Conduct Your Own Forensic Investigation
Has the transmission been recently replaced? Has the engine received recent repair work? What about the suspension? These are the three big expense components of most police vehicles, and to figure them out, you need to contact the official who posted the online listing. Or, if the government agency in question isn’t online quite yet — yes, that still happens — contact the maintenance department and find out who keeps these records.
Either way, ask the official when you can come by and see the records in person, and whether there is a specific time of day when you can inspect the vehicle. Every place has rules and policies that are set in stone.
How Do Police Auctions Near Me Work
An auction is a means of purchasing and selling goods using a bidding format. Each bidder competes with one another, and the individual who offers the highest price eventually wins. An auctioneer begins by pricing items low, and this attracts more bids. As the price creeps up, there are less bids and eventually the highest bidder triumphs!
If you are the winner you will need to be prepared to haul away the goods, pay the bill, and pay the taxes.
Many people are worried about the legalities, but the fact is that purchasing stolen goods is completely legal ! No item will ever be sold in a police auction until every possible effort has been made to return the goods to their rightful owner.
Police forces often use auction houses to sell these confiscated goods. Individuals are free to attend these events in person and start their bidding! If you prefer to join in from home some police forces run official eBay stores where you can bid online.
When you attend an auction house, youll be able to go take a look at the items before that auction starts. Its a great way to plan what you want to bid on before the auction gets underway.
Police Car Auctions: How To Buy Seized Cars The Correct Way
Police car auctions grow day by day at an alarming rate mostly because police officers seize large numbers of vehicles from drivers all around the country on a daily basis. Seized cars may be taken back by the owner only if he pays the penalty fine within a certain period of time. It often happens that the cars remain in the police garages, as the vehicle owners dont always have the cash to buy back their cars, meaning that the vehicles will stay in the ownership of the police.
Due to a large number of seized vehicles, police departments occasionally put thecars at auction so they can free up some space. Then is a really good opportunity for the public to buy a used vehicle at a much lower price than it would normally be sold at dealers and independent car sellers.
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Selling A Previously Impounded Car
Once you have successfully bid on and won an impounded car, you can then sell it. You must first perform a few steps to make sure that you get the most out of your investment, such as determining how much you want for the car considering how much you paid for it. After determining the asking amount, it is just a matter of negotiating a price with the buyer and filling out the necessary paperwork once the vehicle is sold.
Step 1: Determine a price. Decide how much you want to sell your vehicle for.
The amount you choose to sell your vehicle for should be higher than what you paid for it at auction and also a few hundred dollars higher than what you will ultimately accept from a buyer.
It is customary for buyers and sellers to negotiate a final price.
Consult a website like Kelley Blue Book or NADA for the true value of your vehicle and use that as a guide.
Step 2: Advertise. Choose how you want to let the public know your car is for sale.
You may place a For-Sale sign with your telephone number on it in the windshield and park it where it is visible to others driving by your home.
You may also choose to place an ad in your local newspaper or on an online classified site, such as Craigslist.
Step 3: Talk to potential buyers. When potential buyers make inquiries about your car, answer their questions to the best of your ability and set up a time for you to meet. Allow them to look over and test drive the vehicle.
Selling A Car Bought From The Impound Lot
make sure you have a good idea of what the car is worth. The price you paid at impound is lower than what the car will fetch if sold as a new or used carNational Automotive Dealers Association
Key Takeaway If you are bidding for cars online and canât inspect them in-person, make sure you research fair prices in Kelleyâs Blue Book or other resources to make sure youâre getting a good deal.
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Narrow Your Search Online Before Checking Cars Out In Person
GovDeals and Public Surplus are the kings of online auctions and regularly liquidate cop cars for local municipalities. There are thousands of cars to choose from, ranging from mint-condition cherry rides that have barely been put through their paces, to those unfortunate many that have been smashed to hell and have potentially fatal amounts of bodily fluids staining the seats.
Police Car Auctions Near Me
Are you ready to attend a police car auction? Well, to make your life a little easier, weve decided to list the top police car auctions. Our team scoured the internet for many hours to find you the best, easiest auctions, and to save you precious time.
Here they are! Simply click on the link to the left, and find out more about the police car auctions in your state or city.
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Why Should You Consider A Police Car/ Police Impound Auction
In many ways, a police impound auction is the same as a regular new or used car auction. The only major difference is that a police car auction has vehicles that have been confiscated by the police, insurance companies, finance companies, or banks. Hence, these cars come from a variety of backgrounds.
The major advantage of police car auctions is that they can help you get great deals. These cars are often in very good condition and provide you much better value than you first realize. Since they are pre-owned and the agencies are looking to recoup their cost as quickly as possible, they are offered at quite low prices as well. In fact, the deals are so good that you will find many car dealerships that specialize in such vehicles since they can rack in a tidy sum.
In fact, cars are not the only vehicles that are sold at police car auctions. A large variety of vehicles, including motorbikes, vans, and even boats can be available at these auctions for an affordable price.
In addition, former police cars that have become old or are surplus in requirements are also sold off to auction houses. Every year, law enforcement agencies need to replace many vehicles to keep their fleet well-run so that they offer the best service to the public. If you find police cars in an auction house, you can have the satisfaction of knowing that these vehicles were well-serviced and properly maintained by qualified professionals as squad cars.
Do Not Let The Superficial Scare You
When you go to a government auction, weathered paint can cover up a mechanically sound vehicle. A small dent in the tailgate may not be a sign of misuse and just the result of a parking lot bump. However, when you are at a police auction, these signs can mean that the car is so bad that they do not think it is worthwhile trying to fool you.
