| Geez, there's just so little "real" information on | | | | to need at least some amount of patience. Some |
| open-to-the-public car auctions and the many web | | | | auctions are quarterly, some are monthly and there |
| sites that claim you can buy cars for as little as $100 ... | | | | are a few that are weekly. They've got to build up an |
| or pay just 90% of retail. You've probably seen them ... | | | | inventory of cars so it justifies the cost of putting on |
| lots of hype. It's a shame they oversell themselves | | | | an auction. And this takes time. So, unless you're a bit |
| because there are indeed opportunities to save a lot | | | | lucky, you probably won't run out to an auction to get |
| of money. And while I happen to be a member at four | | | | your car this afternoon. I guess what I'm saying is it's |
| of these sites, and they're most definitely worthwhile | | | | not like visiting as many Dealerships as you want in a |
| (some more than the others), the marketing hype can't | | | | single weekend. Next is pricing. There's going to be |
| help but create false expectations for many people | | | | other shoppers bidding ... maybe even some Dealers. |
| outside the industry. And if you do a search on Google | | | | You're not going to get a "good", late-model car for a |
| to try to find some information or reviews of these | | | | few hundred dollars. That being said, it's not unheard of |
| sites, it's unlikely you'll find anything realistic ... just alot of | | | | to get a $20,000 car for $10,000 to $14,000 ... or a |
| "click here to save 90%" hoopla. I've tried extensively | | | | $15,000 car for $7,000 to $9,000. You can indeed get |
| and the results have been pathetic. But again, I'm not | | | | excellent buys below trade-in values, and sometimes |
| saying that there's not really good deals at these | | | | way below. But just forget about real nice cars for |
| auctions. There are. But they make it sound like you | | | | "under $500", as is often the hype. Are there cars for |
| join today, either bid on an online auction or go to an | | | | under $500? Of course there are. And often good |
| auction this afternoon and then drive off in your | | | | buys too. But they are not the late-model cars. Next, |
| beautiful 2005 Audi TT for $500 ... zip, zap, zoom, | | | | you may have to go a distance. The good auctions |
| you're done. I can tell you from experience that this | | | | may not be right next door to you. Many auctions do |
| just isn't going to happen in the real world. Can you get | | | | not have online bidding. They're at a physical location. |
| a great deal on the Audi TT? Absolutely. But it will likely | | | | So, bear in mind that it may not be be particularly |
| take some time and it's not going to be practically free. | | | | convenient. All of this being said, it is true that there are |
| So, lets talk reality here. Auctions CAN fit into your | | | | excellent, money-saving deals at public car auctions. |
| strategy for getting a great price on a car. And these | | | | But please be prepared to both spend some time at it |
| auction web sites CAN make this easier for you. But | | | | and to pay more than the hype implies. |
| let's look at both the pros and cons to establish realistic | | | | Joshua Rose is an Auto Broker who goes to Florida |
| expectations. Then you can be in a better position to | | | | Car Auctions on behalf of car buyers. For information |
| decide if this is something you'd like to pursue or not. | | | | about Open-To-The-Public car auctions in your area, |
| First of all, there aren't a ton of open-to-the-public | | | | please visit Public Car Auctions. |
| auctions to begin with. This means it's likely you're going | | | | |