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Find Incredible Deals At Government Car Auctions

November 30, 2008 by AndrewJackson  

Car auctions are great ways to purchase cars at deep discount. There you’ll find everything from luxury automobiles to junk projects. A lot of people buy these cars either to drive themselves or to mark up for future sale. This pleasant experience, however, can quickly turn sour if you don’t know a few things.

Some of what can go wrong includes buying a bad car. The car won at auction might turn out to be a lemon. The rule of the auction jungle is “as is”. 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”. Finally the man agrees to buy the car, pays for it, but when he opens the door to get into the car it falls to pieces. ”I want the car as was!” screams the angry driver. Nobody wants to become that guy.

Car Auctions
Reputable car auctions give buyers ample opportunities to check out the cars before bidding or purchase. Avoid the auctions that don’t. Arrive early. Test drive the cars you like. Always have on site car knowledge, meaning bring a mechanic who knows about cars if you don’t. If that isn’t possible, at least drive the car for an inspection during the test drive. A good mechanic can provide a thorough inspection in a short time. Check other elements for damage. This includes the body, upholstery, and bumpers .

The very nature of auctions leads to another common issue. People assume that the auction price will be a great deal, but often it ends up being more expensive than purchasing the item through a normal sales process. That holds true for car auctions too. Bidding might rise beyond the real value of the car. There are also fees to pay, so pay close attention. Know the prices of similar models in similar conditions from Kelly Blue Book or other sales data. 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.

Remember, auctions can be great deals. But keep your eyes and ears open. Car auctions follow the rule of thumb of every sale, buyer beware.

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