Tips on How to Buy Cars at an Auction

Buying a car from an auction can save you a lot of money, but if you are not careful you can also waist a lot of money. Even though auctions have a lot of Repo cars if you choose wisely it is possible to get an excellent running car from an auction. With the right tips and advice you can leave the auction feeling like you got your money's worth.

• Every public auction has a time before the auction when you can review and inspect the cars. Bring a mechanic with you that can help you view and check out the cars in the inspection period. This is a great time to also note the cars that you are interested in.


• Find out the history of the cars that you are interested in. See if it is possible to run a background check on those cars. Some car auctions allow you to run a check on the cars and have a stand set up to give you additional information about the cars.  


• Bid what you are comfortable bidding and stick within your budget. You know what you can afford to spend before you go, so it is important that you don't pay any more than that amount. In addition to paying the full amount for the car you will also have to pay a registration fee and usually a premium. Keep all this in mind and included in your budget amount.


• Bring Kelly's Blue Book with you to the auction. You can get the market value of the car to guarantee you get a good deal. This will help you when it comes to the bidding stage so you don't overbid on a car.


• Consider getting an extended warranty is one is available. Most cars are sold "as is" in auctions so it may be a little difficult to get an extended warranty. Ask and find out what is comes with and what is available for purchase with the car you bid on.