Getting a Deal at an Auto Auction
It’s easy to find discounted car bargains at a public auto auction. Not only can great deals on used cars be found there, but also some incredible higher end cars too.. A lot of people buy these vehicles either to drive themselves or to mark up for future sale. A little information can make an auction an even better experience.
Some of what can go wrong includes buying a bad car. Every car at an auction isn’t a hidden gem. Keep in mind that what you see at an auction is what you get. Even children have been taught about “as is” through a television cartoon showing a guy buying a used car. The salesman responds “as is” to every question. Once the sale is made and the man tries to enter the car, it shakes itself apart. The unfortunate buyer shouts “I want the car as was!” Don’t let that happen to you.
People are given the chance to inspect the vehicles at auto auctions. Avoid the auctions that don’t. Take the time to do some leg work. Test drive the cars you like. 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. It doesn’t take long to check key components like the engine and breaks. Look for other issues such as dings or dents or rust .
The very nature of auctions leads to another common issue. Auctions can be a great deal, but the price could also be more than common retail. It’s no different at auto auctions. The bidding can easily escalate to well over the car’s value. Be very careful because fees will be added to the final bid price. Be armed with Kelly Blue Book values as well as real sales examples of similar models and years. No need to even look it up in advance since the information is online and phones can access it. Even for the car of your dreams, don’t bid more than its value.
It’s not hard to find bargains at auctions. Don’t go in blind, however. An auto auction follows the rule of thumb of every sale, buyer beware.
Tags: auto auction, car auction