What is A Car Auction, and Tips on How to Find One Locally

April 8, 2010

A car auction is a place where vehicles are sold in a bidding process, and the highest bidder buys the vehicle for sale. There may be a great variety of different cars offered from various sources. They could be vehicles that were seized as part of a drug bust or other sting operation. Some impound yards hold auctions to get rid of vehicles that were towed there and never claimed. Depending on what kind of car auction it is, there may be cars donated in order to raise money for charity.

There are many different kinds of vehicles available at local car auctions. There is often an assortment of different cars, from family mini vans, to old antique cars, to newer high performance cars; it just depends on the auction. There could be SUVs and trucks of many kinds, and even motorcycles available. Some auctions are set up for farm equipment from people who may not need them any more or need to make some quick cash.

There are many different resources to help you find a local car auction. You can find them posted in the penny pincher as well as the regular paper. Sometimes they are even advertised on television or radio commercials. In order to be able to find the car that is right for you, you need to find an auction with the most time available to inspect the cars. Some auctions give you a day or so to inspect the vehicles that are going up for auction, others only allow a few hours before the start to look. It really depends on the auction itself, and how many vehicles are up for sale.

Once you have found the one that interests you the most, it is a good idea to show up for the pre-inspection as early as you can. There will be many other people who are also looking for a bargain, and you don’t want to have to stand in long lines. Take a pencil and a note pad with you. When you find one that you like, write down the make, model, and the Vehicle Identification Number. You should also write down what color it is, and the condition of the car overall. Try to at least start the car, so you can listen to the engine, make sure all the lights work, and that there aren’t any visual problems on the inside.

Don’t just pick one car, try to compile a list of different cars you are interested in. Then you should find out the specifics of the auction like if they require some kind of deposit on the cars you want to bid on, and what kinds of payments they accept. Some auctions require cash payments, some let you make an initial payment, with the rest due in a certain amount of time.

While there is time before the auction starts, do some research for the cars on your list. There are many different online resources, and you can check three different agencies to find the blue book value. It is a good idea to check the vehicle reports on them, to make sure they haven’t been in an accident or have a record of fire or flood damage so you can make an informed decision.

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