Buyers Tips for an Auto Auction

By Paul Cameron

It's easy to find discounted car bargains at a public auto auction. There you'll find everything from luxury automobiles to junk projects. Whether it's for personal use or resale, a lot of people purchase vehicles in this manner. This pleasant experience, however, can quickly turn sour if you don't know a few things. Maybe the car isn't as wonderful as it seemed. There are lemons at auctions too. 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. As he inspects the car he asks a lot of questions to which the salesman always responds "as is". After the sale is final the buyer tries to drive the car, but the doors fall off and the engine explodes. "I want the car as was!" screams the angry driver. Nobody wants to become that guy. People are given the chance to inspect the vehicles at auto auctions. If an auction won't do that, run. Arrive early. Test drive the cars you like. If you don't know anything about cars, bring someone who does. If not, then during the test drive bring the car to a mechanic for inspection. Decent inspections take only a few minutes to check the important elements of the car including the motor, belts, brakes, and the like. Anyone with a decent eye can check the body, interior and other physical elements for wear and tear. The very nature of auctions leads to another common issue. Auction prices can be terrific, but sometimes people assume a bargain where there is none. That holds true for auto auctions too. The car's value can be quickly eclipsed by excited bidding. 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. With Internet enabled phones and the like it's now easy to look up this information while on site. Don't pay more than the car is worth, even if it's a coveted antique. It's not hard to find bargains at auctions. But keep your eyes and ears open. There's a sucker born every minute. Don't be the minute man at an auto auction.

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