Saturday, January 10, 2009

Getting a Deal at 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.

But unless you keep some things in mind the auction can turn into a nightmare. Some of what can go wrong includes buying a bad car. The car won at auction might turn out to be a lemon.

Cars sold at such auctions are generally sold according to used car laws which tend to make it an "as is" sale. Remember the old Sesame Street skit in which a man looks over a car with "as is" in the window. He makes a cursory look at the car, but every question is met with "the car is as is" from the salesman. 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. He exclaims "I want the car as was!" Don't be like that man.

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.

Auctions also come with a built in problem. Auctions can be a great deal, but the price could also be more than common retail. Like other types of auctions, auto auctions can be the same way. Bidding might rise beyond the real value of the car. There are also fees to pay, so pay close attention.

Easily accessible data on car values is standard issue for auction buyers. No need to even look it up in advance since the information is online and phones can access it. It's pretty foolish to pay more for a car than it's worth even if it's an eye catcher.

Remember, auctions can be great deals. But come armed with information and expertise. Don't go in blind, however. If a deal appears too good to be true, it is, even at an auto auction.

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