corsia logo

Tips for buying a car at an auction

Tips for buying a car at an auction

If you really want to buy a good car at an auto auction you have to invest time, energy, and research a lot. Some people bid by phone because they don’t want to spend extra time and energy. But to us, nothing beats being in the midst of it all. Besides, buying a car without seeing it may prove to be a risky business. To help you navigate the world of competitive sales, we’ve compiled a quick guide with tips for buying a car at an auction.

How to buy a car at an auction?

Settle on a budget

It is easy to be carried away when bidding, so settle on a budget beforehand. And don’t forget to include registration fee, taxes, and any other fees to your final price as well as car transport from the auction. This way you will be more prepared to deal with any challenges that may arise. Moreover, every auto auction has its own terms. Hence, you will need to read them in advance and make sure you have the correct payment options available in case you win the car.

Do your homework

Take your time and check out different car prices online to get a general idea so that you won’t be fooled at an auction. Search for particular models or types of cars in order to make sure you’ll find what you’re looking for and you will know in advance how much it usually costs. Check out sites like DriverSide.com to estimate the cost of ownership. You can also look up local prices in classified listings and check Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, Auto Trader Classics, or Nada Guides to get a bit more familiar with the used cars’ market.

Always check the terms and conditions beforehand

You need to get familiar with the terms and conditions of any auction beforehand. Some auction houses require you to register before you bid, for example, so make sure to check the terms and conditions of the auction in advance.

Check the car history

You will be surprised at how much you can learn about a vehicle by just looking at its history report on AutoCheck or Carfax.  A lot of auto auctions list their inventory online along with their VIN codes so it is always smart to subscribe to one of these vehicle-history report services and find out which vehicles are worth buying.

Go to a few auctions before you participate in one

Another thing you should look out for is the fake bidders. If you’ve been to several auctions before you will know what I am talking about. In almost every auction, there are fake bidders specifically hired to pump up the prices. It is not hard to notice them if you go to several auctions in advance. They are everywhere, they participate a lot but never actually buy. So, try to spend some time analyzing the auction itself and the suspicious bidders before you go and participate in an auction. You will also get a sense of atmosphere, see how things work, and get the chance to ask the staff any questions you might have before you get involved in any bidding.

Know the difference

A government auction is totally different from a public auction.  Any sign of misuse might be a false alarm at a government auction while the same signs of misuse at a public auction may mean the car’s condition is even worse than you can ever imagine.

Also, not all auctions are open to the public. Some are only open to dealers and those types of auctions require a car dealer license in all 50 states so make sure to check that as well.

Don’t bid on a pretty picture

Okay. Think a little bit. Not all the cars you see in an auction are what they look like. Every single one of them has been ‘fixed’ before the auction so don’t get deceived and don’t trust everything you see. Pull the oil or transmission fluid dipsticks. When a car is very well maintained, the lubricants must be clear and clean when you pull the dipsticks. Check the tires, look carefully for any signs of repairs, and inspect the interior of the car before bidding.

Don’t pin all your hopes on only one car.

When you go to an auction, always take a pen and a notebook with you. Pick up to 5 cars that you think are worth buying and write down any notes you have and also write down the maximum amount you are able to pay for each of them. In this way, whenever you start biding on one of those cars you pre-selected, you will have all the information you need in your notebook. If the bid seems to get way higher than you are able to afford, by having the notebook in front of your eyes you won’t get caught up in the bidding and it will be easier for you to let go.

Go during the weekdays

You probably have thought to go to an auction during the weekend so that you won’t have to take a day off work. But if you really want to attend a worthy auction, take a day off and participate in an auction that is being held on a weekday.

Go there as early as you can

You will need time to look carefully at all the cars to choose the one, so go there early. If you go there a few hours early you might get extra bonus points such as being able to drive the car around and also ask about buyer’s fees which usually aren’t spelled out until you buy the car.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of benefits if you do your homework, go to an auto auction as early as possible, and spend time before you make any decisions. If you can, ask a friend to accompany you. It is always good to have someone you know and trust with you, especially if he or she is a car guy or girl and knows a lot about cars.  If your friends are not into cars, take an expert with you. An expert will understand the VIN codes and notice if anything is wrong with a car right away.

And last but not least, don’t forget to check our top 5 most popular car auctions, because it only takes one click!

Now, tell us your car auction story. Have you attended one recently and what have you bought? If you have not, good luck when you go there! I hope my tips were helpful.

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next