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What is Salvage title? How to articles Buyer Tips

How to Keep Things Affordable at a Car Auction?

By Mike Richards Updated: 05/22/2019 Posted: 10/21/2015

Spending more than you should on a vehicle is never good, but it is something that people do repeatedly. They buy from a dealership, get locked into financing and have to pay interest for years. Given the fact that there is depreciation on vehicles, and the interest can really eat away at your bank account, you end up spending more than you should.

However, when you buy through an auction, you can save some money. However, it is important to have a few tips in mind to make sure you can keep things affordable at the car auction.

Know Your Budget and Do Not Overbid

No matter how you are buying a vehicle, you always need to know how much you actually have available to spend. You need to come up with an exact figure if you can. This number needs to cover every aspect of the vehicle’s purchase. This includes any repairs, registration, and other fees such as shipping the vehicle to your location.

Now that you have your budget in place, it is time to make sure that you are bidding smartly on the vehicle. It’s generally a good idea to wait for someone else to make an opening bid if it is your first auction. Then bid just a bit more.

Even if you really want the vehicle, you have to keep your budget in mind when you are buying. Just because you feel this is your dream vehicle, it does not mean that you should bid outside your price range if you want to keep things affordable at the auction.

Know the True Expense of the Vehicle

You also need to understand what the vehicle will actually cost, and this includes more than just the amount that you bid. What are the fees charged by the auction house? If you are buying a vehicle that has a salvage title, you have to think about the cost of the repairs and factor it into your budget. Does it still make sense to buy the car? Will you still be saving money?

Be Willing to Wait

If you find out that the vehicle you want isn’t a good buy and that you could be spending a little more money than you should, it is in your best interest to look for another vehicle. Keeping within your budget is extremely important if you want to have a truly affordable car auction experience. Don’t make the mistake of spending more than you should.

As long as you are buying with your head and not your heart, you should be able to find some great vehicles and keep everything within budget.

Explore our Vehicle Auctions, as well as finding more information about How These Auctions Work.

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