Every year, police departments, sheriff’s offices and federal law enforcement agency impound thousands of vehicles from criminals. Some were impounded after car chases and accidents. Other times, people lost their cars to unpaid fines, or because of a drug-related arrest and subsequent impound.
But these governments don’t want to be in the car business and that’s good news for you because instead, governmental bodies often auction off their police impound cars for sale and at bargain prices.
Prices can range from as little as $25 for the real clunkers useful only for the value of their metal to an average price of around $1,500, according to representatives of such governmental auctions. And virtually every kind of vehicle out there has been auctioned off — from a Cadillace Deville to a Camaro convertible.
Just in October, several news outlets reported perhaps the most unusual vehicle to be auctioned. It was a motorized recliner that had crashed into a car after its owner drove the piece of furniture while drunk. He later pleaded guilty and lost the customized recliner to the Minnesota impound lot.
In almost all cases, the police impounded cars for sale are offered at prices that can make it worth your while to visit an impounded car auction.
Of course, as is the case in virtually any auction, all sales are usually final. And the vehicles typically are sold in as-is condition. So what this means for you is if at all possible, get to the auction early. Kick some tires, literally. Usually, you will be given time to inspect the vehicles before the auction begins. But also know that there are times you will miss problems. And in some instances, you might find yourself buying a vehicle that you can’t even start because there is no key, or that was in an accident, and could still need some hefty repairs.
Additionally, there is research you can do in advance of the auction, especially if there is an auction brocher with details of each vehicle listed. You can use this brocher to check at online impound car value sites. This will help you estimate how much you might want to bid on a particular vehicle.
Just a little such research can go a long way toward making sure that you’re not going into an auction blind. It’s important to also not become so wedded to the idea of buying a vehicle at an impound auction that you plunk down too much money for a car that’s just not worth it. If you’ve already researched through the auction brochure, that is less likely to happen.
But, if the price is only $100, the risk may well be worth the payoff. What’s more, if you’re looking for a price you are unlikely to get anywhere else, then an impound auto auction is likely the place for you.
If you are looking for such an auction, first call your city offices. These auctions are often held on a regular basis — monthly or bi-monthly for large urban areas and annually for smaller communities. The federal government and state agencies also host auctions. In some cases, the auction company will advertise in the local newspaper as well as online.
But also keep in mind a few caveats about these auto auctions. First, check the fine print. Often, you are required to pay in cash for the car immediately after the auction. In some instances, you will be required to pay a surcharge of as much as 20 percent of the price. This is used to help offset the costs of storing these impounded vehicles and then hiring an auction company to sell the vehicles.
But you will want to be sure and account for any extra charges in advance as you plan for how much you are willing to spend. And keep in mind that just like any other auto purchase, you also will be required to pay taxes on the car and pay for car tags from your state.
Tags: bank cars for sale, bank repossessed car, bank repossessed cars, impound cars for sale, police impound cars for sale, police impounded cars for sale
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