Most everybody enjoys autos.  And most people want bargains.  Kicking the tires and talking down the price, people really love getting the best price on a car.  Some of the best car deals around can be found when authorities offer impounded cars for sale.  They generally do that via Auction.  For those who know their stuff incredible cars are available at incredible prices.

Where do the Auctions find the cars?  Police often acquire cars through taking them from criminals.  For example its the law that drug dealers’ possessions are confiscated and sold.  The city or state then has lots of cars, sometimes luxury cars, that they want to sell.  Scoff laws also generate a lot of cars.  If the owner doesn’t claim the vehicle, or if the fines accumulate to a certain point, the car will be up for sale. 

Sometimes the cars are sold straight to dealerships who either sell them on the lot or auction them.  They might also be purchased and then re-auctioned for a higher amount.  It really makes no difference.  At some point the car is up for sale to the highest bidder and can become a whale of a deal for a savvy person.  However, there are some things to consider.  Buyer beware at an auction.

The first thing to keep in mind is these cars are generally sold with no warranty.  All sales are final and it’s up to you to do the homework”.  The term “as is” covers it.  It’s not illegal to utilize puffery.  Puffery is making unspecific claims about the benefits of the car such as “ideal for the daily commute.”  Some key words like “clean” or “like new” are also involved.  These sound like specific descriptions or even promises of a well working auto.  However, on closer examination they really don’t mean too much other than “here’s a worm, grab the hook.”

The wise thing to do is go in with knowledge and expertise.  Inspect the autos thoroughly.  That means attending an auction with an automotive expert if you don’t know much about cars.  Don’t hesitate to test drive the car.  There may be bargains when there are impounded cars for sale.  But many deals aren’t as good as they seem on first blush.