Most everybody enjoys autos. And most people want bargains. Kicking the tires and talking down the price, people really love getting the best price on a car. Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale. That’s known as an auction. And if you play your cards right, you can end up with a steal (pun intended.).
How do these autos come to be there for these auctions? Often the police impound cars that belong to criminals or that were used in committing a crime. Drug dealers, for instance, can lose everything they own if caught. The city or state then has lots of cars, sometimes luxury cars, that they want to sell. Tickets also generate a lot of these cars. The car is offered for sale when the fines reach a point that the owner can’t pay.
Often the cars are purchased by individuals who sell them for a profit. Auctioneers also buy cars and then sell them at their own auction. This isn’t important. At some point the car is up for sale to the highest bidder and can become a whale of a deal for a savvy person. Don’t go in with your eyes closed. Buyer beware at an auction.
The first thing to keep in mind is these cars are generally sold with no warranty. It’s a case of what you see is what you get. In other words, the car is “as is”. The seller can even engage in puffery in most states. Puffery is making unspecific claims about the benefits of the car such as “ideal for the daily commute.” Some key words like “clean” or “like new” are also involved. The law allows quite a bit of latitude on this phrases that imply quality. However, on closer examination they really don’t mean too much other than “here’s a worm, grab the hook.”
Have some information when you visit an auction. Be ready to examine the cars closely. Bring a mechanic with you if possible. Auctions offer test drives so use them. There may be bargains when there are impounded cars for sale. But remember that if it seems too good to be true it usually is.
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