Buying a used car at an auction

[MoneyGuy]

My son needs a car and I'm thinking that the best way to get a good deal is by buying at one of the auction houses. Has anyone done this who might have some advice on how to go about it? For example, I know you can't get them inspected, but what are some basic things you can do to check out the car a bit when you preview them? How do you check VINs to make sure it has no leins or has not been written off? What other advice do folks have?

[REDVAN]

Is Pokerface your son?

[vanisleflamesfan]

I bought my car at auction and I am VERY happy with it. Of course with an auction you have to be careful and do your homework, but if you know what you are looking for and what you are bidding on, there are some great deals to be found.

My tips:

1. Go to an auction or two and observe how it works before you are ready to buy. The auction process can be a bit daunting the first time and it will help to know how everything works.

2. Most auctioneers will list (on their websites) the lots that are coming up for auction soon. Find a few cars that are interesting to you and begin to search out a reasonable price range in things like the autotrader.

3. Sign up for a service such as CARPROOF. On auction day have someone near a computer that you can call with the VINs to have them look them up. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!!

4. Go early on the day of the auction so that you can really have a good look at the cars that interest you. Check them over as well as you can; interior, body, mechanical, etc. If you have a mechanically inclined friend, bring him or her along. Check everything over. You won’t be able to drive the car but you should be able to start it up.

5. When the cars that you are interested in come up on the block, wait a few moments to see if the auctioneer will drop the opening bid. They will often set the opening bid high at first and then drop it to get the bidding going. The worst thing is when some wingnut jumps right on the first price that the auctioneer gives. Let this guy have the car, he will overpay. Have a FIRM upper limit in mind and don’t bid over it. It is really easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and overbid. It really is exciting. Don’t be afraid to walk away if your limit passes; remember that there will be a buyer’s premium on top of what the hammer price is so factor that in.

Have fun, buying at auction is really exciting and can be a great feeling when you know you got a good deal. PM me with any other questions

[mykalberta]

Also check the trunk for any dead hookers of stashes of cash/drugs. Dead hookers are difficult to dispose of, City of Calgary doesnt approve of you putting them in the blue bins for recycle.

++++ on the CARPROOF idea. You can take a mobile stick and laptop and do it yourself but.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Anyone familiar with good auctions around Calgary?

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

3. Sign up for a service such as CARPROOF. On auction day have someone near a computer that you can call with the VINs to have them look them up. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!!

Make sure you heed this advice. I have a friend who bought a car at an auction to only find out afterwords it had been in an accident. He was just lucky there wasn't any frame damage.

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Anyone familiar with good auctions around Calgary?

Regal Auctions. They even guarantee that any vehicle $4k+ can be returned if defective.

[ranchlandsselling]

Thinking about doing this. Any updated experiences from the above thread that last had a post in 2009.

There's also other interesting stuff (I'm watching Regal) like ATV's, and RV's.

[calgarygeologist]

Regal is great. Probably the best in my opinion. You can also go to their lot a few days before the auction and thoroughly check out any cars you might be interested in. Just ask for the keys at the counter. Check their website for their hours.

If you have a mechanic buddy you can bring him down to the lot with you and at the very least get a rough cursory check of the vehicle. It is better than nothing.

[FlamesAddiction]

I got a great deal on a car at an estate auction. It was a 2008 Honda Civic, but with only 15,000 km. The old person that bought it couldn't drive it and the son used to just take her for rides around town. I got it last year for $7,000.

I have gone to car auctions before, but never bought anything. It seems like there are people in the crowd who are just there to bid up prices.

[Scimitar]

You can check regal auction's website for some historical data on sale prices. It's under "market report."

Graham auction also has vehicles for sale, but I don't think there is a return policy.

I've bought cars from insurance auctions, but they are usually write-offs and require repair plus inspection. Got some great deals though.