The Value of Car Auctions

By Thomas Crown

If you're in the market for a car, but find that the cost involved with purchasing a new vehicle are simply beyond your current means, chances are that you have been or will be considering a used car. If so, the chances of you finding the used car of your dreams are better than ever before. The used car market of today is dramatically different than in years past, as car auctions for used, repossessed, and even government-seized vehicles present more options than most consumers had ever thought possible.

One of the best kind of auctions you can utilize is the used and repossessed auction. These offer buys the chance to get high quality certified vehicles at a great price. Most of these cars are in like new condition and are being sold a a result of the owner defaulting on their monthly payments.

Dealerships that conduct car auctions for these used and repossessed cars do so for a number of reasons, but the primary motivation is to reduce their inventory. During times of economic distress, car dealerships will often find themselves with an excess of inventory that must be moved to enable even a minimal degree of profitability for the business.

A dealership that is holding a car auction does so for a number of reasons. The main reason for this is because they are wanting to clear out their inventory for the new cars that will be arriving. Other reasons are they may have to get rid of a car that was used in the process of a crime, the most common offense that car auctions see a rise in cars to auction is drug related offenses.

The government that seized these vehicles will usually sell them at car auctions to recoup money for damages related to crime, or to recover money owed for taxes or fines (a more common occurrence when dealing with an agency such as the Internal Revenue Service). Because of the nature of these auctions, and the minimum degree of community awareness about them, you can generally find the car you are looking for at a fraction of the price you would pay at a dealer's lot.

For those who don't know where to look, finding information about a car auction can be a daunting task. Announcements about these events can usually be found in your local news paper in some areas the information is harder to find. To locate an auction in a location where they are not readily advertise simply call your local officials or do an online search. I great way to find out about seizure auctions is simply to call the police and ask an administrator in the drug or vice division when the next seizure and impound auction will be held.

Another type of auction you might encounter while doing and online search is the online car auction. They are becoming quite popular in the auction industry. They are run in a manner very similar to ebay and list thousands of vehicles form all over north America. More often than not the vehicles on these sites include background reports and some sort of "anti-lemon" guarantee. You will generally find these vehicles to be about 78-90% off the listed retail price.

Before getting in too deep with car auctions make sure you know exactly what you are looking for in your purchase. This is vital to being able to find what you want and decide before you go what the MAXIMUM you are willing to pay for the vehicle. This way you will be better prepared to go to battle when the bidding begins.

Failing to plan in advance can lead you to get caught up in the excitement of the auction process and either overpay - or fail to make a bid at all. If, on the other hand, you visit these car auctions with realistic expectations and a sound plan, you are sure to find a vehicle that fits your unique needs. - 29952

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