Municipal Auto Auctions
Municipal
Auto Auctions...Great Profit Opportunities!
As these Municipal Auctions are often held at random
dates and times, you will want to contact the municipality in question and
request that they put you on their mailing list so that you will be contacted
before such an auction is held.
What kind of condition may you expect from
the vehicles and equipment that are sold through these public auto
auctions? Depending on the municipality, of course, in general, the
vehicles offered for sale at a municipal auto auction are in excellent
condition, regardless of the mileage on the vehicles. Most municipalities have a
strict regimen of maintenance that is followed much more stringently than are
many of the private owner vehicles you may be considering. Without a source to
the maintenance of a private vehicle, you are in the dark as to the actuality of
the degree of maintenance
that was performed. When you purchase from a public auto auction held by a
municipality, you will have this information at your disposal.
Regardless of how well these municipalities maintain
their vehicles, you need to be aware of the danger that still exists for you at
these public auctions. As far as I know, all police auctions and municipal auto
auctions offer their vehicles on an as is basis. Even the most well maintained
vehicles can still have major problems. (That is why the manufacturer offers a
limited warranty when the vehicle is new). Do to this caveat, it would not be
wise to attempt to purchase vehicles at these Municipal Auctions without either
having an extensive mechanical knowledge of vehicles yourself, or without
bringing along an expert if you lack the experience.
Although most public auto auctions do not allow you to
drive the vehicles before the auctions, most do allow you to start them and to
check out the fluids. When starting the vehicle, you are usually allowed to move
the car back and forth in the parking spot it has been assigned to. Even though
this will not tell you if the vehicle shifts well or not, it will tell you if it
goes into the gears as it should. Additionally, you or your expert will be able
to check the fluids. If the tranny fluid is discolored or has a burnt smell,
there is more than likely a problem with the tranny. Do not exclude the vehicle
if you like it otherwise. There is a good chance that if the tranny problem is
obvious, the vehicle will be sold for a price well below wholesale, even after
you repair the tranny. If the oil is thick and old, there could be either a
problem with the engine, or at least a pending problem. You probably will not be
able to purchase the vehicle cheap enough to offset the headaches caused by an
engine problem.
Additionally, if you or your expert hears a knocking
sound in the lower part of the engine, that is certainly an indication of a
major engine problem. Again something you will not want to
endure.
One of the problems that often exist with municipal auto
auction vehicles is brake work. Many times, even though these are taken care of
in routine maintenance, they can be at the end of a wear cycle at the time the
vehicle is offered for sale. Today, as most cars have disc brakes, an expert can
visually look at the brake and rotor to see the amount of wear. Often, the
grooving of the rotors is obvious and make for a quick diagnosis. Brake work can
then be factored into your cost decision when bidding on a
vehicle.
If your intent is to resale the vehicle, do not forget
to factor in not only the auction fees, but you will need to pay sales tax as a
private owner in all states and possibly licensing fees, depending on the stat
you reside at.
Due to having many years experience purchasing cars at
auto auctions, we have learned many more tips that you may find beneficial in
your search for a reliable vehicle or simply one that you can buy for resale.
Check out our main page at Public
Auto Auctions for more money saving tips when purchasing at
government auto auctions or public auto auctions.
