How To Buy Your Car At An Auction

If you are looking to invest in a car, you'll notice there's several ways you could start searching for one - on line, magazines, a local dealers etc - but you'll find that there's nothing that can match the excitement, expectation, and thrill of participating in a vehicle auction, so long as you know what you're doing.


Planning Is Key


Before jumping headfirst into the world of car auctions, always make sure you are prepared. Attend a car auction first just as an observer (this point is going to be particularly important when you have never attended one before) and figure out how everything works. Auctions are often fast and confusing for beginners, for this reason it's smart not to bid at your first one. Show up, investigate, take notes, and show up at your next auction much more prepared, chilled out, and prepared to try it out yourself. Also do a little research on the vehicle (or vehicles) you've got your eye on so you'll be ready for the sort of price it is going to sell for, together with any other features or issues about the model and make you might want to know about. You need to also keep in mind that if you're buying at an auction, your usual protection under the law may well not apply: ask to have a look at the auction's T's & C's and take note of ‘sold as seen' disclaimers.


Figure Out Your Budget And Then Don't Go Over It


This point will be really important whenever you're purchasing anything, obviously, but it's a whole lot much more relevant during an auction, where the excitement of the bidding process can sometimes eclipse the well-planned-out spending budget you might have in mind. Determine what you are able to afford to pay, and then don't exceed it. It might be worthwhile taking a reliable friend or relation in order to keep you grounded in an adrenaline-fuelled bidding war.


Examine The Car


If you are buying from a private seller or car dealer, you'd want to look over the car before handing over any cash, and it's no different with an car auction. If perhaps you don't know a great deal about cars, look into taking someone that does, so that they can check out the car on your behalf. Make an effort to find out as much as you are able to regarding the car as well as its background - check out the entry form for this - and it's worth asking the auctioneer for some kind of trial period if you find yourself with the winning bid.


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