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Buying a car at auction

Cars in showroom
Keen: Five-door petrol powered small cars are in greatest demand say VRA

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2 April 2014

Keen: Five-door petrol powered small cars are in greatest demand say VRA
Auctions aren’t just for the trade, and provided you’ve got the knowledge they can be a great source

This content was provided on behalf of HBC Vehicle Services

WHEN it comes to buying your next car, you could immediately head to a local dealership and look for a brand-new set of wheels. Maybe you would rather save a little money and browse the range of second-hand cars on the forecourt instead?

However, there is a third option that could very well see you collecting the keys to a stylish and practical vehicle without breaking the bank — car auctions.

This following guide looks at how car auctions work, as well as the benefits to choosing your next car in this fashion.

 

How popular are car auctions?

James Foxall obtained figures for the Daily Telegraph which highlighted that British Car Auctions sells an estimated 600,000 cars every year.

Furthermore, around ten per cent of these sales are made to private buyers, which highlights that general motorists often end up the winner of an auction for their next set of wheels.

 

Where do I start at an auction?

Anyone who is familiar with eBay will know exactly how a car auction works. If you are interested in a vehicle, the first step is to place a bid.

Following this, other people may compete by offering a higher price tag than your initial bid. You can then reply with a revised offer, with the highest bidder deemed the winner of the auction once the competition comes to a close.

 

What cars can I obtain at auction?

This is the fun part; just about any car you can think of could appear at an auction, including nearly new to cars to those involved in salvage.

The options available range from vehicles with hardly any miles on the clock to classic cars and early versions of some of the most popular vehicles on the road today.

 

Is there anything I should be aware of at an auction?

Doing a little bit of research can go a long way when it comes to car auctions. It is important that you have a thorough inspection of a vehicle before you place a bid – a cheap price tag may be there because the car in question has a number of problems. So be careful that you have the knowhow if you are buying a salvage vehicle.

Furthermore, vehicles at physical car auctions have an entry form attached to their windscreens. You should take the time to read this entirely to spot for warning signs.

Make sure you obtain the market value of a vehicle before you get involved in a bid too, in order to avoid paying over the odds in the heat of the moment.

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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