| You can buy a real dream vehicle at American car | | | | has been wrecked or stolen. |
| auctions, but you can also purchase one huge | | | | 6. Deduct 30% if your vehicle history report shows |
| nightmare of a lemon monster. These tips will steer | | | | that the auto has a rebuilt title. |
| you in the right direction by saving you time, money | | | | 7. Check the odometer against your vehicle history |
| and embarrassment explaining why you spent so | | | | report. An alternate method is to look at the brake |
| much money on a heap of junk. | | | | pedals and see if the wear is congruent with the |
| 1. Biggest tip: Get to the car auction early. You have | | | | odometer. If the brake pedals look excessively worn |
| got to pick out the cars you are interested in and | | | | compared to what the odometer reads, the odometer |
| inspect the cars thoroughly. If you don't want to have | | | | may have been tampered with. |
| a sour lemony taste in your mouth later, run a vehicle | | | | 8. Deduct for excessive mileage. The US Department |
| history report! Have someone standing by that you | | | | of Transportation reports that the average car is |
| can call on your cell and run a Carfax report. | | | | driven 13,500 miles per year. A good rule of thumb is to |
| 2. Bring your Kelly Blue Book and do not pay over the | | | | deduct 15 cents per mile over that average. |
| blue book price, there will be folks that have no clue, | | | | 9. Learn the American car auction process, go to the |
| they will run up the bid price because they have no | | | | auctions a few times and just observe and ask |
| idea what the auto is worth. Let them have it. | | | | questions. This will prevent you from making costly |
| 3. Find out what the buyers premium is for that | | | | mistakes on your first live auction. |
| particular American auto auction and remember to | | | | 10. Follow your gut instinct! If a car, truck, or boat does |
| factor that into the equation, it is typically 5% to 10% of | | | | not feel right, don't buy it. You will be right more times |
| the winning bid. Most first time car auction buyers are | | | | than not. |
| not aware of the buyers premium. | | | | If you follow these 10 guidelines as well as performing |
| 4. Don't forget to bring a vehicle inspection check off | | | | a thorough vehicle inspection, you can get some real |
| list with you. It is so easy to forget some crucial | | | | bargains at American car auctions. Whether you are |
| inspections. Forgetting to check the AC can mean a | | | | buying for yourself or to retail on the market |
| very costly repair. This is key, as you will be buying | | | | remember to never fall in love. There will always be |
| from the car auction AS IS! | | | | another car at another auto auction. This is the most |
| 5. Do the VIN tags match? Mismatched VIN tags, | | | | powerful attitude and stance you can take as well as |
| doors, trunk, hood, and dashboard should all match. | | | | the best prevention against telling your honey that you |
| Mismatched VIN tags usually means the car or vehicle | | | | just bought a lemon! |