How to Get the Best Deal at a Federal Auto Auction

Author: Joe Reilly

A federal auto auction is a great source of used government cars and legally seized

vehicles. The used cars tend to be just two or three years old and you can get up to 95% off

the current market value of these cars at auction. As you can imagine, vehicles that have

been legally seized can range from the ordinary to the luxury end of the market. You may

find at some government auctions that other goods ranging from property and boats to

jewelry and unclaimed cash are also auctioned. You can get a really good used car at a

price that is much lower than you would expect if you know how to approach this type of car

sale.

Firstly, you will need to know where the auctions are being held. This information can

occasionally be found in local newspapers but they are not widely advertised to the public,

even though members of the public are welcome to attend. There are online services that

provide you with comprehensive auction listings in your area.

I would advise you to be prepared. Remember professional buyers get what they want at the

lowest possible price. If you go in blind you will be distracted by all the shiny things you see

and you may not achieve your goals. Get a list of the vehicles up for sale and make a

shortlist of the ones you are interested in. Check out the market prices and if possible run a

vehicle check so that you know the full history of the car.

If you are interested in a seized vehicle and like me, you are not familiar with the inner

workings of a car, it is often worthwhile asking a friend or someone familiar with cars to

attend the auction with you so that they can make sure everything is in order with the

vehicle. However, if you are thinking of buying a government used car then you will usually

find that they come with stamped log books and a full service history.

You will find some really great bargains at a federal vehicle auction, particularly if you

choose one that is not busy with attendees. Bids usually start at as low as $100. In order to

get the inside scoop on all the auctions in your area so that you have the best advantage at

the auction and pay the lowest price possible, I would suggest that you look at an online

service that provides comprehensive listings. These services often provide additional

information that can really help you secure your car at the very lowest price.

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