| There are many attractive reasons why people | | | | Inspect the trunk and hood and open all doors. If you |
| choose to buy from used car auctions and the | | | | have a VIN number with you, you can match the car |
| reason that tops the list is price. Used cars are | | | | with it. If the car doesn't match, then it could be a |
| auctioned off in different ways: online, public, | | | | stolen vehicle or was fixed using another car's parts. |
| wholesale, insurance & salvage and police & | | | | Protect yourself by knowing what needs to be |
| government auctions. | | | | checked tires, carburetors, mileage, steering wheel. |
| Among these, wholesale and insurance & salvage | | | | Check for damages and signs of disalignment, rust, |
| are more often open only to dealers. | | | | leak, paint chips, evidence of paint jobs or flooding, |
| Types of Used Car Auctions | | | | crooked windows, malfunctioning A/C, excessive |
| Online car auctions like those on Yahoo and Ebay are | | | | mileage, dents and scratches. |
| very convenient and you can shop for the car you | | | | If you don't have the knowhow, bring a trusted |
| like without leaving the house. Remember, though | | | | friend who can spell out the details for you and do |
| that you are buying a car you have never laid eyes | | | | the inspecting and asking. |
| on and have never physically checked. | | | | "As is". Truly understanding these two simple words |
| This should not deter you, however. There are a lot | | | | can save you from a lot of disappointment. So do |
| of sellers online who are legitimate and if you are | | | | the words "buyer beware". When you buy a car at |
| patient enough, you could just get a great buy. | | | | an auction, or anything for that matter, you won't |
| Government auctions are also a good place to shop | | | | have the chance to bring the car to a mechanic to |
| for a used car. These are usually government-seized | | | | have it checked. |
| or decommissioned vehicles. There are registered | | | | So what you buy is exactly what you see. And what |
| auction lots throughout the United States. | | | | you see is what you are going to get. |
| In order to participate, you will need to register and | | | | A car's title should be available for you right there, |
| get a bidder number from an auction house before | | | | but if it's not, check the contract to see how long it |
| the sale. The registration is free. | | | | would take for you to get it. If the contract says |
| A caveat: some of these cars have not been driven | | | | that you're supposed to get it in one week and they |
| or maintained in a while, so they might not be in | | | | don't deliver, you can get your money back. |
| tiptop condition. | | | | Your winning bid is not exactly the money you need |
| Some tips when participating in an auction | | | | to shell out. In used car auctions, there is a buyer's |
| You've probably heard the horror stories: getting | | | | premium that you'll need to pay and can cost you |
| duped into buying what seemed like a great car on | | | | anywhere from a few hundred bucks to about 10% |
| the outside, only to end up with an utterly useless | | | | of your winning bid. |
| piece of junk two days later. | | | | So if you won a bid for $18,000 and there's a 5% |
| There are these and worse, but there are also happy | | | | buyer's premium, you'll pay $18,900. |
| endings to some auction stories. The trick is to be | | | | Take your time so you don't get carried away. In the |
| prudent and to be prepared. | | | | heat of the auction battle, you could let your passion |
| Check the car's history through Carfax, an Internet | | | | take over and just keep bidding, forgetting about the |
| service that lets you search a car's background. A | | | | buyer's premium and not realizing that you might be |
| Carfax report will show reports from insurance | | | | buying that used car at a higher price than fair |
| companies, police, DMVs and other sources. A similar | | | | market value, which actually defeats the purpose of |
| service is provided by AutoCheck.. | | | | your joining an auction in the first place. |
| While some auctions do conduct some history checks | | | | When it comes to used car auctions, there is nothing |
| on cars on their lists, some auctions do nothing at all, | | | | wrong about being picky. After all, it's your money |
| so it is wise to do some sleuthing yourself. It's | | | | that's on the line. But getting a great deal is really not |
| always good to check if the car has a clean title to | | | | just about the price. |
| spare yourself from potential problems. | | | | It's about buying quality as well so it's best to have |
| Come early. There's less distraction because the | | | | the right kind of information before going in not only |
| auction isn't crowded yet. Plus, you can check the | | | | to get the right car at a good price, but also to avoid |
| cars more thoroughly. | | | | bad deals and unnecessary headaches. |