Sunday

What To Expect At a Car Auction

If you've never been to a car auction before, you might not know what to expect. But don't let your fear of the unknown keep you from getting a great deal at you local car auction. Usually the car auction site will open 2-3 hours before the beginning of the auction. This is to give you time to look around and inspect the cars up for bid. You will be able to start the cars up, rev the engine, and check under the hood. It's best to take advantage of this because most cars are sold as is, without a warranty. It always a good idea to take a mechanic with you to check under the hood to be on the safe side.

The time before the auction starts is also used to register to for bidding. After registering you will be given a number on a piece of paper or card to use during the auction. During the auction they will state the year, make and model of the car, bring the car out in front of everybody and begin accepting bids. All you have to do is raise your number card to place a bid on a car. The bidding goes back and forth amongst bidders, unless you're lucky and nobody else is interested in the car you're bidding on. If you are the highest bidder, congratulations: you've won the auction! You then fill out paperwork for your registration and to get your pink slip. Then you just pay for you car and drive it home knowing you got a great deal.

If you don't know where to find a car auction near you visit My Car Auction Review for info on the best car auction sites on the net.

Wednesday

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.

Don't know where to find your local car auction?

Then visit My Car Auction Review for info on the most popular car auction lists.

Tuesday

Car Auction Myths and Truths

You may or may not have had the chance to attend a car auction before. Either way, they are a place to get an excellent deal on a great car. However, there are many myths associated with car auctions that could possibly hamper your next car auction buying experience. I will clear of a few of them below.

Myth: You need a dealer's license to attend a car auction.

Truth: Many auctions of the past required you to have a dealer's license, but this is not the case any more. There are plenty of public, police and government car auctions you can attend without a dealer's license.

Myth: There are only lemons and junker cars found at car auctions.

Truth: While you might find you occasional lemon, most cars at an auction are in good running condition. You should remember to bring a mechanic with you to check under the hood to be on the safe side though.

Myth: You don't have to pay for the car you bid on if you change your mind or don't have enough money to pay for it.

Truth: Although it is very easy to bid on cars at an auction, don't take it lightly because your bid is considered a legally binding contract. So, if you are the winning bidder, you are expected to pay for what you bid on, sometimes in full.

Myth: You have to be a car dealer to know where to find a car auction in your city.

Truth: Car auctions take place all around the country and their location is not kept secret. You can find car auctions at towing yards, in your local newspaper or by asking you police department when there next auction will be taking place. But the easiest way to find all of the car auction sites near your home is to buy a list that will tell you about all of the auctions in your city.