5 Things You Should Do Before Buying At A Government Car Auction

It's very easy to get overwhelmed at a government car auction. One reason: the sheer volume of cars is absolutely enormous. And most of the vehicles which were once utilized by government agencies, are in pretty good condition - often with less than 60,000 miles on them.

In other words, if you go to a government car auction with the mindset of "I just want a car," then you're going to have a difficult time walking away with anything at all, much less a car you can be happy with.

Before You Even Think About Bidding

There are plenty of things you should do before you ever step foot in the government car auction to ensure that you get the best car for your needs. Don't underestimate the massive number of cars and how it will affect your bidding.

Tip #1:  It's a good idea to visit a government car auction before you are ready to buy, just to get an idea of how it all works. Simply attend the auction just like you would if you intended to buy, but don't bother with registering.  Why? Becaue You don't want to be tempted to get something before you've taken the time to properly prepare for getting a car at a government auction.

Tip #2: Take note of the kind of cars that go through the auction and their typical going rate. For example, if you're looking for a particular make and model, you'll be able to get an idea of how much these types of vehicle can go for.

Tip #3: Find out about the fees, deposits and methods of payments by asking questions like:

• What are the auction registration fees?
• Are there bidder's fees? How much?
• What forms of payment are accepted?
• How much of a deposit are you expected to put down, if you should win a bid?
• When are you expected to have the car fully paid for?

Tip #4: Learn how you should plan your time. Once you've won the bid you'll have a certain amount of time to have your car removed from the government auction lot. Find out how long.

For instance, you might only have one weekday to get plates for the car and drive it away from the government car auction. In that case, you might have to request a day off from work so you can take care of all that without incurring a storage fee . . . or worse, losing the car.

Tip #5: Know your financial limits, and take all related costs into consideration when figuring out your maximum bid. You don't want to completely tap out your funds. Yeah, the car may run pretty good but you should be financially prepared just in case it's in need of some kind of maintenance or repair work.

Don't be afraid to ask the staff at a government car auction any questions you might have. If you don't understand the inspection sheet or want to know more about what a certain car has been through, they are always more than willing to help.

Bottonline, make sure you know everything that is required of you BEFORE you actually take the plunge and bid on a car you want. Going to a government car auction doesn't have to be intimidating or confusing, especially now that you know what to do.