Police Vehicle Auctions - Tips For Buying Used Cars

Are you considering getting a car from police vehiclea look at the car before the police vehicle auction or
auctions? Although many of the cars that you will findyou get a catalog then run a quick background search
in something like this are likely to be in good conditionabout the car. This will allow you to know whether or
you can never really be too sure. The only way thatnot the vehicle has been in any major accidents or has
you can protect yourself from getting a bad buy is bybeen part of some natural disaster. This is a very
double checking the car you are going to bid for.important procedure that you do not want to skip out
You do not have to be a professional or a caron. Some cars get into accidents and get fully restored
mechanic to be able to check on the basics of a car.but they never really work as well as they used to.
Read on to find out what basic things you should• Listen to the engine. Most auctions give you a
check before bidding for a used car at police vehiclechance to see the cars before the bidding starts and
auctions. This is especially important since unlike usedsome will even allow you to start the engine. If you get
car dealerships not all cars in an auction like this willthis opportunity take advantage of it. Make sure that
have gone through an inspection and can bewhen you run the engine of the car there are no
guaranteed.strange sounds such as ticking, clanking, whistling and
• Mileage. Do you really want to find out in a cinchthe like. All you want to hear is the smooth hum of the
whether or not a car has been driven around a lot?engine. Any other extra sounds can be indications of
Check the mileage. This will give you the exact numberproblems.
of miles that the car has been driven. The standard• Look inside and outside. Take a good look at how
insurance for brand new cars runs up to 36000 milesthings look both in the inside and the outside. Carefully
for three years or roughly 12000 miles a year. If theinspect the outside for any dents, mismatched paint
odometer of the vehicle reads below this number thenand the like. You will also want to take a close look at
it's a good sign that the car has not been used muchgaskets on windows and around the doors. On the
yet.inside you will want to check on upholstery, flooring,
• Tires and general condition. Of course you cannotpaneling etc. Do not forget to look under mats and in
just rely on the numbers that you get. You need toplaces that are not obvious. Just because you do not
take this side by side with the actual condition of thesee it does not mean that there is nothing wrong.
car. There are times when odometers have been• Test Drive. Nothing can help you figure out more
moved back so looking at numbers alone can deceivehow good the condition of a car is than by trying to
you. Look at the tires and check whether they lookdrive it. Although a lot of police vehicle auctions will only
new or run down. It should be in fairly good conditionlet you start the engine it will still be worth a try to ask
without any treads sticking out. Also the generalif you can take it around for a bit. If not just try to
condition of the car itself should be good showing littleobserve what you can with the engine running. Try
or no signs of wear.pumping the gas, keeping it idle and shifting gears.
• Check Car reports. If you have the chance to take