When it comes to used car auctions, it is every man for himself. There are laws that are suppose to protect the consumer but we all know that it is a lie and they only protect the person who rips off the consumer. Two words like “as is” provides a great defense for sellers. Some auctions you can go to will put a thirty day guarantee on the frame, motor and body of a car.
When you see the words “buyer beware” this is when you really need to pay attention at auctions. Cars are usually sold as is and have no warranty and once you buy the deal is final unless you happen to get a fraudulent title. Sellers can make all kind of promises when they are not on paper. Without a written and signed paper from them, it is your word against theirs.
So when it comes to going to an auction to buy a car, always assume the worst. If you get a bad feeling about something you can always trust that this is probably not a good thing and you should trust your own instincts. Do not be stupid and think that you’re gonna get lucky and that someone who scams you will get justice served upon them. This rarely ever happens.
Take every step you possibly can to protect yourself from scams. This way you won’t end up needing a lawyer. You usually won’t find a lawyer that will take a case when it comes to used cars because it is not worth their time. Then there is the states attorney and I don’t think that they have the time or could care less about you and your bad deal on a used car.
Always make sure you have the money to cover a check that you might be writing at the auction. Some auctions will require a bank draft instead of a check so just make sure you are prepared for this. Make sure that your contract on the car states whether the title indication light was green, red or yellow. If you have a problem later and the title turns out to be a red light and they have put green then you have got the auction company if they scam you.
Always get to the auction as early as you possibly can so that you can pick out what you are bidding on and to make sure that you can inspect it as much as you can. Make sure to beat the crowds so that there is no one and nothing to distract you. Bring a Kelly blue book with you so that you are not going to be over paying for something.
You always have to pay a higher price than what you actually bid for the car, this alone should tell you how terrible these auctions are. There sometimes is a buyers premium. So this means that you will have to pay at least a thousand or more on top of the price that you win the car for, and lets not forget you also have to pay for taxes on the car.
There are many things you have to consider before you try to buy a car at a auction. For instance, ii may be cheaper to buy a new car than to take the chance of getting a car that is not worth much and then have to either pay for lawyers to try to get you out of this mess or have to pay thousands of dollars on a car that will never run right.
Want to make sure you’re getting a real bargain at used car auctions? Worried what you may be missing when you read car auction classifieds? Don’t get taken for a ride!