Car Auction Fact Vs Fiction

By Joshua Rose

I've always been a bit disappointed in the way Public Car Auctions are hyped on the internet. You've probably seen the grandiose ads or maybe even visited some of the auction websites.

You know, "cars for as little as $100". Or, "cars 90% off retail". I can assure you that this is a very unlikely result for any decent vehicle.

This is not to say that there aren't great deals at auctions because there are. But the result of such hype is twofold. People with false expectations go to an auction and are disappointed. And secondly, many people are just plain turned off by the hype and don't bother to participate at all ... thereby missing some genuine saving opportunities.

Even searching the topic on Google to get good information is a challenge. Most of the information is hype-filled, trying to get you to signup to one auction site or another.

Frankly, I think the internet can do with some more realistic and objective information on these auctions. This will better serve people to develop more realistic expectations. It will also help them decide if going to public car auctions is something they want to pursue.

Again, I'm not saying that there's not really good deals at these auctions. But they make it sound like you join today, either bid on an online auction or go to an auction this afternoon and then drive off in your beautiful 2005 Audi TT for $500 ... zip, zap, zoom, you're done.

I can tell you from experience that this just isn't going to happen in the real world. Can you get a great deal on the Audi TT? Absolutely. But it will likely take some time and it's not going to be practically free.

So, lets talk reality here. Auctions CAN fit into your strategy for getting a great price on a car. And these auction web sites CAN make this easier for you. But let's look at both the pros and cons to establish realistic expectations. Then you can be in a better position to decide if this is something you'd like to pursue or not.

First of all, there aren't a ton of open-to-the-public auctions to begin with. This means it's likely you're going to need at least some amount of patience. Some auctions are quarterly, some are monthly and there are a few that are weekly. They've got to build up an inventory of cars so it justifies the cost of putting on an auction. And this takes time.

So, unless you're a bit lucky, you probably won't run out to an auction to get your car this afternoon. I guess what I'm saying is it's not like visiting as many Dealerships as you want in a single weekend.

Next is pricing. There's going to be other shoppers bidding ... maybe even some Dealers. You're not going to get a "good", late-model car for a few hundred dollars. That being said, it's not unheard of to get a $20,000 car for $10,000 to $14,000 ... or a $15,000 car for $7,000 to $9,000. You can indeed get excellent buys below trade-in values, and sometimes way below. But just forget about real nice cars for "under $500", as is often the hype.

Are there cars for under $500? Of course there are. And often good buys too. But they are not the late-model cars.

Next, you may have to go a distance. The good auctions may not be right next door to you. Many auctions do not have online bidding. They're at a physical location. So, bear in mind that it may not be be particularly convenient.

All of this being said, it is true that there are excellent, money-saving deals at public car auctions. But please be prepared to both spend some time at it and to pay more than the hype implies.

Joshua Rose is an Auto Broker who goes to Florida Car Auctions on behalf of car buyers. For more information about Open-To-The-Public car auctions in your area, please visit Public Car Auctions.