Advice for buying at auction?

Question

Im off to the car auctions next week to buy a car ive heard you can pick cars up cheap.Im a bit worried as ive heard about people buying things with a slight facial movement or hand gesture i dont want to buy something i havent bid on, how will i confirm a bid , can i take the car back if its faulty?

Answer 1

Why don't you post a link to the auction you'd like to attend? There are quite some differences.

In fact, the auctioner only guarantees for facts confirmed written in the catalogue or on the car in question. Take a photo of the description, just for in case...

So be aware that no other properties are promised. If possible, go for a car shortly been through an official technical attest (depending on the country).

Probably you will have to register at the entrance and receive a number. So if bidding, you'd have to hold up your number. Without a comment, that's considered as a bid for the next higher amount (steps in 100s or so, depending on the current amount, inform yourself!). So if not wanting to bid, better hide your number and also keep your hands down, just to be sure.

Answer 2

Auctions are no place for the inexperienced. There are sooo many tricks of the trade that even with 40 years of experience I still fall victim to new ones frequently. There are a new bunch of auction dealers with no moral values and 3rd world tricks. The auctioneers are the start of the game as they open the bidding with phantom bidders. Plants among the bidders work the bid higher with worthless bids. A popular phantom bidder is the Coke machine behind you. The reason for the very slight motions to bid is to facilitate fake bids. As one answerer stated, eye contact must be made with the auctioneer or his assistant before your bid is recognized. Most auctions provide arbitration for buys that may be defective if the purchase price is above a set standard. Sellers who are presenting the car will advise the auctioneer to stay just below the arbitration minimum if they know the car has a problem. Advice? Take a pro with you and hope for the best. Better advice..don't go. Buy from a lot where you can test drive and scutinize before you buy.

Answer 3

First you register as a bidder before the auction and they give you a number on a paddle to hold up when you bid..Do'nt look at the auctioneer if you are not bidding so he does'nt interperet facial tics.winks etc and do'nt wave to a friend if you spot one!.Take a mechanic with you to check over anything you may be interested in and check "glass's guide/which car" for approx values beforehand. Good luck,you can pick up a bargain if you know what to look for.

Answer 4

The man waits for eye contact at first and a gesture they have regulars who bid with slight movements as if they want it it must be a good car.
Most cars at auctions are lemons with lots of faults eg disasterous mot.
the only maybe ones are the car hypermarket trade ins they dump them without inspection.
With cars unless you know how to fix them up cheap is never a bargain.

Answer 5

Go to the auction first . without buying anything . watch whats going on . when you go again you will have a better idea of whats going on. before you go buy a car price guide to give you an idea of price. decide which make of car you want . set yourself a max price you want to pay and do not exceed this .Most important! take somebody with you . Pref a mechanic Be care full or your get tucked up with a lemon!

Answer 6

the only bit of advice i can give you is take someone preferably a mechanic who knows about cars to give the ones you're after a quick once over,then when bidding don't be shy just boldly hold your card up really visible,i think its a lot of dealers that go regularly and get to know the auctioneers that give little winks and nods.

Answer 7

dont uy at auctions