Auctioneer License Requirements in Indiana
State license required. Indiana requires a state license for auctioneers and auction companies through the Indiana Auctioneer Commission.
What Online Auctioneers Need to Know
There is no online carve-out in Indiana's statute, and the Commission asserts jurisdiction over Indiana-based internet auctions — plan on the license applying to an online-only operation.
The Rules in Indiana
Indiana licenses both auctioneers and auction companies through the Indiana Auctioneer Commission under IC 25-6.1. The statute contains no exemption for online sales, and the Commission takes the position that internet auctions run from Indiana fall under its jurisdiction.
Two consignor protections are statutory. IC 25-6.1-6-4 requires a written contract before the sale, retained for two years. IC 25-6.1-6-2 requires an accounting and payment to the consignor within 30 days. Indiana does not require a bond.
Requirements at a Glance
- State license for auctioneers and auction companies (IC 25-6.1-3-1)
- Written contract before the sale, retained 2 years (IC 25-6.1-6-4)
- Accounting and payment to the consignor within 30 days (IC 25-6.1-6-2)
- Records kept 2 years; no statutory bond
Authority: Indiana Auctioneer Commission. Statute: IC 25-6.1.
Not legal advice. Auction law changes — several states have amended their online-auction rules since 2019. Verify current requirements with the licensing authority above (or your city/county clerk) before your first sale, and have a local attorney review your consignment contract.
Licensed (or Exempt)? Here's the Rest of the Path
The license is usually the easy part. The business itself — platform affiliation, sourcing consignments, cataloging, settlement — is laid out in how to start an online auction business, and the earning math is in how much auctioneers make.