5 Government Car Auction Dos and Don’ts
Monique Tarver asked:
Getting ripped off at a government car auction is the number one most common fear of those attending one. There would be nothing worse than buying your dream car for pennies on the dollar only to discover you over paid or even worse, it needs extensive repair work. But it doesn’t have to end that way. Increase your chances of finding that perfect car for a great price by following these valuable dos and don’ts.
1. Do bring a mechanic with you to any government car auction you attend. This is the most important thing to remember because these cars are sold in as-is condition. Meaning, once you buy it you are responsible for all repairs and cannot return it if it’s a lemon. If you can’t find a mechanic to come with you, check under the hood for dirty oil, which can be a sign that the previous owner did not keep up with regular maintenance. Also look for rust on the brakes, doors and trunk, which can be an indication that the was was in a flood. Avoid these cars at all costs because the water damage will cause the electrical system to fail soon, which costs more to fix than it’s worth.
2. Do arrive early. This will give you time to thoroughly inspect each and every car you’re interested in buying. You should try going a day or two before the auction date so you can write down the vin numbers of the cars in order to run a CARFAX report on each one, which is also very important.
3. Do research every car you’re interested in buying. This includes running a CARFAX report and using a Kelly’s Blue Book. First, you’ll want to run a CARFAX report using the vin number you wrote down as mentioned above. This report will tell you if the car has in an accident, flood or fire. If that check out OK, next you’ll use a Kelly’s Blue Book to check the car’s current retail value. This will save you from paying more than what the car is really worth, which is all too common if you get caught up in a bidding war.
4. Don’t get too attached to any one car. Sure, the car may be just what you’re looking for. But getting too attached can cause you to get into a bidding war with someone else that feels the same way. In the end, you’ll wind up pay more than what the car is actually worth, which makes going to a government car auction to save money pointless.
5. Don’t buy a car with non-matching vin numbers. If the vin numbers on the engine, doors, dashboard, trunk, etc. don’t match there is a high possibility that the car has been in an accident, flood, or fire. Most likely parts from another car were used to do repair work. Or even worse, it’s a stolen vehicle.
In conclusion, going to a government car auction is nothing to fear as long as you are a well prepared buyer. just remember to bring a mechanic, get there early, do your research, avoid getting too attached and buying cars with non-matching vin numbers. As long as you follow these guidelines you’ll be fine.
Did you know that 90% of car auction sites are scams? Save yourself from a headache and loosing your hard earned money by visiting MyCarAuctionReview.com for the best car auction sites in town.
Getting ripped off at a government car auction is the number one most common fear of those attending one. There would be nothing worse than buying your dream car for pennies on the dollar only to discover you over paid or even worse, it needs extensive repair work. But it doesn’t have to end that way. Increase your chances of finding that perfect car for a great price by following these valuable dos and don’ts.
1. Do bring a mechanic with you to any government car auction you attend. This is the most important thing to remember because these cars are sold in as-is condition. Meaning, once you buy it you are responsible for all repairs and cannot return it if it’s a lemon. If you can’t find a mechanic to come with you, check under the hood for dirty oil, which can be a sign that the previous owner did not keep up with regular maintenance. Also look for rust on the brakes, doors and trunk, which can be an indication that the was was in a flood. Avoid these cars at all costs because the water damage will cause the electrical system to fail soon, which costs more to fix than it’s worth.
2. Do arrive early. This will give you time to thoroughly inspect each and every car you’re interested in buying. You should try going a day or two before the auction date so you can write down the vin numbers of the cars in order to run a CARFAX report on each one, which is also very important.
3. Do research every car you’re interested in buying. This includes running a CARFAX report and using a Kelly’s Blue Book. First, you’ll want to run a CARFAX report using the vin number you wrote down as mentioned above. This report will tell you if the car has in an accident, flood or fire. If that check out OK, next you’ll use a Kelly’s Blue Book to check the car’s current retail value. This will save you from paying more than what the car is really worth, which is all too common if you get caught up in a bidding war.
4. Don’t get too attached to any one car. Sure, the car may be just what you’re looking for. But getting too attached can cause you to get into a bidding war with someone else that feels the same way. In the end, you’ll wind up pay more than what the car is actually worth, which makes going to a government car auction to save money pointless.
