Car Auction Do's and Don'ts

Car auctions are a great way to get a car for hundreds and even thousands of dollars less than what you would pay at your neighborhood dealership. However, there are always associated risks when attending your next auto auction. Take a look over these car auction do's and don'ts before attending your next auction to save yourself from being ripped off.

Do's

1. Go to the auction site the day before to check out the cars and get the vin numbers for the cars that you are interested in. This gives you more than enough time to look at all the cars you want. This is important because some auctions only allow an hour of viewing time on the day of the auction.

2. Get a Car Faxs report on all of the vehicles that you obtained the vin numbers for. The report will tell you of any major accidents, fires or floods that the car has been in.

3. Make sure the vin numbers match on all parts of the car. Non-matching vin numbers are an indication of a stolen or salvage title vehicle. Neither of which you would want to purchase.

4. Bring a mechanic! Always bring a mechanic with you to check under the hood for any problems with the engine, transmission, electrical system, etc.

5. Register. You cannot bid on a car without registering. So make sure you do so before the auction starts or you'll be kicking yourself later when your dream car rolls around and you can't bid on it.

Don'ts

1. Don't get into a bidding war. This is an easy way to pay more than the car is even worth. If you see yourself getting into a bidding war, walk away.

2. Don't bid on a car you have not fully inspected. just because it looks good on the outside doesn't mean it alright under the hood.

3. Don't sign any paperwork without reading and fully understanding it. This is were a lot of people get into trouble. The paperwork is a legally binding contract! If you don't understand something, ask questions.

4. Don't get there late. You always want to give yourself time to inspect the cars you are interested in fully. You also need enough time to register.

So, buying a car from your next vehicle auction can be an enjoyable and very rewarding experience. You will always remain ahead of the game by just arriving early, fully inspecting the cars you are interested in and running a report on all vin numbers.

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