Understanding Government Auto Auctions   by Johnathon Black

in Autos    (submitted 2011-10-23)

If your or your friends are looking for places where to find cheap cars, this is definitely a good place to start. The federal government is possibly the biggest car buyer in the country and has a clear cut procedure for disposing of its old cars and trucks. In the course of a year, there are about 300 of these auctions held, in different parts of the country. Anyone who is over 18 years of age and holds a valid driving license can take part in these auctions and there is no registration fee to be paid for participation. These government auto auctions are conducted in many ways - besides traditional live auction, internet auctions, fixed or negotiated price auctions, drop by sales and sealed bid auctions are methods in use. The government accepts payment in various forms, making it easy for successful bidders to pay and drive home - credit cards, cash, cashier's checks and money order are all accepted.

On an average, the General Services Administration sell about 30,000 cars and trucks a years through government auto auctions. While some of the older cars may have seen heavy use and may not be worthwhile buys, many of the vehicles for sale have surprisingly low mileages and have been used by a single person during their period in government service. All vehicles sold at government auto auctions are carefully detailed before they are placed on sale and many come with extras and options that add significantly to their value. This doesn't however, mean that a person can blindly buy a car for sale at a government auto auction as these are all used vehicles and so there will always be some element of risk involved in buying them. While each vehicle is thoroughly detailed before being put up for sale, they are sold without any warranty and any problem that may occur once the payment has been made will have to be rectified at the buyer's expense.

However, the risk so not very great - the auction is being done by the government and while there may be careless mistakes, there is no personal profit motive involved and so no reason to deliberately rip off bidders. As long as you have a basic knowledge of automobiles, or have someone who does to advise you, buying from a government auto auction can result in being able to drive off with a great bargain - the kind you will not be able to find anywhere else. Many people make the mistake of being tempted to buy a car only because it is available at a price they did not think possible - what they wind up with is a cheap car, but one that does not meet their requirements. Another source of government auctioned cars is the U.S. Marshal Service which auctions off vehicles that have been seized by law enforcement agencies. Finding dirt cheap cars is actually easier than you might think.

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Looking for a where to find cheap cars? Dirt cheap cars are available at auction sites online.