Many people are leery of going to car auctions because the cars are sold in an “as is” condition. In other words, the buyer is responsible for any repairs that need to be made.
While it helps to be a car mechanic, it is not necessary, because you can still make a good decision about the car to bid on. When you know what to look for, you can make a bid with confidence.
Carefully Inspect the Car Before Bidding
You must make the effort and take the time to inspect the car that you want to bid on during the auction. Prior to bidding, you are given the opportunity to look the car over in advance.
While most auctions will not let you test drive the car, they will let you start it and hear how the engine runs. If you don’t take advantage of the inspection time, you could buy a car that looks great but has some serious mechanical problems.
Keep Notes as You Inspect Various Cars
Since you will be examining a few cars, take written notes of anything that you find that needs repair.
This way you can look over your notes after you have examined all the cars you’re interested in and pick the one that has the least things wrong with it.
Inspect the Exterior
The first thing to look over is the body of the car. You want to examine it for signs of an accident.
When checking the exterior of the car, look out for paint that does not match, paint bubbles, rust spots, and dents. See if the body panels are aligned.
Inspect the Interior
When checking the interior of the car examine the trunk, look under the seat, and check under the floor mats.
You want to check for dampness, oil spills, or any other clue that the car has needed some kind of repair work on it.
Inspect The Mechanical and Electrical Systems
When inspecting the engine compartment, try to find frayed or broken wires or belts, rusted parts, or bolts that don’t match the color of the other bolts.
If all is well, as far as you can tell with the engine, then start it up and examine it for any knocking sounds or jarring vibrations. Also, check all the lights, turn signals, radios, and so on.
The Power of Educated Observation
Car auctions offer those who know what they are looking for a chance to buy a great car for a low price. However, for the naïve or unwary, they also offer the possibility of ending up with a lemon.
The difference between getting a good deal and getting suckered into a bad one depends on your power of observation.
This, in turn, depends on knowing where to look. The power of educated observation can go a long way in making the right choice between various cars.
Thank you Ronnie for the email!
