)
Triggered when buyer clicks “Place bid”.
Page title:
Create your Clearway Cars account
Fields (keep minimal):
Full name
Email
Password
Reassurance microcopy:
No buyer fees. No dealer accounts. Secure payment only if you win.
Button:
👉 Create account
3️⃣ STEP THREE: Identity & Contact Verification
Purpose:
Protect sellers and reduce fake bids.
Page title:
Verify your details
Steps:
Email verification
Mobile number verification (SMS code)
Optional now / required later:
Address (can be required before payment instead of here)
Trust messaging:
Verification helps protect sellers and keeps Clearway Cars dealer-free.
4️⃣ STEP FOUR: Bid Confirmation & Auction Rules
This step prevents misunderstandings and disputes.
Page title:
Before you place your bid
Show a clear checklist:
✔ You’re bidding on a private seller’s car
✔ If you win and the reserve is met, you agree to buy
✔ No buyer fees will be added
✔ Payment is required after winning
✔ Funds are held until collection
✔ Car includes:
Free HPI check (via VDI)
Free 3-month Handler warranty
Legal confirmation checkbox (important):
☐ I understand this is a binding bid if I win and the reserve is met.
Button:
👉 Place bid
5️⃣ STEP FIVE: Winning an Auction → Payment Flow
Triggered only if buyer wins and reserve is met.
Screen 1: You’ve won
Page title:
Congratulations — you’ve won the auction
Show:
Car summary
Final price
Seller location
Warranty included
HPI check link
Next step explained clearly:
To proceed, payment is required. Funds are held securely until you collect the car.
Button:
👉 Proceed to payment
Screen 2: Secure Payment
Page title:
Secure your purchase
Show clearly:
Winning price
£0 buyer fees
Total payable = winning price only
Payment explanation (simple):
Your payment is sent to Clearway Cars and held securely.
Funds are released to the seller only after collection.
Payment methods:
Bank transfer
(Card if supported later)
Button:
🟩 Pay securely
6️⃣ STEP SIX: Collection & Completion
Screen: Arrange collection
Page title:
Arrange collection
Show:
Seller contact details
Location
Suggested checklist:
Inspect car
Confirm condition
Confirm handover in Clearway Cars
Reminder banner:
Inspect the car before confirming collection. Payment is released after confirmation.
Final screen: Completion
Page title:
Purchase complete
Checklist:
✔ Car collected
✔ Payment released to seller
✔ Warranty activated
✔ Receipt emailed
Next CTAs:
View warranty details
Leave feedback
Browse more cars
WHY THIS BUYER FLOW WORKS
✔ Buyers browse freely (low friction)
✔ Commitment only happens when bidding
✔ Legal clarity before bids
✔ Sellers protected from fake bidders
✔ Payment expectations are crystal clear
✔ Warranty + HPI reinforced at every key moment
This dramatically reduces:
Bid retractions
Payment failures
Support issues
Seller complaints
OPTIONAL (HIGH-VALUE) ENHANCEMENTS
“Watch auction” (email reminders)
Bid history notifications
Countdown urgency banners
Collection checklist PDF
Post-sale feedback loop