How To Buy Cars At An Auto Auction
Wholesalers also play an important role in buying and fixing cars so dealerships can get vehicles that will sell fast without always having to do their repairs. Having enough cars on hand to sell during busy seasons is crucial for making a profit. Check out our post - Wholesaling Used Cars: The Ultimate Dealership Guide for more in-depth info.
how to buy cars at an auto auction
That winning bid and the accompanying fees must be paid at the end of the auction, typically with a wire transfer or certified check. Should a bidder default on the purchase, the auction house will still collect its fee via the credit card on file, and the bidder remains financially responsible for the full sum as well as legal costs to resolve the issue. Non-paying high bidders will likely be banned from participating in future auctions.
As a buyer, you may find online auctions more palatable than in-person ones. Bidding from a computer screen, or even your phone, removes some of the intensity and emotion of a live event. And depending on the site, auctions run anywhere from three days to a couple of weeks, so you have some time to really think about your decision.
All over the U.S., you can find car dealer auctions open to the public. That means buying cars at auction prices is an option for just about anyone, even if you don't have a dealer's license. If you're interested in buying cars at wholesale prices, take a look at our car auction guide to find out how to buy the car you want at auction, just like a dealer.
Car dealer auctions are open only to those with a dealer license issued by the state. You can get your own dealer license if you wish, but the process can be long and difficult. Each state has its own set of requirements for car dealer licensing, usually with a set number of cars you must buy and sell each year to qualify.
Buying, modifying and reselling cars bought at car dealer auctions can turn you a tidy profit. But if you only plan on buying cars for yourself, it's probably best to buy from auctions that are open to the public instead.
With the right preparation and a discerning eye, you could drive home in the best steal of your life. Just be aware that for all the deals available at car auctions open to the public, many lemons could be lurking as well. So, make sure you're covered with an affordable car insurance policy.
There are two main types of car auctions in the United States: dealer car auctions and public car auctions. Dealer auctions are only open to licensed dealers, while public auctions are open to anyone.
Public auctions are usually divided into government, police car auctions, and wholesale car auctions. You will find city and county police cars, bikes, buses, and utility vehicles at the police car auctions whereas a wholesale auction will have used cars from dealer trade-ins, bank repo cars, for sale by owner cars, and various other sources.
Dealer auctions require a license because of the vehicles being sold at wholesale prices with exclusive access to dealers. However, there are occasions where online platforms allow public access to these exclusive auctions. It is also possible for public buyers to buy an auction car online at a free public car auction.
Auctions often enable you to attend in person or online and each vehicle is typically assigned a number and displayed in a catalog, giving a brief description. Cars for sale at Illinois auctions come from local car dealerships, banks, private owners, donation vehicles, police auctions, and more.
When the auction begins, the first car will be driven onto the auction area and its number will be called out. The auctioneer will then start the bidding at a predetermined price. People will then be able to bid on the car and if they are the highest bidder, the car is theirs to take away once payment is taken and documentation exchanged.
This varies by location but most will accept cash or major credit cards. Checks are typically not accepted, and it they are, you may be required to leave the car at the auction until your check has cleared the bank.
Public auctions in Chicago and around Illinois do not sell flood damaged or salvage vehicles. You can always use your smartphone to run an online check of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the car you are interested in. These reports will tell you the history of the car.
Some locations will allow you to make an offer and buy a car from the lot without having to bid in the auction. If this interests you, be sure to contact the auction first to verify their policies on this.
In some cases, you may be required to have a car auction license in order to participate in an auction. Whether or not you need one will depend on a few details, including your reason for buying and the type of auction you plan to attend.
Do some research to find out what each car is worth. You can do this by finding which cars will be at the auction before you go, then researching specific models (or even the specific vehicle) by using industry guides like Kelley Blue Book or NADAguides and getting a VIN check. You may also be able to inspect the vehicle online or in person before the auction.
The Auto Auction of Baltimore has returned to regular auction days and times. We will be following all CDC/Covid and State of Maryland guidelines. Auctions will be held every Wednesday 6:30 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM. Preview will begin 1 hours prior to the auction. Prices are unbelievable and all cars are guaranteed. Hope to see you here.
Failure to adhere to any of these rules will result in for forfeiture of your deposit and being banned from any future auctions. Some exceptions to these rules occur at a GSA (Government) Sale. Contact us for more details.
Just like on auction websites like eBay, our used car auction works the same way. Bidding for vehicles starts at a certain price. The starting bid for many of our auction vehicles range from $500 to $3500. The starting bid can go up from there based on the vehicle offered and get sold once the reserve price has been met. This means the highest bidder will purchase the vehicle.We also cover a variety of different types of auctions. First, our process is representative of a standard auto auction. This is where we acquire vehicles from other used car dealerships and get trade-in vehicles from franchise car lots. We also take vehicles in on consignment from private sellers. This is very similar to dealer car auctions.Another type of common auction is a police car auction. When cars, SUVs and trucks are used for police purposes, they are usually offered to dealers at the auction once they are retired. These vehicles are then offered to the public. Sometimes police vehicles are offered through traditional used cars lots, but other times they offered at public auctions.Finally, there are repo auctions. The vehicles at a repo auction in Waukegan come from a variety of places. These could be vehicles where the financing went unpaid. The bank involved repossessed the vehicle and then sends it to the auction. Used cars can also be repossessed by police and other government authorities. Just like cars that were repossessed by banks, these vehicles are taken in by law enforcement and then offered as repo vehicles at the car auction.
One of the most important things you can do when buying at a public auto auction in Rockford, IL, Milwaukee, WI or in the Chicago area is to arrive early. At Waukegan Auto Auction we have a two hour viewing period where anyone can come and inspect the vehicles that will be up for auction. We highly recommend coming as early as possible to view all of the vehicles you are interested in. You will have the chance to start each pre-owned vehicle, inspect the interior, exterior, under the hood and under the vehicle itself. Try to get as complete an inspection as possible before bidding begins.Next, be aware of the bidding process. When bidding begins, if you are interested in the vehicle on the auction block, know how you signal a bid. You want to make sure the auctioneer knows if you want to register a bid. And if you are not interested in a particular pre-owned car, you don't want to accidentally signal the auctioneer. This step is simple and will be explained before bidding begins at our Illinois auto auction.Finally, before you even visit our auto auction in Waukegan, IL, search our inventory online. Every vehicle that will be up for auction is currently on our website. This is a great way to perform a pre-inspection and get familiar with what vehicles you would like to bid on. Our website allows you to search by make, model and sort vehicles by a number of criteria. It's a good idea to use our website to make a list of vehicles you are interested in. Then, when you come to our public auto auction that serves Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Brookfield, you can focus on the vehicles you are most interested in. During the viewing period you can inspect each one thoroughly and choose which vehicles you will bid on.
Probably the biggest benefit you have is that you can potentially save a lot of money buying at a car auction. Traditional used car stores in Chicago and Milwaukee offer vehicles at retail price. At an auction, the final price is determined by the highest bidder once the reserve has been met. That price may or may not be close to what that vehicle would retail for at a traditional dealership. At times, the sale price of a vehicle at the auction is much lower than its retail price. At a vehicle auction, you have the chance to save a lot of money.Buying at a public used car auction is fun. Most people don't look forward to visiting car dealerships and going through the car-buying process. At the auction, there are no salespeople to worry about and you don't need to negotiate the price of the vehicle. At Waukegan Auto Auction we want your buying experience to be exciting. Our car auction does just that. You'll enjoy buying a used car this way!We host two public vehicle auctions in Waukegan, IL each week as follows: 041b061a72