Car auctions can be a wonderful place to see an enormous selection of different vehicles available at the same time. For gearheads and automobile enthusiasts, almost each and every car in the catalog will be well worth having a look at.
However, if you aren’t a car fanatic or simply don’t want to spend your money or time into a whole lot of paperwork or a major repair job, there are a number of vehicles that you may want to avoid. These vehicles aren’t always “bad”, they are simply not right for you.
It’s true, car auctions can be a terrific place to discover a huge array of vehicles to select from. However, if you’re a novice or inexperienced with auctions, there are a number of vehicles that you may want to avoid. This report takes a look at automobiles that you would like to avoid at car auctions and a few other tips.
What are Car Auctions?
Car auctions are a way of selling used vehicles based on an auction system. Auto auctions are seen in most countries, but are often unused by most civilians, since in many nations like the United States, automobile auctions are exclusive to licensed car dealers.
In America, automobile auctions play a big role as a wholesale marketplace for second-hand vehicles. Additionally, there are auctions that are available to the general public in places like New Hampshire. These auctions are the main outlet for financial services companies to dispose of the large quantity of off-rental vehicles, for leasing and other organizations to sell off their aging fleets and for automobile dealerships to ditch trade-ins or other undesirable stock.
Agency Auctions
Some auctions in America are utilized by banks, the IRS, and other government agencies to market vehicles which were repossessed for failure to make monthly payments or pay taxes, or were captured from the FBI, DEA, or the authorities. Additionally, there are a few that sell US Government vehicles. Finally, there are those catering to the salvage marketplace where insurance businesses market totaled vehicles.
Online auto auctions are also growing in popularity. Among the most popular online auctions to purchase cars from is eBay.com. On eBay Motors, any user can create an account and set their car(s) up for auction if they’re from a state that only allows closed auctions. There’s generally a fee related to selling a car on eBay. Many buyers prefer to Search for local automobile sellers on eBay, within a certain radius so that they can go and perform a manual review of the vehicle.
What Cars Should You Avoid at Car Auctions?
You have probably heard about the growing interest among consumers in car auctions. As a result of the proliferation of websites offering access to these auto auctions to normal consumers, more and more are taking advantage of them in order to save enormous amounts of cash on purchasing like-new used vehicles.
If you’re trying to join the ranks of customers who have done this, then it is important that you approach car auctions using a ready mind. Because of this, we are going to have a look at four types of cars to avoid at car auctions.
See also: How to Asses a Used Car Before Buying
“Bill of Sale” Cars
If you’re a novice car buyer, you should probably avoid buying a “Bill of Sale” automobile. The “Bill of Sale” designation indicates that these cars don’t have a title and are therefore just using the “Bill of Sale” to establish possession.
This absence of a title will most likely create a mountain of paperwork when handling simple tasks like registering or insuring the car. Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s ideal to prevent a “Bill of Sale” automobile.
In most states, even in the event that you pay for an automobile, you do not legally have ownership of the car without a title. If someone is offering to sell you an automobile with no title, you should take particular measures to make certain you’re legally buying an automobile, with no lien, and one which hasn’t been considered salvage by an insurance provider.
Fire Damaged Cars
Fire may wreak havoc on the condition and functionality of a vehicle. As such, it’s certainly a fantastic idea for inexperienced automobile owners to skip over cars which have been through a fire.
Since the effects of the fire may affect pretty much every facet of the automobile, it’s practically impossible to know the exact condition of the vehicle that you’re buying. Even if it’s been restored and repaired so that it looks as good as new, you can never tell what invisible or hidden damage is already done by the fire.
Flood Damaged Cars
The problem with flood-damaged vehicles or water-damaged vehicles, generally speaking, is pretty much exactly the same as that of a fire damaged automobile. It’s practically impossible to know the extent of the damage due to a flood, so you may just wind up having to manage some hefty repair bills a couple of months after you purchase the car. As a result of this uncertainty, it’s most likely a great idea to avoid purchasing a car that has suffered flood damage.
Completely Wrecked Salvage Cars
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying a car with a salvage title. In actuality, they can provide some of the best value in the marketplace oftentimes. However, for men and women who don’t want to take care of a massive repair or restoration, it’s most likely a great idea to avoid purchasing a salvage car that’s been completely wrecked.
You don’t need to get yourself involved in rebuilding an engine or restoring a chassis. Instead, stick with salvage vehicles which have just suffered some minor cosmetic damage. You can have these cars appearing sharp again very quickly.
Pros and Cons of Car Auctions
Wherever you may be in the world, it’s possible to locate car auctions where you, or a representative you select, can find and buy a used vehicle at less than what you would normally pay at a dealer. You can discover excellent auctions and third-party dealers who can work together with the auctions, in America with all the vehicles you could ever imagine.
Let us look at both the pros and cons of purchasing a car at auction so that you may get a better idea if this is the perfect option for you.
Pros
Needless to say, among the biggest pros of deciding to buy a car at an auction is how you have the ability to get them at a significantly lower price. The prices which are available at auction aren’t generally offered through any other way, so if budget is your concern — and it is for many people — then moving through an auction is an excellent option.
The second benefit of purchasing a car at car auctions is the wide variety of vehicles available. You don’t have to settle for the meager choice of vehicles at local retailers in your area. Auctions make it possible for you to find just the car you would like.
Cons
First, you need to realize that you’re purchasing the car in an “as is” condition. This means that you might have to make certain repairs to the vehicle before you may insure or get behind the wheel. Most people that are buying through car auctions know this, and the money they save on the purchase price of the automobile can more than compensate for the possible repairs they should make.
That said, salvage cars have a tendency to make up a large area of the automobile auction market. Just because a vehicle may be salvaged, it does not mean it is not worth your time and money. In actuality, many mended salvaged vehicles operate well and look great. The part that stinks is when it comes time to sell, salvage title cars can be hard to get rid of.
The main issue you could have is getting it insured. After getting work done on the car, you would have the name changed to a “rebuilt title or branded title”, which should permit you to get insurance. However, you might not have the ability to receive collision or comprehensive insurance.
Conclusion
In the end, the kinds of cars which you ought to purchase at a car auction will be dependent on your willingness to operate on or pay for any necessary repairs. If you’re searching for as simple a car buying experience as possible, you should definitely avoid purchasing one of the vehicles discussed in this report.