Car Auction Tips and Tricks

5 Detailed Car Auction Buying Tips For Inspecting Auction Event Cars

2008-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering if you can afford to buy your dream car and still get a excellent running car, the answer is, yes of course you can. Buy a Bank Repo or seized car from a live auction. No Problem right??

When it comes to automobile shopping it would be a lie to tell you there is no hazards lurking when buying used cars. In respect of grand world of mechanics there is always chances to be taken. Nevertheless when you know what you want and do some work you will find that special car you love and it will love you back. With a savings of 50% to 60% off retail that's a opportunity worth your efforts.

To assist you and help make things a bit easier when purchasing a used car especially at a live car auctions, below are some of the most important used buying tips based on extensive research and some good old fashion know how experience from buyers through-out the country.

Ready? ok, here we go, take notes!

1. Usually the most valued cars to buy from auctions are Bank Repo's or Seized vehicles. There is all types including salvage vehicles from accidents or floods/disasters placed up for auction sale by insurance companies or private owners etc.. Sometimes you can distinguish a little about the car by looking at the paper work if they offer it. The best thing to do is get the vin # and do a history check online at Experian "Checkauto". Bank Repo's and seized vehicles are a good choice because they were normally well maintained by the owners and very often are in good condition

2. Keep a pen and paper handy when you go to look at cars. Write down the vin# you see in the lower corner of the windshield usually on the driver side. Then after that you will want to open all the doors, hood and trunk check that vin# again you wrote down. then look at all vin#?s found on the vehicle. Sometimes they are along the door sticker and/or trunk door. If they don't match, it is feasible the car was in a severe crash and the door panels were changed or the car was stolen and it would be advisable to stay away move on to the next one.

3. You can also easily check-out, while the doors are open, under the carpet and in the trunk for dampness or rust under the seats. Also look in the engine area for water stains around the engine block. If there is a water line stain around the engine block, rust under the seats or the floor feels damp it?s very likely this car was in a flood. Obviously this would be a good one to stay away from too.

4. While the hood is still open find the oil dipstick. draw it out and take a at the oil on the end of the stick. Do you see heavy dirt deposits? or is it like sludge? That wouldn't be a good sign if there is.The auto was plausibly not well maintained or it has been sitting a long time. It may not be a real problem but when there is always more cars to see. Pass this one up you will thank me later.

5. Alrighty.. last but not to the lowest degree is the transmission check. While you are checking the oil also check the transmission by pulling the dipstick out and see if it has large dirt deposits or if it has a stinky smell. That is a sign of not being maintained either. however if that checks out ok, start the car, place your foot on the brake and hold it there. Then put it in drive and then slowly into reverse to see if there is a clunking noise or slipping feel while you hold the brake. Do not drive the car around that's not admitted at car auctions. A small clunk is ok, but If there is excessive noise it's got problems walk away from that one too.

There are always more you can check but these major inspection tips will help keep you from major problems down the road. It's not a guarantee but it definitely limits the possibility of getting a junk of a car.

One more thing you should keep in mind when browsing for any car. Do not get connected to a car survey the guide lines and avoid the auction cars with the problems as referred above. There is many great automobiles out there you will find what you want if you just look hard enough. Even if you depart an auction empty handed there is slew of auctions every week in every state across the country. Happy car shopping! Enjoy your search and have fun!

Some resources:

Gov - Auction Data Base Site

Getting Some Cash to help Buy Your cars

What To Expect At Auto Auctions and Buying Used Cars Tips

2008-07-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Some more valuable information for those of you that may be looking to purchase a car from a public auction. I have found many people use auto auctions to purchase seized cars on a regular basis for income, some needing to downsize into a more economical used car, others use auto auctions to purchase the first car for their son or daughter to help save in cost. Whatever the reason if you can realistically save 30% to 60% off retail cost it is worth looking into.

Every month thousands of used cars sometimes almost new cars and trucks are seized by different Government agencies and Police departments. Some are reposed by Banks and then auctioned off to the public. Due to certain laws these vehicles are listed and sold for a discount, up to 30% to 60% off their original value (some claim 90% to 95% but 60% is more realistic) and these auto auctions many times start their bidding at $100 - $500.

With today’s economic trouble many automobiles are being reposed sending the rate of reposed cars to record highs. These used cars, trucks and other items are now flooding the public auto auctions few people know about.

Auto auctions are a great resource to purchase a more economical used car to save on gas, buy a dream car for less, or buy and resell to pass the savings on to consumers for a profit. Though there are some details to watch out for when buying a used car the benefits seem worth the time and energy to find out where these auctions are.

It would be worth taking a day or two, check out a couple of these auto auctions before you purchase, see what they are like and then if it is good for you, find another one and then take your time and buy your next car at discount not seen at the dealers.

