Why Car Enthusiasts Need To Consider Government Car Auctions?
The short version of government car auctions is that at first sight, they seem to good to be true. Can you really buy a car for $200 that looks like new? The truth is, it IS true. Local, state and federal governments regularly auction off unclaimed or seized properties. These properties are homes, real estate, equipment and cars and these government car auctions can really land you a sweet deal on a good car if you know what you are doing.
General Service Administration, “GSA” for short is the majority leader in government car auctions. Other agencies with the ability to legally obtain illegal property include U.S. Marshall’s, Department of Treasury, Border Patrol or the IRS. Your city police along with DOT are conducting these sales on a weekly basis. “Police Impound Auctions” are what you would look for if you wanted to attend.
Not all auctions conducted by the government are in conjunction with confiscated property, but overstock. These types of auctions are known as “government surplus auctions.” Things offered at these auctions range from cars, to computers, to furniture and just about anything you could think of. Another type of auction is a “Repo Car Auction.” Auctions of this nature are held by banks trying to sell cars that have been repossessed.
The majority of government car auctions are held regularly in different areas of the country. They can be on a monthly schedule, or quarterly, or annual. They can or cannot be listed in the local newspaper. You can find most any type of car at one of these government car auctions; from SUVs to coupes, vans, sedans and convertibles. If you plan to attend one of these auctions and bid, you must be 18 or older with a valid drivers’ license. Some auctions require you to be a car dealer, but most don’t.
Most of the time, with the right government car auctions, you get a ‘preview’ period. This can be two to three days for you to look the cars over and see what peaks your interest. You can inspect the cars, but you probably aren’t going to get to test drive them. Mostly you are just allowed to start them up and look them over. You shouldn’t encounter any buyer’s fees unless the auction is held by a professional auction company.
Free government auctions in a nutshell. Be forewarned you will have many people trying to win the same thing you want, this is what makes auctions fun. Make sure to have a few different cars that you want to bid on and don’t get discouraged if you lose a couple of your cars. Word of advice, find a car that looks a little banged up but yet seems to run great and is sturdy, you’ll have a better chance of winning. When going to government auctions, be prepared to get really good deals.
