What To Look For At Car Auctions

In general, car auctions (especially the ones that have government and repossessed vehicles etc.) are famous for offering new and used cars and trucks at amazingly low prices. But what do you need to look for (and watch out for)? And what red flags do you need to be aware of?

While it is true, you really CAN purchase automobiles at literally 60-90% below their normal retail value at most car auctions, you will still want to use your head, and take a good amount of time looking the vehicles over before the auction starts. This can save you from buying a vehicle that you may regret later on down the road.

Before you consider purchasing a car or truck at a car auction, be sure to look it over. Generally the first thing that you should look at is the vehicle’s outward condition. Do you see any dents, scratches, dings, or signs that there may have been repairs to the vehicle? Is there any damage showing that would insinuate that it may have been in a collision? Also, when you look inside of the vehicle, is there any visible damage? And more importantly, do the air bags look as if they have been deployed or damaged? If so, this could cost up to $2,000 or more to fix (airbag repairs are ridiculously expensive).

Another thing to look for is rust, especially under the vehicle. Also, look for any fluids leaking out of the car. If there are any leaks, it is safe to say that you should move on. And last but not least, definitely take the vehicle for a test drive if possible, as this will tell you a LOT about the vehicle.

As long as you use a bit of common sense and good judgment, you can easily get your hands on some truly unbelievable bargains at most car auctions. While generally most of the vehicles at car auctions are in amazingly good condition (and many have low mileage), you will still want to at least look them over for the obvious red flags before you make a purchase. There are so many great deals to be found, so don’t just go for the very first vehicle that you find, without taking a reasonable amount of time to look it over (and if possible, test drive it).