Getting a Deal at an Auto Auction

An auto auction is a great way to purchase a car at a deep discount. There you’ll find everything from luxury automobiles to junk projects. Many people purchase vehicles this way either for themselves or to sell at a profit. This pleasant experience, however, can quickly turn sour if you don’t know a few things.

Maybe the car isn’t as wonderful as it seemed. The car won at auction might turn out to be a lemon. Cars sold at such auctions are generally sold according to used car laws which tend to make it an “as is” sale. Remember the old Sesame Street skit in which a man looks over a car with “as is” in the window. The salesman responds “as is” to every question. After the sale is final the buyer tries to drive the car, but the doors fall off and the engine explodes. The unfortunate buyer shouts “I want the car as was!” Don’t let that happen to you.

Auto auctions generally give potential buyers time to look over the cars. Avoid the auctions that don’t. Arrive early. Look around and test drive the cars of interest. If you don’t know anything about cars, bring someone who does. If that isn’t possible, at least drive the car for an inspection during the test drive. A good mechanic can provide a thorough inspection in a short time. Look for other issues such as dings or dents or rust .

Another problem is inherent in auctions. People assume that the auction price will be a great deal, but often it ends up being more expensive than purchasing the item through a normal sales process. That holds true for auto auctions too. Bidding might rise beyond the real value of the car. Be very careful because fees will be added to the final bid price. Easily accessible date on car values is standard issue for auction buyers. With Internet enabled phones and the like it’s now easy to look up this information while on site. Don’t pay more than the car is worth, even if it’s a coveted antique.

It’s not hard to find bargains at auctions. But keep your eyes and ears open. If a deal appears too good to be true, it is, even at an auto auction.