Overhaulin'

Does anyone know anything about Car Auctions?

I have up to £6,500 to spend on a car, I know roughly what I am looking for - its down to a choice of 3 or 4 cars now. I would like to go to an auction to find myself a bargain and just wanted to know a bit more about them. I live in the South East, do you just turn up at the auction? Are the discounts really worth bothering with? Any info would be really appreciated. No Sarcastic comments or stupid answers would be most appreciated!

Public Comments

1. Yes, an auction will probably give you great value for money, and better legal protection than a private sale or a dishonest dealer: Try here; http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/ You can view stock lists, auction times, details of how to bid, etc. Make sure you know the value of the cars you're bidding on & arrive several hours before the sale to have a look around. Have fun.
2. £6500 will get you a nice car BUT most of the good things at that price tend to be shoved into fleet auctions where most auction houses dont let the public attend. Best buys are ex motability as they have to be cared for due to the terms of the leasing policy. Again most of these end up in fleet auctions. Bear in mind some cars are VAT qualifying and all auction houses charge a buyers premium which for the public can be quite steep. You also have no comeback once you have bid. The car is yours, you have to pay for it and if the engine blows up on the way out the car park the nice auction guys will only help you shove it out the way, not refund you.
3. You will often find auctions in 2 formats. On one day they have the odds and sods and on another day the quality. You will be looking at the quality end, you will often find cars that say direct from main dealer and these can often be good buys. Most main dealers will not sell anything on their forecourts over a couple of years old so the trades will go to auction. You will also find a lot of ex-lease cars which again can often be good buys as many car leasing companies such as Ing have quite stringent rules about the vehicles being serviced promptly and by main dealers only and any cosmetic damage being correctly repaired before the car is handed back. But an auction still remains as buy what you see and at your price level you would be well advised to take a qualified mechanic along with you. Visit a couple of auctions before you even think about going to one with intent to buy. Get a feel of the prices, read the auction terms and conditions which will be clearly displayed so you are aware of the level of auctioneers commission and about the liability for vat on some sales. Generally speaking, small cars will fetch more than you have anticipated and large luxury ones less. In some auctions you are required to register as a buyer and are allocated a number. If you have the winning bid, the car is yours! You also need to check on insuring the vehicle you buy.
4. Be aware that people use auctions to get rid of cars with faults.