5. Don’t buy a car with non-matching vin numbers. If the vin numbers on the engine, doors, dashboard, trunk, etc. don’t match there is a high possibility that the car has been in an accident, flood, or fire. Most likely parts from another car were used to do repair work. Or even worse, it’s a stolen vehicle.
In conclusion, going to a government car auction is nothing to fear as long as you are a well prepared buyer. just remember to bring a mechanic, get there early, do your research, avoid getting too attached and buying cars with non-matching vin numbers. As long as you follow these guidelines you’ll be fine.
Did you know that 90% of car auction sites are scams? Save yourself from a headache and loosing your hard earned money by visiting MyCarAuctionReview.com for the best car auction sites in town.
Government Car Auction FAQs
Monique Tarver asked:
When it comes to car auctions, the best deals can be found at those ran by the government. This list of FAQs will answer any questions you may have about attending your first government car auction.
1. Where does the government get these cars from?
Most of these cars are seized from people that have not paid their taxes or come from the DEA or FBI which have seized the vehicles from those involved in illegal activities.
2. What should I bring with me?
The top 3 things you should bring with you are your id, a mechanic and money just in case you see something you like.
3. Do these cars come with a warranty?
Unfortunately most vehicles sold at a government car auction are sold in as-is condition. That means if there happens to be anything wrong with it now or as soon as you drive it off the lot, you will bear the responsibility of repairing it. That’s why it always a good idea to bring a mechanic with you unless you know you way under the hood.
4. I don’t know where any government car auctions are located near me. Where can I find one?
First, you can check you local newspaper for announcements of auctions that may be taking place in your city. But these are few and far in between. Your next alternative is to become friendly with a used car dealer and ask them to take you with them to the next auction they attend. You can also get a list of car auction sites from off the internet, which end up paying for themselves after you buy your first car.
5. What types of cars can I find there?
It all depends on the day and which auction you go to. You can find a wide variety of vehicles, from your everyday commuter car to high end luxury.
6. How much money should I bring with me?
Depending on what you’re looking for, you should bring anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 with you. Most auctions allow you to put down a deposit and pay the rest within a couple of days if you have not bought enough money with you.
7. Is it really safe to buy from these auctions?
Of course it is. you only risk is buying a lemon. But this can be avoided by bringing a mechanic with you to every auction you attend.
All in all, you can get the car of your dreams at a government car auction, depending on the day and which one you go to. The important things to always remember are to bring a mechanic with you and enough money to pay for the car.
Don’t know where to find your local government car auction?
Then visit MyCarAuctionReview.com for info on the most popular car auction lists.
When it comes to car auctions, the best deals can be found at those ran by the government. This list of FAQs will answer any questions you may have about attending your first government car auction.
1. Where does the government get these cars from?
Most of these cars are seized from people that have not paid their taxes or come from the DEA or FBI which have seized the vehicles from those involved in illegal activities.
2. What should I bring with me?
The top 3 things you should bring with you are your id, a mechanic and money just in case you see something you like.
3. Do these cars come with a warranty?
Unfortunately most vehicles sold at a government car auction are sold in as-is condition. That means if there happens to be anything wrong with it now or as soon as you drive it off the lot, you will bear the responsibility of repairing it. That’s why it always a good idea to bring a mechanic with you unless you know you way under the hood.
4. I don’t know where any government car auctions are located near me. Where can I find one?
First, you can check you local newspaper for announcements of auctions that may be taking place in your city. But these are few and far in between. Your next alternative is to become friendly with a used car dealer and ask them to take you with them to the next auction they attend. You can also get a list of car auction sites from off the internet, which end up paying for themselves after you buy your first car.
5. What types of cars can I find there?
It all depends on the day and which auction you go to. You can find a wide variety of vehicles, from your everyday commuter car to high end luxury.
6. How much money should I bring with me?
Depending on what you’re looking for, you should bring anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 with you. Most auctions allow you to put down a deposit and pay the rest within a couple of days if you have not bought enough money with you.
7. Is it really safe to buy from these auctions?
Of course it is. you only risk is buying a lemon. But this can be avoided by bringing a mechanic with you to every auction you attend.
