eBay UK lowers its card authentication floor to £250
Trading card singles selling for £250 or more on eBay.co.uk now go through PSA authentication before reaching the buyer, down from £500.
By Jamie Budesky · Published October 7, 2026
In short
eBay’s October 2026 Seller News says its UK Authenticity Guarantee now covers trading cards valued at £250 and up, down from £500 when it launched on May 6. Raw and graded singles qualify, graded cards only from PSA, SGC, CGC/CSG or Beckett, and PSA does the checks. If you sell cards in the UK above £250, plan for the authentication step; you cannot opt out.
What changed
eBay’s October 2026 Seller News, as quoted by Value Added Resource on October 6, says the UK Authenticity Guarantee for trading cards “is expanding to cover trading cards valued at £250+.” When the program launched on May 6, 2026, the threshold was £500, according to Tabletop Gaming, which first reported the lower threshold on September 16.
Eligible sales now start at £250, half the launch threshold, and sellers cannot opt out. eBay’s seller page and terms set out the rules below.
Is your card eligible?
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Price | Listed or sold at £250 or more, excluding postage |
| Best Offer and auctions | A £250 listing that accepts a lower Best Offer still qualifies; auctions qualify if they sell above the threshold |
| Card type | Collectable card game, sports and non-sports singles, raw or graded |
| Grader | If graded: PSA, SGC, CGC Trading Cards or CSG, or Beckett (BGS) |
| Route | Bought on eBay.co.uk and delivered to a UK address |
Lots, sets, packs, art cards and redemption cards are excluded, as are P.O. box deliveries. eBay’s help page lists slabs from graders such as GMA, HGA, KSA, WCG and GBA as not eligible.
How it works
After a sale, the seller posts the card to a PSA authentication facility in the UK using the address eBay provides. Per eBay, PSA inspects raw cards against the listing and checks graded slabs for tampering and an authentic case and label. Verified cards get a tamper-proof seal and a QR code sticker, then go to the buyer by tracked next-day delivery paid for by eBay. The seller pays postage to the facility.
There is no grading or regrading in the process. eBay says so directly. Our grader by use case guide explains why the slab brand still matters to buyers.
- Rule: if you sell cards in the UK at £250 to £499, plan for the authentication leg. Each card ships separately, and combined postage does not apply.
- Describe raw cards carefully. PSA checks raw cards against your photos and description, and a mismatch sends the card back to you.
- Check the slab before you list. Only the four approved graders qualify. Our BGS cert guide shows what to check on a Beckett label, and Is card grading worth it? covers when slabbing pays.
What we could not confirm
- The exact date eBay moved the threshold from £500 to £250. Tabletop Gaming reported it on September 16; eBay’s October Seller News confirms it.
- eBay’s October Seller News page itself. We relied on Value Added Resource’s quotation of it.
- When eBay’s live seller page and terms were last edited. They carry no date, so we cannot prove every detail above, such as raw-card eligibility, was worded this way on October 7.
Sources
- Value Added Resource: eBay October 2026 Seller News (October 6, 2026)
- Tabletop Gaming: eBay UK launches Authenticity Guarantee service for trading cards (September 16, 2026)
- eBay UK: Authenticity Guarantee for trading cards, seller page and terms (undated)
- eBay UK: Authenticity Guarantee help page (undated)
Frequently asked questions
What is the eBay UK Authenticity Guarantee threshold for trading cards?
£250. eBay’s October 2026 Seller News says the program now covers trading cards valued at £250 and up, down from £500 at launch in May 2026.
Which cards qualify for eBay UK authentication?
Collectable card game, sports and non-sports singles listed or sold at £250 or more on eBay.co.uk for UK delivery. Raw cards qualify; graded cards must be from PSA, SGC, CGC or CSG, or Beckett.
Does eBay UK authentication cost anything?
eBay covers the authentication and the tracked delivery to the buyer. The seller pays postage to the authentication facility.
Who inspects cards for eBay UK Authenticity Guarantee?
PSA. It checks raw cards against the listing and inspects graded slabs for tampering and an authentic case and label. It does not grade or regrade cards.
Can I opt out of eBay UK Authenticity Guarantee?
No. eBay says eligible items priced at £250 or more cannot bypass the authentication service.