Why might an auctioneer refuse a bid from a minor?

An auctioneer may refuse a bid from a minor because the law generally considers individuals under the age of 18 to be incompetent to enter into contracts, including the contract of sale that occurs in an auction setting. Since minors lack the full legal capacity to bind themselves to contracts, any bid they place may not be enforceable, which can create complications for the auctioneer.

This protection exists to prevent minors from becoming unfairly obligated to complete transactions or to be held accountable for breaches of contract. As a result, to maintain the integrity of the auction process and ensure that all participants are legally able to enter into binding agreements, the auctioneer has the right to reject bids from those deemed incompetent, including minors. This helps to mitigate potential legal issues that could arise from transactions involving individuals who cannot legally consent to the terms of the sale.