Used car auctions are a great way to find the car you’re looking for without spending too much money. There’s lots of opportunity for this if you can find listings for car auctions or bid online. Before you get too excited, however, you need to prepare yourself so that you’ll be able to get a good deal without bidding on a badly conditioned car. Taking advantage of auto auctions can yield great success, but you need to be equipped with these tips before you jump into action.
Know what type of auction you’re going to before you go. This would seem like a no brainer, but there are different kinds out there. Auto auctions are often held by the police, government or auction lots, and they sell anything from government surplus vehicles to repossessed and impounded cars. When you buy a car, it comes ‘as is;’ there’s not warranties on them, and taking them back will be a major hassle if they even allow it.
When looking for auctions in your area, check out the scheduling. Most times there will be a time for preliminary inspections where prospective buyers can check out the cars. You should definitely go to see if the auction is something worthwhile, and to check out the condition of the cars. While you probably won’t be able to test drive the cars, you can take advantage of the time you have to look over everything to see which cars are worth buying, and maybe check out the competition. Don’t set your heart on one car, especially if you know it’s going to be in high demand. Mark down three or four that you would be happy with buying.
Write down the vehicle ID numbers. When you get home, check them out on Carfax, even though this will cost you a minimal fee. This is worth doing to make sure you’re bidding on a quality car that was taken care of by the owners and has a clean history. When you go to the auction you’ll know which cars you’d really like to bid on (still don’t just pick one) and their history. Also find out what the cars you’re interested are worth so you know you’re not overbidding. Set a budget when bidding so you won’t bid more than the car’s worth or more than you can afford.
A car auction is a very good way to find an affordable car, and if you do your homework before going to one, you can be very successful and pleased with your purchase.
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