Buyer Tips

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Looking at Auction Cars for Sale

By Mike Richards Updated: 04/08/2020 Posted: 05/17/2017

If you’re shopping around for a new vehicle, you may have thought about buying yours at an auction. While that’s a great choice, make sure you read about these important mistakes to avoid before you go.

Underestimating the Price of Repairs

First of all, not all auction cars for sale are going to need repairs.

That being said, many of them will. If you’re attending a car auction, just know that you may need to adjust your budget because of repairs. Do your research beforehand to get a good idea of what common repairs cost.

Ideally, if you don’t have experience with automobiles, you should bring a friend who does. It will help a lot if you have this kind of knowledge when looking at auction cars for sale.

Falling for Something That’s Too Good to Be True

You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding auction cars for sale that will be great purchases and very reliable.

Of course, there will be plenty of clunkers, too. Some vehicles are being auctioned off for nothing more than scrap or spare parts.

Then, there are going to be vehicles that are simply too good to be true. They look great, but the price is just way too low, for example.

This is why it’s so important to maintain your common sense when looking at auction cars for sale. The auction aspect can sometimes make it easy to lose your head. After all, you think you’re about to get a real steal, but you need to decide right now!

Don’t Inspect the Vehicles

This probably seems like a no-brainer, but plenty of people have heard rumors that you can’t inspect vehicles at these auctions before buying them. Even online auto auctions provide you with all kinds of information to let you make an informed decision.

The other issue is that many people simply show up late to the auction. These can go on for hours, so some buyers show up when it’s convenient.

Unfortunately, when you do that, you usually don’t get an opportunity to inspect any of the vehicles you’ll later want to buy.

Assume That Lemon Laws Apply

You absolutely need to do your own research before you buy any auction cars for sale. Carfax is good for this. Downloading the Kelley Blue Book app can be helpful, too.

One really important thing to understand is that “lemon laws” may not apply to used cars in your state. This is especially true when you’re buying a car that isn’t going to be sold with a warranty.

Now, some auctions will have third-party warranties you can purchase, but that’s a lot different than thinking that there is a law in place to keep you from spending money on a lemon.

As you can see, these mistakes are fairly easy to avoid. Still, Auto Auction Mall is here to help. We can locate vehicles from all over the country that meet your budget and other requirements, so you don’t have to worry about making any mistakes whatsoever.

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