| With gas prices sky high, just about everyone is | | | | they have auctions. You should also scan local |
| rethinking how much time they spend in the car. In | | | | newspapers to find out the time and place for |
| some cases, vacations have been changed and | | | | auctions in your area. Banks and other financial |
| carpooling started. You might have considered buying | | | | institutions usually have their auctions through private |
| a more fuel-efficient car for your many trips around | | | | companies. You'll need to contact these organizations |
| town. But is it really worth another car payment? | | | | separately to see if they have auctions and when |
| One solution is attending a free car auction and | | | | they are. |
| buying a government seized or surplus car. By doing | | | | There is always the time vs. money trade off. You |
| this you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars | | | | can pay someone to do the work for you. There are |
| on the cost of the car and reduce your expenses | | | | online auction directory services that, for a fee of |
| even more. You might be asking, what is a seized car | | | | about $40, will give you unlimited access to seized |
| and how do you buy them. | | | | and surplus car auction listings. These services have |
| Every month 1000's of cars become government, | | | | directories of free car auctions all over the country |
| state or bank property. Some of these vehicles are | | | | and will email you with auction information specific to |
| seized from criminals, some are repossessions, and | | | | the location you specify. The directories can give you |
| others are government surplus. Whatever the | | | | information on previously sold cars and show |
| reason, the government and banks find them very | | | | locations, and descriptions of items for upcoming |
| expensive to store so they are sold as fast as | | | | auctions. |
| possible - usually this means at a discounted price. | | | | What happens at a free car auction? Bidding of |
| Some cars are sold at a discount of up to 95%, | | | | course! If you've never been to an auction before |
| sometimes as little as $200. Almost every day, there | | | | you might want to take a test drive first, they can |
| is a government auction being held in some part of | | | | be very fast-paced. Make sure you know the rules |
| the country and usually anyone can go and | | | | before you start. Usually the cars are sold 'as is' but |
| participate if they know where they are held. Most | | | | inquire about warranties, and ways to pay. There is a |
| free car auctions are regularly held at specific places | | | | preview period so check out a couple of cars you're |
| at scheduled times. There are late model cars | | | | interested in and do research on them. You can get |
| available with low mileage and older government cars | | | | the VIN number and check CARFAX reports. Have a |
| that have been kept up well. If you do a little digging | | | | price limit in mind before you start bidding. Don't get |
| you could get a steal. | | | | caught up in the bidding war and pay more than you |
| There are two ways to get free car auction listings. | | | | expected (or more than the car is worth!) |
| One takes time, the other a little money. | | | | Remember used car dealers are there also, they've |
| Government agencies are required to advertise | | | | done their research and are prepared to get the cars |
| auctions so you can contact each federal, state and | | | | they want. |
| local government agency to see if, when and where | | | | |