eBay UK extends card authentication to the £250 tier
As of October 23, 2026, eBay UK covers eligible singles from £250. Authentication is free, with limits on card types, delivery and refunds.
By the Rip.fan Editorial Team.
Published Updated 4 min read
eBay UK has widened card authentication to eligible singles priced at £250 or more, excluding postage, as of October 23, 2026. Buyers pay no authentication fee, and eligible purchases must pass through the service.
The programme covers selected raw cards and graded cards bought through eBay’s UK marketplace for delivery within the UK. Sealed boxes, packs and multi-card lots do not qualify.
The threshold moved through £350
The £250 level appears in eBay’s October seller update and applies in its buyer and seller terms as of October 23, 2026.
The earlier thresholds changed in stages. On June 2, 2026, the seller terms set the minimum at £500. The buyer terms showed £350 on July 16, 2026, and still showed £350 on August 20, 2026.
The £250 threshold is £100 below that £350 level, a reduction of about 28.6%. Postage does not count toward the qualifying price.
As of October 23, 2026, a card listed at £250 can remain eligible when the seller accepts a Best Offer below £250. Auction eligibility depends on the final price, not the opening bid. The blue Authenticity Guarantee badge identifies qualifying listings.
Singles, graders and delivery limits
Eligible categories cover sports cards, non-sports cards and collectable card games. Accepted graders include BGS and SGC, alongside PSA, CSG and CGC Trading Cards.
The badge remains required even when a card meets the price threshold. Art cards, redemption cards and wrongly categorised listings are excluded. Local collection selected at checkout, P.O. Box delivery and offline payments also fall outside the service.
Enrollment is automatic for eligible purchases. Neither the buyer nor the seller can skip authentication.
PSA inspects cards and holders
PSA provides the authentication service. Raw-card inspection covers condition and authenticity, including whether the card matches the listing’s photos and written details.
For graded cards, the inspection covers the holder and its label. It includes signs of tampering and whether those parts are genuine. The service does not assign a grade or change an existing grade.
The inspected item receives sealed packaging and a QR sticker with authentication details. A failed inspection leads to a full refund through the original payment method.
For a PSA holder found to be fake or tampered with, PSA deactivates the certificate and notifies the seller.
Postage costs and separate orders
As of October 23, 2026, eBay pays for authentication and tracked delivery from the facility to the buyer. The service describes that onward leg as next-day delivery, after authentication.
The delivery estimate on the listing includes inspection time. It is not a promise that the whole order takes only the onward delivery period.
Sellers must post to the facility address supplied in the order, including its authentication code. In-person drop-off is not available. Labels bought through eBay or Simple Delivery include the facility details, and tracking uploads automatically.
Each authenticated item needs its own shipment. Combined-postage promotions do not apply. Buyers can follow progress in their purchase history; sellers can use Seller Hub order details.
Delivery PINs changed before October
The PIN requirement had already changed before the £250 update. On July 16, 2026, the buyer terms required a PIN for items priced at £750 or more. By August 20, 2026, that threshold was £500.
As of October 23, 2026, the buyer terms retain the £500 PIN threshold. DPD sends the PIN through delivery updates and requires it at handover where the rule applies.
Postcode exceptions cover parts of the Scottish Highlands and islands, plus Northern Ireland and several UK island destinations. Buyers without a mobile number supplied at purchase also receive tracked delivery without the PIN requirement.
Refunds and postage back to sellers
A buyer can request a return under the seller’s stated policy, or when the item does not match its description. The item goes back through the authentication facility before reaching the seller.
The listing’s terms and the reason for sending it back determine who pays postage to the facility. eBay pays for the onward shipment to the seller.
The facility inspects the item’s identity and condition again. An altered or removed authentication seal can lead to the item being sent back to the buyer and the request being closed.
What to do
- Check for the blue Authenticity Guarantee badge, including when a seller accepts a lower Best Offer.
- Confirm the order uses UK delivery; local collection and P.O. Box addresses do not qualify.
- Check the seller’s return window and who pays postage back to the authentication facility.
- Confirm your eBay contact details can receive DPD’s PIN messages if the delivery requires one.
Related: How to check a card before grading, How to read a CGC label.