When does title to personal property transfer during an auction?

During an auction, title to personal property typically transfers when the auctioneer concludes the bidding process and indicates that it is over, which is often done by striking the gavel. This signifies that the auction has officially ended and that the highest bid has been accepted. Once the gavel falls, the sale is finalized, and the winning bidder acquires ownership of the item, subject to any terms that may have been specified prior to the auction.

The moment the gavel falls represents a clear and definitive point in time when the auctioneer has exercised their authority to conclude the sale, marking the legal transfer of title to the buyer. Prior to this point, even if a bid is the highest, no formal agreement has been made until the auctioneer signals the completion of the bidding. Thus, states and auction rules generally uphold this practice to ensure clarity in the transfer of ownership.