People have a love affair with automobiles. Bargains are also in people’s minds. These two aspects combine for a general love of great deals on cars. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. This is normally done via an auction. And if you play your cards right, you can end up with a steal (pun intended.).

Where do these cars come from for the auctions? Often the police impound cars that belong to criminals or that were used in committing a crime. Laws are in place to allow authorities to take all the possessions away from drug dealers, for example. The city or state then has lots of cars, sometimes luxury cars, that they want to sell. Tickets also generate a lot of these cars. The car is offered for sale when the fines reach a point that the owner can’t pay.

Sometimes the cars are sold straight to dealerships who either sell them on the lot or auction them. Auctioneers also buy cars and then sell them at their own auction. It’s no matter. A smart buyer can get the car for a song when its up for auction. Don’t go in with your eyes closed. As the saying goes it’s “buyer beware.”

The first thing to keep in mind is these cars are generally sold with no warranty. All sales are final and it’s up to you to do the homework”. That is, in the auto industry, “as is.” It’s not illegal to utilize puffery. When car dealers say “clean as a whistle” that’s puffery. There are even some tricky words involved in puffery such as “clean” or “in great condition.” The law allows quite a bit of latitude on this phrases that imply quality. However, on closer examination they really don’t mean too much other than “here’s a worm, grab the hook.”

Be ready when attending. Inspect the autos thoroughly. Bring a mechanic with you if possible. Auctions offer test drives so use them. When it’s impounded cars for sale it can be a great deal. But remember that if it seems too good to be true it usually is.

Going to an auction in order to find the vehicle that you want may be ideal if you’re only looking to spend a certain amount of money for your vehicle; although there are some risks involved with this type of, “shopping”. There are a number of rules that you’ll want to keep in mind when you go to public auto auctions and here are some points to keep in mind that will keep you from getting taken advantage of when you’re selecting the Auction cars that you want.

Even though the auctioneer may be speaking rather rapidly, make sure that you are listening closely so that you’ll know the conditions under which you’re purchasing this vehicle. Many of the cars will be sold ‘as is’, which means that you will be taken on all current damages associated with the vehicle. If the vehicle is listed or described as ‘buyer beware’ this is definitely cause to proceed with caution.

What this phrase actually means is that the vehicle could break down hours after you drive it away from the auction, and you don’t have time to take the vehicle to a mechanic for a diagnostic check before purchasing it. The deal for these cars is final; so unless the vehicle title turns out to be fraudulent, you are stuck with what you pay for. Be aware that your case will probably not stand a chance in court, since lawyers are hesitant to waste their precious time with a used car case–especially a car that you bought at an auction.

Not all public auto auctions do vehicle title checks; therefore you should make sure to take advantage of a vehicle title check before you drive your new vehicle away from the auction site. These title checks may not be the most accurate, however, you can use the internet to get a thorough report of the vehicle’s history, and to find out what you need to do in order to sign the title over into your name.

When it comes to Public auto auctions, you should also keep in mind that you will always pay more for the vehicle than your original bid. Buyer’s premiums are attached to the price of the vehicle, and in most cases, this is only a few hundred dollars. Some auctions make the buyer’s premium five percent of the winning bid.

Keep this in mind when you’re bidding, so that the total cost of your purchase will still be in your budget. Don’t get so caught up in ‘winning’ that you go outside of your price range.

People love cars. And most people want bargains. Whether it be haggling with a dealership for new cars, or kicking the tires while talking down a used car salesman, people also love deals on cars. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. They generally do that via auction. If you know what you’re doing you can find terrific deals there..

How do these autos come to be there for these auctions? Often the police impound cars that belong to criminals or that were used in committing a crime. Laws are in place to allow authorities to take all the possessions away from drug dealers, for example. When these cars are taken it isn’t long before it’s time to sell them for a little cash. Scoff laws also generate a lot of cars. If the owner doesn’t pay to reclaim the car, it’s offered for sale.

Often the cars are purchased by individuals who sell them for a profit. Auctioneers also buy cars and then sell them at their own auction. This isn’t important. A smart buyer can get the car for a song when its up for auction. But beware of some pitfalls of purchasing cars via auction. As the saying goes it’s “buyer beware.”

Cars bought at these places have no warranties. You buy the car that’s on the lot. In other words, the car is “as is”. Puffery is also common, and legal. When car dealers say “clean as a whistle” that’s puffery. They might even make claims like “it might as well be new.” The law says these aren’t warranties even though they sound like it. But they’re pretty meaningless.

Be ready when attending. Take a good look at the cars. That means attending an auction with an automotive expert if you don’t know much about cars. Auctions offer test drives so use them. There may be bargains when there are impounded cars for sale. But many deals aren’t as good as they seem on first blush.