Police car auctions can be a place to get a great car at a fair price or a place to get burnt. Lessen your chances of getting burnt by reading and following this general list of dos and don’ts when it comes to any police auction you may attend.

Do’s

1. Bring a mechanic with you to inspect the engine, transmission, electrical system and to check for signs of being in a flood or fire.

2. Arrive early to beat the crowd and avoid distractions when viewing the cars.

3. Bring a Kelly’s Blue Book with you so you don’t end up paying more than the vehicle is actually worth.

4. Bring your driver’s license to fill out the necessary paperwork and enough money to pay for the car if you are the winning bidder.

5. Bring a friend or family member to drive your car home if you end up buying one at the auction. Also bring them along to talk you out of a bidding war if you get too attached to a car so you don’t wind up overbidding.

Don’ts

1. Bid on a car that you have not fully inspected. Just because it looks alright on the outside does not mean that it will be in driving condition once you’ve paid for it and are ready to drive it off the lot. Remember these cars are sold in as-is condition!

2. Arrive late. Then you will not have enough time to look at all of the vehicles throughly and might over look repairs that need to be taken care of.

3. Forget to register. You can’t bid on any car without registering. Usually registration ends right before the auction begins.

4. Forget to make sure all of the vin numbers match on major parts of the car like the engine, dashboard, doors and trunk. Non-matching vin numbers are an indication of a stolen vehicle or one that has parts from another car due to repairs from a flood or fire.

5. Bid on any car without fully reading and understanding the rules of the auction. A bid is a legally binding contract that you are expected to honor.

As long as you follow these tips you’re well on your way to having an enjoyable experience at the next police car auction you attend. The most important things to remember are: bring a mechanic with you, arrive early, make sure all of the vin numbers match and don’t over bid!

 

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