Wednesday, November 7, 2007

How to Buy Cars Very Cheap at Government Auctions?




You might have heard some one said that “I bought a nice SUV for $500” or “ I bought a nice car for $200”.


Are those stories true? Government car auctions, repossessed cars and trucks, seized and surplus vehicles. They are there for you to bid or buy. And indeed, you can buy nice cars without paying a lot. You can get a nice car for a few hundred dollars. Sounds like a terrific way to get a bargain car. But, where and how can you get it?


There are government properties, including cars, real estate, or repossessed properties for auctions at cents for dollars. Some people make very good living on bidding government auction cars for living. Some people got their nice car to drive through auctions.



Here are some tips on how and where to get it:


A. Where and How to Find Those Deals:

There are two ways you can find the deals:



a. Direct contact with your local federal, state, county, and local government agencies.



You contact federal or local government agencies to determine if they have auctions, where they are, and on what schedule. Most official government auctions are regularly announced in national newspapers or local newspapers as part of the legal requirements for conducting the auction. Fortunately, right now, most government auctions and sales, both federal and state, are listed on the FirstGov.gov web site. It is operated by government.


b. Find the deals trough online auction directory service



For a fee. Fees vary but average about $40, usually a one-time charge for unlimited online access to listings of auctions. But It saves you a lot of grief and time to get deals. For example, gov-auctions.org has 3000+ auctions.

Gov-auctions.org is the America's most trusted & largest resource for Government & Police, live & online car auctions of Gov't pre-owned and seized cars, trucks, & SUV's.

Every month across the United States, thousands of vehicles are seized by different Government agencies (IRS, DEA, FBI) & Police departments and auctioned off to the public. Due to certain laws these vehicles are listed and sold at up to 95% OFF their original value and auctions many times start at $100. Gov't pre-owned/surplus vehicles are well maintained and usually only 2-3 yrs old.

Gov-auctions.org offers you immediate access to 3,000+ updated auctions nationwide, NOT searchable elsewhere on the Internet and with guaranteed listings in every state.


B. Inspect first


Before the auction, there is always date for preview. You need to do a thorough inspection and make sure the cars have no major problems in the preview. You also need to know the value or how much those cars are real worth.


C. Don’t overbid


Always set up your maximum allowable bidding price. Once the bidding price is over your maximum allowable price, give it up. There are plenty of deals you can do.Following are more information about Government car auctions.


Sources of Government car auctions



There are many sources the cars and vehicles that government car auctions come from. Different government agencies, either federal, state, and local government and law enforcement agencies regularly auction off surplus, unclaimed, and seized property, including automobiles, equipment, and even real estate. These are collectively known as "government auctions.



Who Holds Government Car Auctions?



The General Services Administration (GSA) is one of the largest. Then there's the FBI, IRS, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Department of the Treasury, Homeland Security, and Border Patrol, to name a few. State, county, and local governments also have regular auctions. There are also local government agencies.


In most cases, government auctions are handled by private auction companies under contract. You can find those events online.


Government car auctions - How they work



Auctions are particular location on a regular basis — usually monthly or quarterly or annually to sell Government seized-property or surplus. Local and national newspapers often have listings and details.All vehicle types, makes, and models are sold at such auctions - SUVs, coupes, sedans, vans, minivans, even convertibles.



Obviously, these government agencies and lending institutions are hoping to get as much money as possible for their goods. But good bargains can be had. Otherwise, the auctions wouldn't be as popular as they are and no one would participate.In order to buy at auction, you must


1) be at least 18 years old;

2) have a valid drivers license.


Before auctions there are preview period of about two days for you to inspect the vehicles. However, in most cases, you will not be able to drive the vehicles although you can start them and check them over as much as you like. And there are no warranties or guarantees, which is no different than most other used-car sales.


For most government auctions there are no buyers fees or registration charges. The price of the vehicle is all you pay.


What's the Risk?



There are always some risks in buying at government or repo car auctions or in any auctions. The single most important risk is overbidding.


You can significantly lower your risks by knowing what you're doing, knowing about the car(s) you want, researching your pricing, and understanding how the auction process works. Auctions typically move very fast, so you should attend a few just to learn the pace and bidding techniques.


Remember, there are always competing bids. If the car you want is popular and in great condition, you can expect other people, including used-car dealers, to be just as interested in it as you are. Competition and heavy bidding will drive auction prices up — sometimes beyond the real value of the vehicle. Don't get caught up in the frenzy and overpay.



Always set up a maximum allowable bidding price on each car you're interested in. Or you will regret what you have doen.


Winning and losingYou must be willing to bid and lose in any kind of auction. You must also be willing to bid and win, and be prepared to pay cash or finance within the required time set by the auction company. You can apply for a pre-approved used-car loan at your bank or credit union and be prepared in case you win a bid. Personal checks are not usually accepted, although credit cards, money orders, certified checks, and traveler's checks are accepted.


These services provide directories of auctions all over the U.S., showing locations, descriptions of goods to be sold, schedules, and other details. Times and locations of auctions can change, so make sure you check before setting out to attend one.


What to expect

When using an online auction directory service, don't expect a full list of specific vehicles, descriptions, and prices for each auction because this information changes daily— although some services provide more detail than others. A catalog of vehicles for a particular auction will be available on the day of the auction, or a few days prior, from the auction administrator.


Always inspect the cars first before you bid or buy at an auction or any auctions.. Always sut up limit price for the car your interested at at an auction or any auctions.