Tips For The Government Car Auction Newbie
It is very easy to get overwhelmed at a government car auction. For one, the sheer volume of cars is absolutely enormous, and all of them are in excellent condition - often with less than 60,000 miles on them. If you go to a government car auction with the mindset of "I just want a car," then you are going to have a really hard time walking away with anything at all, much less a car you can be happy with.
There are plenty of things you should do before you ever step foot in the government car auction to ensure that you get the best car for your needs. Don't underestimate the massive number of cars and how it will affect your bidding. Plus, this is a government car auction - if you have ever dug through a government document or anything government related, then you should already know just how confusing their auction system can be.
Before you even think about bidding
It's a good idea to visit a government car auction before you are ready to buy, just to get an idea of how it all works. Attend the auction just like you would if you intended to buy, but don't bother with registering or anything of the like, just so you aren't tempted to get something before you have taken the time to properly prepare for getting a car at a government car auction.
Take note of the kind of cars that go through and their typical going rate. Find out about the bidder's fees (usually 5% of the winning bid), what forms of payment they accept, and how much of a deposit you are expected to put down in order to register (usually about $500). You might also want to find out when they want you to have the car fully paid and off the government car auction lot.
You might only have one weekday to get plates for the car and drive it away from the government car auction. In that case, you might have to request a day off from work so you can take care of all that without incurring a storage fee - or worse, losing the car. Make sure you know everything that is required of you before you actually take the plunge and bid on a car at a government car auction. Once you bid, you can't take it back!
Know your limits, and take that bidder's fee into consideration when figuring out your maximum bid. Additionally, although all the cars at a government car auction are usually in excellent shape, don't completely tap out your funds. Expect your new car to need some kind of maintenance or repair work. However, you can minimize the chance for that by thoroughly researching each car at a government car auction, and referencing the inspection sheets they also usually come with.
Don't be afraid to ask the staff at a government car auction any questions you might have. If you don't understand the inspection sheet or want to know more about what a certain car has been through, they are always more than willing to help. Going to a government car auction doesn't have to be intimidating or confusing, especially now that you know what to do. Good luck!