Some tips for buying used cars and what to do at auto auctions:

To find the local auctions in your area you can search the newspaper for auto auctions or join an auction (cost is about $49 for a life time membership) site with a data base of all the auctions in your area. You can follow this link to one of the best auto auction sites with continual updated content and good customer service recommended by seized car buyers that buy these used cars for a living.
You will want to give yourself time to look over the cars for sale and do any inspections of the cars your interested in prior to the auction. Some auto auctions will give you a couple of days to inspect their used cars but some do not. It would be best to arrive two hours early before the auction starts to look at the cars and get registered for the auction.
The auctioneer speaks very fast but you will get use to it after a few minutes. That’s why it would be best to take some time and just go as an observer before you actually go to buy if you can. Otherwise no problem, just give it a few minutes of listening before you start to bid to make sure you know what is being said.
Many auctions may require a bank draft. Make sure you have enough money in your bank to cover your check. Be prepared ahead of time. Usually you can make a $500 deposit on your purchase and pay the rest in a couple of days. But always check the auto auctions terms first.
Bring a blue book or Edmunds book with you to check the value of the used cars you want to bid on. When bidding don’t get caught up in a bidding war try to stay 30% below blue book because there is also an auction premium when you buy a car of about 10% on top of the price you win the bid at.

Things to look at when buying a used car;

Open all the doors, truck and hood check the vin# on the dash and any found on the doors, hood or truck stickers to make sure they all match if they don’t it could be a possible stolen car.
Do a history and title check on the vin # a site called CheckAuto is a good source for this type of service it dose a very thorough search on the car and will give you it’s entire history.
Check the oil dipstick for dirt or sludge, if it is clean it was well maintained. Also check the transmission dipstick for the same or if there is a fowl smell in the transmission could mean it wasn’t maintain properly.
To check the transmission, you can start the car put your foot on the brake and hold it there, then put it in drive and reverse to see if there is a clunking noise or slipping feeling while you hold the brake. Do not drive the car around that’s usually not allowed. If there is excessive noise it could mean there is a problem and stay away from that one.
Of course check all the lights turn signals, electronics etc so you know what may need to be repaired. In case there is anything wrong with it you will know about it before you bid on it. Or just don’t bid on that one there will be plenty more to look at.
Check for water damage by looking under the carpet in the front and in the trunk of the car; also look for water line stains around the engine. If a car has been in a flood you probably don’t want to buy it. The internal wiring will be corroding if it got wet.

These tips will help you be prepared of what to expect at an auction and know what kind of car is a good deal. At these auto auctions some cars are sold as is, so it is the responsibility of the buyer check the condition of the car.

There is good and bad used cars used police cars and seized cars at these auctions. Some of them are in good condition and some are almost new and some are from insurance companies that have been salvage from floods, car wrecks etc. Just be sure to do a history search to know what has happen with that vehicle your interested in.

When you are saving 30% to 60% off retail value or below blue book it truly is worth taking a look at these actions and with the economy causing even more deals to come into these actions it is real good times save on an automobile purchase.

For more information about where to find these auctions in your area see our site at=> Car Auctions

Car Auction Sites - Reviews

2008-07-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Car Auction sites can be a great resource for finding seized government and bank repo automobile auctions in your area. You can pretty easily purchase a car of your dreams or one to resell for a lot less than you could at your conventional dealership. It takes a little work but is fun and not much more work than what you would have do to go buy a car from a dealer.

However it can be difficult finding the auction site you want to receive the best service from before you spend your money.

To help provide some ease to your search I have done some extensive research into various car auction sites and have found the reputable ones will have a money back guarantee.

If you have few dollars ($20-$50 per member ship fee) you could join a few sites and have access to various auctions and quality updated information.You then can combine the information of various sites to give you quality information. However from personal experience and online research I have found the following review of Gov-Auction to be accurate and a good recommendation for finding the auctions available in your area.

Features: Gov-Auctions is a quality website offering a listing of government auctions mainly in the United States. The members area offers some nicely organized features, but the website does not offer any more services than other websites, except for the fact that the team at Gov-Auctions works hard to keep their database brimming with useful auction opportunities, no matter the state. It is no fault of Gov-Auctions, certain states simply do not have as many auctions that are open to the public. This could be for one reason or another, but is most likely dependent upon a states population and how many seized automobiles are collected.

Like most online Car Auctions websites, Gov-Auctions claims to offer one of the Internets most authoritative sources for great deals on government-seized automobiles and properties. Included on their site is their As Seen on T.V. advertisement. When, where, and what channel? The website is more than a one-page sales page and if you read the sites recently published public statement, under the F.A.Q. tab, you can read how they abhor auction scam sites and go on to discredit car auction review sites. They belittle reviewers who have claimed to review hundreds of websites. With this half-realized ploy, Gov- Auctions is trying to get you, the user, to believe they are credible. And, for the most part, they are much more honest than other sites reviewed. They go on to describe the services they offer; outlining them and telling you exactly what you will come to learn, know, and understand. However, if you do not read this page, you may not quite understand it fully. For the first time visitor, their homepage still makes certain claims that are a little tricky, like offering an online search that outlines recent vehicles sold. The recently- purchased items may not have been sold on their site directly, but the online user may not be so savvy as to read all the fine print.

