government auction bargains

Tips for buying a car at a government auction. 

Some advice to get you through the rigors of auction car shopping

1. The first step is to locate a car auction. You can find them sometimes listed in local newspapers. Newspapers often list government auctions and private auctions. You can also find auctions through a auction website. I have listed three such websites already. These websites are great because they maintain databases of auction deals and events in specific areas. All the information is sorted and detailed for your browsing conveniences. Government auctions tend to be a better option than private auctions because it usually means a lower price and better reliability.
2. Once you've found an auction, grab their list of cars that they will be auctioning. This is easier done using an auction website, like I mentioned above, because they have all this information sorted already.
   
   Keep an eye out for all sorts of cars. Its best not to focus on just one particular brand or year. Auctions are a 'get them as they are available' service. This means they are not car dealers and won't always have specific models or makes. Its whatever the government has in inventory at the time.
3. After you've found a selection of cars you are interested in then do some research on current market value. This will help you bid on them so that you don't overbid. Also, having the VIN number will help you research the history of the car. Websites like carfax.com will let you search the history of a car based on its VIN number. Make sure you do that.
4. Lastly, based upon all the information previously attained, set a maximum bidding amount you are willing to put down on the car. It is easy to get caught up in a 'bidding frenzy' out of shear desire to have the vehicle. Keep control of yourself and don't do this. Its a sure fire way to spend way too much money and walk away feeling defeated. If you cannot get the car you want this time, do not worry. There will always be more auctions in the future.
5. Again, I recommend browsing these sites for a good listing of local auctions and what they have.
   
   Using these websites will make finding what you want much much easier and a lot more accessible.

Things to keep in mind at a government auction 

• Always be mindful of the condition of the Property. Do an inspection before the auction if you can. Some auctions allow you to inspect things before the auction starts.
• At any government auction you should always inquire about the buyers premium. This is an additional amount you need to pay when you have won the auction.
• Never ignore the fine print at government auctions. You never really want to ignore the fine print with anything. This can spare you from losing to some unknown technical detail.
• For car auctions never pay more than the bluebook value of the car. This is typically $3000 - $4000 below market value.
• When you purchase a vehicle from a government auction be sure to fill out Form SF97. Form SF97 is a certificate to obtain title. This must be filled out in order to register your vehicle after purchase.

Attending a Home Auction? - Think on this 

• What are you bidding on? Do some research to make sure you know what is being bid on. Size, location, repairs, problems and such should always be considered when placing your bid.
• What is it worth? Take some time to understand the value of the property. You can gauge the estimated value of a property based on how similar properties in certain areas have sold.
• Learn from the past. How well have certain types of properties sold or received bids at past auctions? And at what prices?
• What does it look like? Consider traveling to the property in question and taking a look at it. Make sure this is okay with the current owners first whether it be personal ownership, a company, or a government agency.