How reliable is it to purchase a car from one of those "police impound" adds/places? Why are the cars cheap?

Question

Thanks for your prompt answers, everyone. I figured it wouldn't be that good of an idea unless you're buying the car to take it apart for certain parts of it. I wouldn't want to be driving around town in a car that was once used in a drive-by or previously owned by a gang member!

Answer 1

I would say that the quality is similar to many other used car situations.

Answer 2

I used to run an Imound lot and I would run an auction on impounded vehicals.I am not sure about other states but In Alaska you can only keep a certain amount of money from the sale to pay for your towbill and storage.Everything else has to be returned to the cars owner at the time of the impound or trned over to the state.So we realy weren't out to get a huge amount of money bcause you couldn't get a profit anyway.Also I seldom ever saw a decent depenable car most were crappy beaters.

Answer 3

Reliable, not really. Basically police have a contract with certain towing companies that any cars that got towed (for tow-away zone, bus zone, accident, abandoned, etc.) will be sent to their yard, and cost will to the owner. If the owner don't show up in X number of days, the car will be sold to cover the cost of the towing and storage.

In general, the cars you find in there are "beaters" (i.e. old beat-up cars). They may have found a key that will start the car, but that's about it. And you do get the title, fair and square, as it's all legal and documented. There are occasional nice ones (impounded as evidence, and eventually not needed any more) but those go fast.

Answer 4

There is a reason it was impounded. Was it towed for illegal parking/snowbird? Involved in a DWI arrest or a crime? Was it abandoned? Will there be keys and a title? I usually purchase these cars from the county or state auctions knowing that either I am getting it for parts only or that I am investing a lot of time and money to sell it later
P.S. I work for the Dept. of Public Safety here in MN.

Answer 5

Although it is possible to get great bargains at such auctions, you have to take a lot of care -- and some risk. In many cases, you are not given a chance to inspect the cars, so be prepared to spend some time and money on repairs, if needed.

Here's an article that has more details:
http://www.leaseguide.com/Articles/carauctions.htm

Answer 6

There are different auctions. If they are auctioning off surplus cars, that is one thing. If you are talking about impounded cars or abandoned cars, I don't think you can license them for the street in KY. They are sold for parts only. Now that is what I've been told, but check into it before you would bid on one.

Answer 7

If it was a local vehicle and was a Known criminal, would you really want that vehicle? Do the you think the idiots that end up with their vehicles impounded, take proper care of the vehicle. Lastly, why was it impounded for in the first place?

Answer 8

I would do it only if you can have a qualified mechanic look at the car first, before you buy it. The people that owned those cars were probably not exactly the "cream of the crop", and who knows what kind of problems they may have.

Answer 9

Hi
You can find thousands of different auction and repo cars really cheap at http://www.carauctions.co.nr
Hope this helps