Getting a Deal at an Auto Auction
Looking for a great deal on a car? Try an auto auction. There you’ll find everything from luxury automobiles to junk projects. A lot of people buy these vehicles either to drive themselves or to mark up for future sale. A little information can make an auction an even better experience.
One possible problem is that the purchase might not be a good one. Every car at an auction isn’t a hidden gem. Cars sold at such auctions are generally sold according to used car laws which tend to make it an “as is” sale. Remember the old Sesame Street skit in which a man looks over a car with “as is” in the window. As he inspects the car he asks a lot of questions to which the salesman always responds “as is”. Once the sale is made and the man tries to enter the car, it shakes itself apart. He exclaims “I want the car as was!” Don’t let that happen to you.
Auto auctions generally give potential buyers time to look over the cars. Don’t make a purchase or even a bid at any auction that won’t accommodate that practice. Arrive early. Test drive the cars you like. If you don’t know anything about cars, bring someone who does. If that isn’t possible, at least drive the car for an inspection during the test drive. A good mechanic can provide a thorough inspection in a short time. Anyone with a decent eye can check the body, interior and other physical elements for wear and tear .
Another problem is inherent in auctions. Auction prices can be terrific, but sometimes people assume a bargain where there is none. That holds true for auto auctions too. The bidding can easily escalate to well over the car’s value. Add the fees often associated with the auction and it means great care must be taken to know the real value of a car. Know the prices of similar models in similar conditions from Kelly Blue Book or other sales data. No need to even look it up in advance since the information is online and phones can access it. Don’t pay more than the car is worth, even if it’s a coveted antique.
Remember, auctions can be great deals. Don’t go in blind, however. There’s a sucker born every minute. Don’t be the minute man at an auto auction.
What You Can Expect From Online Car Auction Websites
Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases that most people make, second only to a house, and everyone hopes to find a steal of a deal when it comes time to buy. These days, thanks to the internet and online car auction websites, there are even more options for checking out a large selection of seized cars, repossessed cars and vehicles that are being sold through the various kinds of used car auctions, both online and off.
One of the best things about the online auto auctions is that, while searching the internet for just the right vehicle to meet the needs of you and your family, you can also take advantage of that same technology to do the research that will help you to know whether or not you really are getting a great deal on the car. Having that kind of research in hand, which includes digging up the Kelly Blue Book price to give you a good idea of the fair market value of the vehicle, will help you know when to stop bidding so that you don’t get carried away and end up paying too much because you got sucked into a bidding war.
One primary reason for the popularity of online car auction websites is because people can go through the car buying process without having to negotiate with a used car salesman, which so many people simply hate. Even though used car salesmen are often the butt of jokes, there is a good deal of truth to those wisecracks. If people have a chance to avoid the sales tactics used by car dealerships, then it makes for a much more pleasant experience.
As you prepare to make your first vehicle purchase through an online used car auction, you should register with at least a few of the different online car auction websites and spend some time getting familiar with every aspect of the website and the online auto auction proceedings and policies. Watch a few auctions on all of the sites that you are registered with to see how things progress and to get a feel for the “culture” of the different online auto auction sites. You will more than likely start to feel that one of the sites feels like the best place for you to try your hand at getting the winning bid on a car.
The websites that run the online auto auctions usually have a filtering function that will allow you to search for certain types of vehicles and to search in a certain area near your home. You might find that you have plenty of choices within just a five mile radius of your home, or you may have to extend the search criteria for areas that are farther away from your location. You will want to restrict the search area to a distance that you are comfortable driving to so that you can do an inspection and take the vehicle for a test drive.
Vehicle history reports are also a very good way to gain additional information about the specific automobile that you are thinking about making a bid on. There are some of the online car auction websites that allow you to buy those reports, while others will link to services that offer those types of reports. You should try to do as much research as you can before making any bid because with a used car auction, the sale is final and there are no warranties.
When Is The Best Time To Buy A Car?
Cars are one of the best ways to get around and having your own car is far more convenient than waiting for a taxi or bus. You can even get a quick auto insurance quotes now.
If you’re looking to purchase a new automobile and wish to save money, there are various means for acquiring a good deal. You should also consider when you are going to buy a car.
You can get a good deal for a car when you buy at the end of the month, specifically on the end of a quarter and a few hours before closing time.
This is because car dealers usually try to reach their sales quota every quarter, and will give you a great deal for a car. They will usually be very inviting, offers many bonuses for a car, like extended warranty, and might even throw in some free car accessories.
Another way to get good deals is by buying a car on rainy days. This is related to the fact that there will be minimal or no purchasers at the auto dealerships. Since, customers are always a top priority in any business, car dealers will be very accommodating and will offer you very good deals on a car.
Purchase your automobile during the holidays. During the holiday seasons, automobile sales are generally slow. Once more, dealers will be very cooperative and include a great deal for an automobile.
Buying your car early in the week is probably one of the best ways to buy a car. This is because weekends bring in many potential buyers. This means if you attempt to negotiate a price that’s not satisfactory for the car dealer they will just abandon you and attempt to bargain with a different customer.
However, on the beginning of the week, like, Mondays or Tuesdays, car dealerships have little or no customers at all, and again will be very welcoming and will negotiate to your advantage. Think about free car insurance quotes.
Purchasing end of the year models of cars is generally a cheaper option. This is because new models will arrive and last year’s model fame will fade. Car dealers will want to sell off the model from last year in order to have room for this year’s model. This can make car dealers make the price lower, and you can negotiate even a lower price. Some dealers will even throw in some free stuff the car.
The last car of a model series can often be purchased at a good discount. This is because when a manufacturer redesigns a certain model of a car they stop producing the previous model. So car dealers want to get the old model off their hands as soon as possible.
This is a great way to buy a car if you do not need to buy new models. It can be obsolete or archaic but you got a nice deal.
If you really want to save with too good to be true discounts, buy when the government auctions off impounded cars. An impounded car may have been used for illegal purposes or was seized due to delinquent tax problems of the owner.
The automobiles may be extremely new and also in excellent shape. Many auctions offer as much as a 90% discount off vehicle purchases because the government acquired these cars free and can afford to sell them at a low price.
If you purchase a car during a dealership’s slow season or purchase an outdated model, you are more likely get a car for a cheaper price. Government auctions of seized vehicles are great places to buy a new car. For more see van insurance quote online.