All in all, you can get the car of your dreams at a government car auction, depending on the day and which one you go to. The important things to always remember are to bring a mechanic with you and enough money to pay for the car.
Don’t know where to find your local government car auction?
Then visit MyCarAuctionReview.com for info on the most popular car auction lists.
Get Your Perfect Car From Government Car Auctions
MIKE SELVON asked:
It is no secret that government agencies at the local, state and federal levels regularly hold used car auctions. However, most people do not know where to find these kinds of auctions or how to be a participant. The government car auctions can be a wonderful source for getting your hands on a tremendously discounted vehicle. It is well worth the time to learn about them.
Many people are only interested in a government car auto to get a reliable car for the family and save some money in the process. However, there are some people who turn big profits by frequenting these government auctions, snapping up all the deals they can, and then turning around and selling these same vehicles at their used car dealership for twice the price, or more, of what they paid at the auction.
However, it should be noted that these dealers don’t always make a windfall profit when they buy vehicles from government car auctions. This is because the cars sold through these public auto auctions are sold on an “as is” basis and they do not have any kind of guarantee or warranty on the condition of the vehicle; all sales are final.
For the car dealer who uses a government car auction to get a number of cars for his dealership on a regular basis, this means that there will be a percentage of the cars that are in need of a considerable amount of repair work before they can be resold. Most of the time, these dealers have a staff of mechanics that can deal with these problems, so in many ways it can be better that the dealers get these cars that have hidden problems because they can handle these issues more easily than an average consumer can.
For people who have the skills and equipment to work on cars themselves, a government car auction can be the perfect way to get a car at a price that is almost a steal. But, if you don’t know a lot about the mechanical workings of a car, then it might not be quite as wonderful.
The car you end up bidding on and winning may be reliable, or it could be a lemon. Just keep in mind that it is the responsibility of the bidder to determine the condition of the vehicle before they start bidding on it. Once you are awarded the winning bid, you are committed and the car is yours.
If you can get a hold of a government car auctions listing that isn’t publicize widely, then you will have the best opportunity for getting the best possible price. This will entail undertaking a bit of sleuthing work to track down the government auto auctions that are local to you, instead of waiting to hear an advertisement about it, but the extra effort you put in could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars when you go to the car auto auction.
It is no secret that government agencies at the local, state and federal levels regularly hold used car auctions. However, most people do not know where to find these kinds of auctions or how to be a participant. The government car auctions can be a wonderful source for getting your hands on a tremendously discounted vehicle. It is well worth the time to learn about them.
Many people are only interested in a government car auto to get a reliable car for the family and save some money in the process. However, there are some people who turn big profits by frequenting these government auctions, snapping up all the deals they can, and then turning around and selling these same vehicles at their used car dealership for twice the price, or more, of what they paid at the auction.
However, it should be noted that these dealers don’t always make a windfall profit when they buy vehicles from government car auctions. This is because the cars sold through these public auto auctions are sold on an “as is” basis and they do not have any kind of guarantee or warranty on the condition of the vehicle; all sales are final.
For the car dealer who uses a government car auction to get a number of cars for his dealership on a regular basis, this means that there will be a percentage of the cars that are in need of a considerable amount of repair work before they can be resold. Most of the time, these dealers have a staff of mechanics that can deal with these problems, so in many ways it can be better that the dealers get these cars that have hidden problems because they can handle these issues more easily than an average consumer can.
For people who have the skills and equipment to work on cars themselves, a government car auction can be the perfect way to get a car at a price that is almost a steal. But, if you don’t know a lot about the mechanical workings of a car, then it might not be quite as wonderful.
The car you end up bidding on and winning may be reliable, or it could be a lemon. Just keep in mind that it is the responsibility of the bidder to determine the condition of the vehicle before they start bidding on it. Once you are awarded the winning bid, you are committed and the car is yours.
If you can get a hold of a government car auctions listing that isn’t publicize widely, then you will have the best opportunity for getting the best possible price. This will entail undertaking a bit of sleuthing work to track down the government auto auctions that are local to you, instead of waiting to hear an advertisement about it, but the extra effort you put in could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars when you go to the car auto auction.