Buying at Car Auctions - 3 Helpful Tips

Most people need cars. They use them to go to work, run errands, take road trips, or go on vacation. However, sometimes buying a new car is just not in the budget. And for some, buying a used car is not in the budget either. Thats why many have started considering buying at car auctions, both online and offline. However, to do something like this, can be somewhat risky, because the car is used. Although it is used, that is no reason why you can't get a reliable car at one of these seized car auctions.

There are many different types of car auctions, police car auctions, used car auctions, seized car auction, or a big car auction with all those types of cars. In order to successfully bid on a car at a car auction, your going to need to know what your doing. If you go into an auction without any clue on the blue book price, you could actually pay more then what the car is worth.

Many people do not know this but there is a 5-10% buyers premium, which is added to the price of the car. This percentage can drive up the price on your auction winnings causing you to actually pay more then the blue book price, so be aware.

Three Basic Tips that every person buying at car auction should follow are:

1. Do your research! Do not go to a seized car auction, police car auction, repossessed car auction, or any car auction for that matter, without some idea of what you plan on bidding on, and spending. This can save you thousands of dollars, alone. Have an idea of what types of cars you want, and how much you want to spend on them.

2. Scout the competition. This applies mainly to live car auctions. You are going to want to walk around and see the different enthusiasm that people have, when it comes to certain cars your interested in. How many people are looking at it, and if they let you know how many bids and for how much, you will be able to tell whether you have a chance of getting that car.

3. When you become aware of a car at a used car auction that you plan to bid on, get a CARFAX Vehicle History Report. You don't want to buy a vehicle that looks great, but then you find out it has been involved in three floods, a horrific accident, or rebuilt after being completely totaled.

With a live auction, your choices will be limited. There will not be hundreds or thousands of cars that you can look at, and then chose the one you want. It simply doesn't work that way.

At an online car auction though, you have plenty of choices. websites can offers up to 90% off of the retail price of most cars being auctioned. You should follow the same tips that you would with a real auction, except for the fact that you can not judge your competition.

Remember to use your head with these car auctions and do your research. If everything goes right, you could end up walking away from one of these used car auctions, or seized car auction websites, with a good deal.

How would you like to get a NICE car for 50% of its value or less? Go to Car-Auction, the best resource for getting good auction deals on cars.