- 1). Bring a copy of the Kelly Blue Book, NADA or some other type of value guide with you. You’ll want to know the fair market value of the car to make sure you get a good deal and not pay too much. The guide will list the value of the car along with prices of recent sales.
- 2). Get to the auction as early as possible and stay until the end. You never know exactly what will turn up on the auction block and the best deals are usually found at the beginning of the day and the end of the day. Getting there early also gives you the chance to look over all the vehicles before they go up on the auction block.
- 3). Ask about the history of any cars you’re interested in and see if it’s possible to run your own independent background check. Most car auctions now offer buyers the chance to run a check and often have stands set up for this purpose. It lets you find out about any accidents or major damage the car may have had in the past.
- 4). Check the premium added to the price of the car. This premium is a specific amount of money that goes back to the auction house for its services and ranges from a set price to a percentage. The premium can make your good deal a little too expensive and you won’t know it until you go to pay.
- 5). Bid what you feel comfortable bidding. The value guide shows you exactly how much the car typically sells for, but you may feel uncomfortable bidding a high amount. Keep in mind your own budget and only bid what you can afford to spend.
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