Pros and Cons of Buying Cars at Auctions

In almost every city in the country, car auctions are held on a regular basis. While many of these auctions are designed for car dealers to come and fill up their lot with cheap stock, some can be attended by the regular public as well. Whether you're looking for a personal vehicle or an investment opportunity, a car auction is something to keep in mind.

Now, are car auctions for everyone? Certainly not. They are not as well attended as a run of the mill car lot, but there are plenty of people that know about them and they are there for the same reasons. The difference is, they have done the research to determine whether buying a car at an auction is a good idea or a bad one when it pertains to their own needs. You need to do the same before heading off to the car auction to place a bid. There are a number of pros and cons to buying cars at auctions and it's always a good idea to go into any new venture with your eyes wide open.

Pros
One of the biggest advantages to buying cars at auctions is avoiding the dealership mark-up. No matter how much haggling you do, a car dealer is going to make a certain amount of profit from a sale. At a car auction, you bypass this mechanism and get the car for as close to a wholesale price as you're going to find. They are perfect for car buyers who have a limited budget.

Car auctions are also an excellent place to find rare collector's vehicles you wouldn't likely find anywhere else. Knowing that a bidding frenzy could break out at any time, collectors like to sell their antique vehicles at auction to get the best potential value for their automobile.

Cons
Though you're taking a chance anytime you buy a car anywhere, buying a car from auction can be an especially risky venture. Most reputable auctions will be up front about any problems with the car, but most sales are final and you'll have little recourse if the car you buy isn't up to snuff.

Along similar lines, cars bought at auctions don't come with any form of warranty, meaning what you see is what you get and that's the bottom line. The price factor can often overcome this lack of a safety net, but you need to understand that if you get stuck with a lemon, you're probably going to have to eat the investment.

Buy From Junkyards Instead of Pep Boys

If you need to fix your car and you need to buy car parts but you do not have a lot of money, you should consider buying used car parts. These days, anything brand new is expensive, and if you can get what you want for half the price when you buy second hand products, then why would you choose the more expensive one? Some people will say that used parts and accessories will only make you spend more money because they will get broken after using them for a few times. This is not true for every used product that you buy. If you know where to look and how to shop for used car parts, then you will be able to buy what you are looking for. Here are some tips that you should consider.

? You have to determine what your car's problem is. Is it something engine-related or only in the car exterior or interior? This way, you will be able to choose the product appropriately. Also, you will not buy things such as auto accessories compulsively because your mind is focused on a goal or the things that you need to buy. You will not end up buying something that you do not really need.

? The next step is to search for a shop or store that sells second hand products. What you can do is to ask your friends for some recommendations or you can read forums or read car parts blog to get some ideas. A car parts blog is especially useful because it is more detailed than other write ups. Moreover, the writer is expressing something based on his own experience, so he must be telling the truth.

? One great place where you can buy almost all kinds of products including car parts is online. The internet sells just about anything-clothes, food, furniture, gadgets, books, toys, real estate, medicines, and cars and anything related to them. You can get really cheap deals especially in auctions. However, you have to be extra cautious when buying used products online because you cannot see the actual product. If you want to know something about the product, all you can do is to ask the seller. You can do meet ups but only if the seller's location is near your area. Otherwise, you have no choice but to rely on the seller's descriptions and pictures.

? Drive around your area to search for auto parts dealers that sell second hand products. Make sure that the shop is reputable. You can ask your friends or neighbors if they know a reputable shop that sells used auto parts that are cheap and in good quality. There is surely at least one good shop that sells the part or parts that you are looking for.

These tips will lead you to the best and cheapest deals that you can find online or around your neighborhood. Exhaust all possible sources and exert your rights as a consumer by asking questions and testing the product.