Going to a car dealer to pick out the vehicle that you want may not be the best option for you, so searching for a repossessed auction car or a few of them may be a great alternative for you. It's not difficult to find places that sell repossessed vehicles.  In this article I take a look at some of the best places to search for affordable automobiles, and I'll also mention some of the 'rules' you will want to follow when you purchase a repossessed car.

The main reason why people want to buy repossessed cars is the price. At a car auction you may end up paying about 10 percent of what you would pay if you were going to a new or used car dealership. The cars are so inexpensive because the banks that finance the cars don't want to spend the thousands of dollars that it will cost to keep the vehicles in storage.

While you'll in most cases save a considerable amount of money for repossessed auction cars, you should also be aware that some of the money that you save may have to be used for repairing the car or to purchase an extensive warranty that will protect from having to pay a large amount for additional damage and repairs. When you are searching for repossessed cars, you should have a set amount upfront that you're willing to spend before you actually get to the auction. A great way do this is by searching through a few auction sites online so that you'll get an idea of what you should bid for the make and model that you want.

You should also be aware that most of the prices you see online, as well as the prices that people will be bidding for when you get to the actual auction site, will not be as high as what you will pay if you get the winning bid.

When you purchase repossessed cars from auto auctions, a buyer's premium will be attached to the price in order to pay the administrators of the auction. This is sometimes about five or ten percent of the overall cost of the car so you don't get caught up in trying to 'win' the car before thinking about all the costs that are involved.

You'll also need to get all the information you can about the warranty for the repossessed auction car that you may be interested in. Companies like Warranty Direct will be able to give you all the coverage you need to protect your car--and your wallet--and you should also find out all you can about the title before taking the car home.  Be sure to get the original title from the owner before leaving, and log onto autocheck.com to get a detailed history of the car before you register it in your name.

Are you looking for a 'new' car at a price you know you can afford?  You may want to attend the next seized car auction in your area. Seized or repossessed cars are often sold at government auctions that are sponsored by the local police department; and the auction cars are sold for cheaper than the original price.

However, it's important to keep in mind that you do get what you pay for, so here are some tips for finding the right car for the right price.

If you are not sure about when a seized car auction will take place in your state or city, you should visit usa.gov.  This site will provide links to directories that will give you schedules for auctions that are being sponsored by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.  Other seized car auction events that you may want to attend will also include automobiles that are from state or local surplus.

It costs the state and the banks that finance the cars millions of dollars to keep the cars in storage, so you'll definitely be sold a car for a much more affordable price than if you were buying off the lot. In some cases, you can find a car for a price that is about 80 or 90 percent lower than the retail price!

Even though a seized car is not necessarily one that is in bad condition, when you're buying from an auction, the rules are a little different. You are completely independent as a consumer, which means that the auctioneer or any organization selling the car is not liable for damages or repairs once you win the bid and drive the car off the lot. So, you will need to make sure that you purchase some type of guarantee that will protect you if anything goes wrong with the car.

You'll also need to purchase a warranty for the car so that if repairs are needed, they will not be terribly expensive.  You should also remember to never, ever walk away from the auction site without getting the title to the car.  You will not be able to legally register the car and receive a license plate, which could present some serious legal problems for you in the future if you plan on getting the car on the road.

For extra help in finding the right seized car auction or automobile prices for your budget, you should also log onto carbuyingtips.com. This site has a lot of straightforward tips that will help save you money and get the most out of your car purchase.  You can also find great seized car auction information, as well as great classic car models on ebay.com.

by Terry Carters

If you're looking for a new car, but don't necessarily want to go through the process of purchasing a vehicle from a dealership, it may be a good idea to find out about state auto auction events in your area. The auction cars that are sold at these auctions are often in great condition, and you could save a considerable amount of money by placing a reasonable bid for the car(s) that you want. Here are some of the resources you can use to find a state auto auction nearest you, as well as some tips that will help you to come home with the right vehicle.
 
When you visit www.niada.com, you can find an auto auction directory that will let you know when auctions are going on in every state in the country. You'll get the address and phone number for the location of the auction, as well as the name of the person who will be managing the event.  There are also listings for auto auctions in Canada, in case you want to travel there to find a car that wasn't available at a previous auction.

You can also check with your local police station, or contact City Hall to find out when the next state auto auction will be taking place. The police department will often hold an auction in order to sell repossessed items and you will not only find automobiles, but quality jewelry and household items may be a part of some auctions as well. Your City Hall also may be able to give you a website to visit that will showcase the items that will be for sale.
 
When you attend a state auto auction, there are a few things that you'll need to keep in mind.
 
First, you're pretty much on your own when you're bidding. This means you should pay special attention to the way that cars for sale are presented; if the auctioneer states that the car is being sold 'as is' this means you are totally responsible for any repairs that you want to have done on the car.

You will in many cases be able to purchase a guarantee that will last for 30 days after you have taken your vehicle from the auction place.  However, I firmly recommend that you buy a warranty that will protect you from having to pay for any damage or repair that might be necessary.
 
Don't forget to get the title from the state auto auction; you will need to have your car officially registered in the state you are intending to drive it in.  Check the validity of the title at autocheck.com. This should be done before you drive your auction vehicle the first time.

These days, you can purchase just about anything online--and this goes for new and used cars as well. If you want to find a car that you can afford that is still in great condition, you may want to think about logging onto some online car auctions so that you can find the auction cars that you want in the comfort of your own home.

 While this may be a convenient way to buy a car, there are still some very real precautions that you'll need to take to make sure that you are getting the most for your money--and to ensure that you're not being taken advantage of. No matter what site you visit for online car auctions, you should make sure that there is a definite way to get in touch with the individual or group that is selling the car before you make the final purchase.

Thus, if you have questions regarding the vehicle, for example if it needs repair and in this case, what kind of work will be necessary to do, you can have your issues and concerns sorted out before you pay a cent that you can't get back. If you send questions to the seller and they are not responding in a timely manner, this may be a valid sign that the seller can't be trusted; you want to ensure that there is an open and honest communication so that you know exactly what type of deal you are making.

Also, make sure you know what to do to get the title and warranty for the vehicle upfront, which means before it officially becomes your property. If you participate in a live auction, you'll be able to have the title handed over to you while you are at the physical auction site.  If you are completing the bid and purchase process on the internet, you will get these materials sent to you. Make sure you have them before you sign the deal.

Also, make sure that you have the arrangements for getting any official paperwork for the vehicle in writing (via your email) during the purchasing process, because in case you'll need to verify anything, you will then have the necessary proof. It's also very important that you buy a warranty for cars that you purchase at online car auctions.

Although you do everything right in the buying process, you will still need to buy coverage that will decrease the expenses of any repairs or maintenance services you will need for your car.  This is particularly important if you buy older models.

Ebay has an automobile section containing online car auctions.  Here are numerous decent vehicles listed and you will also get most of the details you need there before you get in contact with the seller.

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