car parts
What is Salvage title?

Should I Buy Cars at Auction for Parts or Driving?

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

Quite a few people have discovered that buying cars at auction, either in person or online, offers some great benefits, either in person or online. Namely, they may be able to save quite a bit of money on the purchase of the vehicle.

Should You Buy Cars at Auction?

If you have been thinking about buying cars at auction, it is important to know the pros and cons. First, the prices are going to be much better than buying a regular used car from a dealer or a private seller, even after negotiation.

However, you have to remember that not all of the vehicles are going to be in drivable condition when you buy them. This means it is extremely important that you take the time to understand exactly what it is you are buying and what type of title it has.

If the vehicle has a salvage title, you will not be able to drive the vehicle as soon as you get it. It needs repair work first. In some cases, the title may state that the vehicle is only to be sold for parts. Let’s look a bit closer at what this means for you.

Drivable Vehicles

Vehicles with salvage titles are not only good for scrap. The insurance company decided to declare the vehicles a total loss and to write them off, but some of the vehicles will only need to have a little bit of rehab and repairs to get back on the road and to receive a rebuilt title. Some might need to have more work done, but they could still be worth considering for a purchase, as long as your budget allows it.

One thing to consider when choosing these vehicles, though, is that you might face some difficulties when trying to get insurance coverage for a rebuilt salvage car. Getting liability insurance, the most basic mandatory form of insurance coverage, might not be that difficult. However, getting higher forms of insurance, even though possible, can be a lot more difficult, requiring you to do a bit of shopping around and negotiating.

Vehicles for Parts

Some of the vehicles are only sold for parts. Buying cars at auction can be a good way to find the parts you need at great prices. It also happens to be quite a bit easier than trying to buy the parts piecemeal through other sellers.

No matter what you are looking for when you buy cars at auction, you can probably find it as long as you are patient. You will not always find the vehicle you need right away. Just check several different auctions and be as patient as possible.

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

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