What You Need To Know To Buy A Car At An Auction

Auto auctions are one of the best places to buy an automobile. These in-person and online auto auctions offer a convenient way to shop, an extensive selection to browse from, and excellent customer service to help simplify the buying experience.

Of course, knowing what to do and where to go can be complicated if you’ve never attended an auto auction before. Thankfully, we’re here to help make the process a little easier so that you can buy autos from auctions with confidence. This article will review the top things to keep in mind when purchasing from a car auction and the leading auto auctions in the country to choose from.

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The Top Things To Know When Buying From A Car Auction

While it can be intimidating to attend a car auction if you’re unfamiliar with the process, the whole thing can be a breeze if you go into it knowing what to do. To help guide you, these are the top things that you need to keep in mind when trying to buy a car from an auto auction.

Determine Why You Need The Car

One of the most important things to know when buying from a car auction is why you need the vehicle in the first place. Maybe you’re just looking to get a car to drive around, a second vehicle for hauling, or perhaps you’re looking for a hobby car to work on as a side project. Determining why you need the vehicle in the first place will help you narrow your options.

Set A Budget (And Stick To It!)

Another essential thing to know when buying a car from an auction is how much you can afford to spend. Having a clear budget before buying at an auto auction will ensure that you’re focused on getting the best deal possible without breaking the bank. But, of course, a budget is useless if you don’t abide by it, so stick to whatever financial limit you set for yourself before bidding.

Remain Calm When Bidding

On top of strictly sticking to any established budget when bidding at a car auction, you also need to keep your emotions in check. Whenever you’re actively bidding, whether at an auto auction or otherwise, it’s very easy to get competitive with another bidder to try to win.

Unfortunately, when you become emotional while bidding, you not only risk blowing your budget but may even end up noticeably overpaying for a vehicle. Therefore, it’s essential to remain calm and know when to back away from a specific auction.

Get Help If Necessary

Of course, only some people enter a car auction being an expert in the overall process. Thankfully, you don’t have to go at it alone regarding car buying. Whether you bring a friend with mechanical and car knowledge, have a trusted mechanic on hand, or opt to reach out to the expert staff available at car auctions, there’s no shame in getting a bit of in-person assistance when buying a car at an auction.

The Top Auto Auctions To Buy From

There are dozens of major auto auctions held across the country daily, each with its own inventories. Therefore, choosing the best one to buy from can be complicated if you don’t know what to look for. To help simplify the process for you, we’ve highlighted three of the best auto auctions available, so you can figure out the right place to get the car you need.

SCA Auto Auction

With over 170 auction yard locations across the country, SCA is one of the leading live and online auto auctions in America today. They have a sizable inventory available, with over 300,000 cars for sale at their 160 weekly auctions. In addition, their reliable and easy-to-use online platform allows for easy pre-bidding and live bidding from anywhere. Furthermore, their exceptional staff is always available to help with any questions you may have.

IAAI Auto Auction

IAAI is a leading digital platform and marketplace focusing on online auto auctions. They have over 210 locations scattered across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, serving a broad customer base that spans over 170 unique countries. So whether you’re looking for a clear-title used car or a salvage title vehicle to rebuild and potentially resell, IAAI is bound to have something available for you at one of their many car auctions.

Buy From Auto Auctions Confidently

Buying a car from an auto auction can certainly be complicated if you go into it without knowing what you’re doing. Thankfully, you should now be familiar with the basics of the process and what to know before you buy so that you can shop confidently and get the exact vehicle you need.

By keeping the tips outlined above in mind, you can rest easy knowing what you’re doing so you get the right vehicle at the right price, every time, at whichever car auction you choose to use.