If you attend a police & government auction, you will find all different kinds of vehicles ranging from cars that have been seized or government cars that they no longer use. These kinds of auctions are just as much work as any other auction meaning you need to do your research. Both seized cars and government cars may have been sitting around without maintenance for sometimes over a year. Don’t be fooled by the flashy cars that may appear as a good deal. Many of these cars have been raced, used for drug dealing, shot at, etc. Police auctions are tough to find a good car for a good price, but it’s entirely possible if you know what you are looking for and you aren’t going to try and buy a used Lamborghini. Like other auctions, it’s important to note what fees are attached to the car if you win it. We have warned you before of buyer’s premiums totaling 10% of the price of the car, which can ruin the deal. It’s also good to note that many of these cars may have title problems. Stolen cars are totaled! So, if you want to resell these cars, be sure to order an AutoCheck. It’s very tough to sell cars with a salvage title on it as a private buyer. Other things to be aware of:

1. Get there early. The good cars, if any, go quick.
2. Watch out for the Buyer’s Premium
3. Order The AutoCheck Report® ">AutoCheck Report and Lemon Check to know your facts.
4. You must be prepared to perform a lot of work on the car that you purchase at a police auction.
5. Do not make an impulse purchase. It wont turn out pretty.

Don’t forget that Police Auctions aren’t any more special than a regular auction. You may see the occasional flashy car, but they almost all need a considerable amount of work done to them. Remember, the police aren’t trying to give these cars away. They make a great profit off of auctions like these and uneducated buyers who come to them. Be smart about what you purchase and if you are actually looking for a good deal, buy an old police cruiser. Cruisers have a better chance of being in good shape and you may be able to get them for well under market value. The biggest problem you face once you have become knowledgeable about the auctions are your competitors. These are the people who come without any knowledge of car auctions and don’t know what price is too much to pay for a car. I have been to many auctions and seen people pay 3-4 thousand dollars over the market value for the car. Most of the newcomers to the auction don’t realize the buyer’s premium and end up paying even more for the car. Don’t be like them, read our articles and come prepared.

What price is too much at a police auction?

Because you are buying a car that you don’t know the owner and the owner most likely is a convict of some sort, you definitely don’t ever want to pay fair market value for the car. A general rule is to pay market value less 10% (including the buyer premium). I personally wouldn’t even pay this much due to the amount of work I potentially will have to put back into the car. Repair work can double the price you paid for the car within the year easily with a bad purchase. Check around for cars you want with private buyers first and if you happen to see the same kind at a police auction which has a clean AutoCheck and looks to be a good purchase for cheap, go for it.

Important! Before You Go, Make Sure You Know The Following Information:

• What Insurance Are You Geting? We reccomend AIG Direct or 21st Century for the most relaible and inexpensive young driver insurance. You can also check NetQuote.com to compare Insurance Prices around the web. Also relate to our Complete Guide On Auto Insurance

• Have You Read Our Guide On Buying Used Cars? Read This

• Will You Need A Loan? We reccomend using MyAutoLoan.com
  or Any-Credit-Auto-Loan.com

• Do You Have Good Credit? Why not check for Free with Equifax.