With statements like: Access to 10,000s of Gov't pre-owned quality vehicles at rock bottom prices. With thousands new listed each week! It is no wonder people feel mislead. But, before judging too quickly, the members area is probably worth the investment.

Every state is listed and most have several auctions that contain valuable information for users to find out how, when, and where they can get involved. If you click on Ohio for example, you can see all the auctions going on in that state. Each auction contains a location, city, status, phone number, and extra notes of valuable information for those who wish to inquire further.

Furthermore, the site offers some other incentives in that it lists several different auction websites according to category. Like some of the other websites reviewed, a member will be able to simply click on an external link to other governmental and nongovernmental auction websites. The site also lists Federal Auto Auctions that can be accessed online.

They have free online Car Auctions course as a bonus when you sign up. It is well done, written for the layman, and thorough. The e-book bonus is also complete and valuable. It might keep members from getting speeding tickets, but does not offer any information in regard to the true subject focus of the site cars and property.

Ease of Use: The website is easy to use. Once the US $34.95 price tag is paid, a user will have immediate access to the members area. The right-hand column of the members area contains the five-day e-course and access to download the e-book about avoiding speeding tickets. It also contains links to special auctions, such as HUD, USDA, and USPS. The middle area of the website lists each state. One click gives a user access to a particular states auction sites.

Content Quality: Gov-Auctions has a simple layout and offers the user an area from which to begin searching for a car or property. What makes the site different and perhaps better than others is that their listings are accurate and one could quite possibly attend any number of auctions at any given time. This website only appeals to those living in the U.S. and does not apply to those living in Canada or other parts of the world. A worldwide database might be an interesting feature that no other website has been able to quite master.

The Good: Each state is covered and the members area has access to several other websites that have been given contracts by the government to sell surplus, repossessed, or seized vehicles and properties. And, they do an excellent job at keeping their database and information up to date.

The Bad: Despite the fact that they claim they are different from so many other websites offering similar products and opportunities, they really do not offer anything truly different than the others. You cannot do a live search from their database, bid, and purchase a car or property from their website, but must search external sites.

The Bottom Line: Gov-Auctions does well enough to earn it a good quality rating. From their website, members can access other top-quality sites, most of them governmental. The site could be thought of as a console center where users control and access their auction experience. The public statement about auctions and review sites is an OK amendment, but it would be better to clearly outline these points on the homepage.

Following, they could explain to users how the system works and how Gov-Auctions will help them get what they want done, and fast. Again, Gov-Auctions does what other auction websites do, but they have a better way of going about it. They have done their research and continue doing their homework so that their database of state-by-state auction lists are kept up to date.

You can find more information about this site at here:

To your success!

Andrew

I welcome your comments about car auctions and what your experiences are
Thank you!

Some Misconceptions About Seized Car Auctions

2008-07-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

You could very likely buy an quality vehicle from seized car auctions. Maybe even the car of your dreams for thousands of dollars less than a new or used vehicle from the dealer. Although many people associate seized automobiles with junk, you can still save a lot of money and get more value at the same time when buying from these seized car auctions. There are many misconceptions out there which ruin the reputation of seized cars and you should learn

The truth about these concerns:

One misconception that you should be aware is that seized automobiles once belonged to criminals. This statement is false since not all seized automobiles come from criminals. There are a significant number of ordinary civilians who have their cars seized from them due to failure to pay debts and the like.

If you buy a car or truck from an seized car auction don’t think that these vehicles are always in bad shape. You will be surprised to know that most of the seized vehicles on display for auction are in good condition. There are even brand new cars up for grabs in some of these auctions.

Usually you can acquire a background check on the automobile that you are interested in and plan to purchase before you actually buy it. Before you buy anything from these seized car auctions, you should be able to do a little research on its history and records. Auto auctions usually give information regarding the seized cars for free, including history reports on the seized car that you wish to potentially buy.

There are various seized car auctions available to the public for free. Having a driver’s license makes you eligible to participate in bidding. There are some auctions which are exclusive and which require membership or registration to participate. Be able to choose from the car selections from each auction to know which one to bid.

You can perform a preliminary inspection of the vehicles for auction of your choice when you plan to buy one. Most seized car auctions allow the bidder to inspect the car up close. Usually, these inspections are set in specific dates so make sure you are aware of these schedules.

It is possible for you to buy seized cars or trucks in good condition for a low price. Usually you will encounter cheap initial bids since these cars are abundant abd banks want to get rid of them. You can get your chosen car for a cheap price if it happens that you have no more opposing bidders. If you succeed in doing such, you would put yourself in a position that saves you a lot of money compared to buying a brand new car.

Get up to date information check our site to educate yourself on the various auctions available in your area.

Keep coming back for more interesting information about seized car auctions. I have a high interest in this subject and will be adding more as we go along

Sam ~