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Are Car Auctions A Good Place To Buy
That depends entirely on your mechanical knowledge, your willingness to do research and your luck. Auctioneer Steve Lang observes, From a $200 Volkswagen to a $200,000 Ferrari, I have personally seen hundreds of thousands of deals come together to the future joy of one party or the long-term sorrow of another.
With the right preparation and a discerning eye, you could drive home in the best steal of your life. Just be aware that for all the deals available at car auctions open to the public, many lemons could be lurking as well. So, make sure youre covered with an affordable car insurance policy.
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How Do Nyc Auto Auctions Work
The key to buying a car at an auction in New York is to learn as much about the vehicles you are interesting in bidding on before the auction starts. Be sure to look over the auction cars and read all the disclosures from the auction about the cars condition including mechanical, bodywork, and any stipulations with the vehicles title. Be sure to contact the NYC auction before you visit to obtain their specific rules and requirements for bidders as this may vary between auctions.
If you are bidding online, look over any and all photos provided by the auction. You may use the VIN to look up the cars registration history online. If you attend an auction in person, it is helpful to arrive early so that you may look at the cars for sale. Be sure to choose more than just one to bid on so you have the best chance to get a decent deal.
Keep in mind that you may also sell a car at car auctions in NYC. Let the auction handle all the paperwork and the hassle of making the sale in exchange for a small fee depending on the sale price of the vehicle.
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Where Can I Find A Police Auction
Some auctions are held at the local impound for the smaller police departments that are storing them. But for the most part, they will have bidding online. Especially since COVID in 2020, now more than ever in person auctions have moved online and have pretty much stayed that way. At the bottom of this article, we will list 30 of the best state police auctions that you can bid online without moving an inch.
You can also visit the The U.S. General Services Administration for federally seized vehicles .
Ways To Buy A Car From Police Auctions
Before taking any steps towards purchasing a vehicle you need to research all of the police car auctions and their locations. Keep in mind that theres is a lot of different car auctions and you could always get a better deal at the next auction. Dont be afraid to go take a look at a car auction first and learn how it works before making your final purchase. Like with pretty much any other situation in life, the experience will make you better with time. Regularly going to car auctions will definitely help learn the ins and outs of car bidding effectively and youll get the hang of it in no time.
There are generally two options for police car auctions: live auction or online auction. Both options are similar and open to the public. The auction starts with a starting bid price and the car will go to whoever wins the bidding. The main difference is that you dont have to be physically present for online auctions.
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Bid On Police Auction Cars In Alabama
Police & tow auctions in Alabama are a great place to buy a vehicle for a lot less than it is worth. Most are open to the public and do not require a dealers license. These are free public auctions, but you may be asked to make a refundable deposit in order to participate in the auction.
These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. They will come with a title that will be put into the auction bidders name. These auctions tend to occur less frequently than typical public car auctions in Alabama. Instead of weekly auctions, these are usually held monthly or bi-monthly. They will also likely have smaller inventories. However, these auction cars are sold very cheap for a quick sale.
As always, be sure to perform your due diligence on any police auction vehicle that you are interested in bidding on. Verify the VIN history and inspect every single photo to understand what bodywork it may need, if any.
Nyc Car Auctions: Buy At Car Auctions In New York City
For those that like a little bit of excitement in their car buying, there are a few options for buying a car at NYC car auctions. These options range from state and local government and police auctions in NY as well as wholesale car auctions in NY.
One can buy or sell a car at an NYC car auction online or onsite, depending on what you prefer. Online auctions tend to be held more frequently and are obviously more convenient without having to travel to the auction in order to bid.
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What To Provide To The Dmv
One of these
- the vehicle year, make and VIN
- the name of the newspaper and the date the ad was published
All of these documents
- a description of the vehicle
- the place, date, reason and circumstances of seizure
- the name and address of the purchaser and the price paid
- if the vehicle was sold outside New York City, a statement that all interested parties , et al.) were notified of the sale
if the vehicle was sold within New York Cityif the vehicle was sold within New York City
Buy A Car At Nyc Car Auctions
Do not let the auction bidding process intimidate you away from buying a car at a car auction in NYC. If you choose to bid in person or in an online auction, the staff at the auction are trained to assist first-time bidders with bidding in the auction. Public car auctions tend to move at a more modest pace so bidding is not that difficult at all.
Most of the cars for sale at NYC auctions are from local car dealers, banks, police seizures, tow impounds, government surplus vehicles, and private for sale by owner cars. The prices can range greatly from under $2000 to $20k+ for newer models. It is very helpful to know a bit about cars before attending an auction or to bring someone with you with some expertise.
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Transporting Thenewly Purchased Car To Your Home
Vehicles that are seized by police are usually in good enough condition for you to simply buy it and drive it home. But in some cases, the car you just bought may have been sitting in the car impound for long enough so the battery is dead and it just wont start. If the car isnt in a condition to be driven, you can always sell it right away to the car junkyard or hire a transportation service.
When buying a vehicle at a car auction, you must be ready to take the car out of the premise right after your hands on the keys. If you plan to drive the car back to your home, going to an auction by yourself is not the best idea. Someone else will have to come with you so that you can transport the two vehicles at the same time. Most people come with a designated driver to drive the newly purchased car back home after the auction.
Another option is to hire a transport company. Using a freight delivery service will save you time and do not expose yourself to additional stress. The major drawback is that youll have to make the arrangement with the transport company beforehand, without even knowing if you will actually buy a vehicle that day.
Before you go to the police car auctions, arrange everything with the company in advance like the precise location where to pick up the car and where to deliver it. This is an excellent option if the auction is at a considerable distance from your place of residence or if you are using an online car auction service.