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Glam Journal

Is buying a car from an auction a good idea?

Author

William Burgess

Updated on March 16, 2026

Is buying a car from an auction a good idea?

The simple and obvious answer for why you would want to buy a used car from an auction is price. A car auction is a great place to buy a vehicle for a fraction of what it would cost to buy from a dealer or even a private seller, and at some auctions, there’s a tremendous amount of vehicles for sale to choose from too.

How much does it cost to buy a car at auction?

This buyer fee can vary anywhere from $100 to upwards of $1000, or 5% of the buy price. This will depend on each companies policies and fees they charge, we would highly recommend you investigate this cost prior to bidding on any vehicles, so you don’t get a nasty fright.

Are cars cheaper at auction?

How much do cars usually cost at an auction and what are the average dealer auction prices? We recently completed a study of the savings a buyer could expect at auction. On average, you will save 20% or more. That’s a savings of $4,000 on a $20,000 vehicle.

Are cars cheaper at police auctions?

Buying a car at a police car auction can get you an excellent deal. The prices are meager because the police want to remove those vehicles from their fleet as soon as they can so they don’t have to manage the cars anymore, but also to recover some of the money owed by the previous owners.

Why are auction cars so cheap?

Vehicles sold at online auto auctions are very cheap compared to those you can buy from dealers. This makes it easier for buyers on a tight budget to purchase the vehicles they need. Most of the vehicles sold at auctions usually just have the wear and tear from regular use and in some cases, small scratches and dents.

Why do cars end up at auction?

Cars end up at auction for a variety of reasons. An insurance company has “totaled” a car, pays the owner, then has to get rid of the car. Dealers sell cars at an auto auction they couldn’t sell on the lot. If a car is repossessed by a bank, they may use auctions to get it off the books.

Are car auctions bad?

While some low-end auctions sell troubled cars, most cars at auctions are high-quality used cars. They’re also likely to get the cars repaired and cleaned up so they can sell them for more. However, it would be best if you still were careful when buying a car from a dealer that came from an auction.

Are auction cars bad?

How much cheaper do dealers get cars at auctions?

Typically you can expect the average car to be about $1,000 to $2,000 dollars cheaper than retail if you were to buy directly from the dealer auctions.

How do you buy cars from auctions?

Here are some tips.

  1. Research cars in advance. With some auctions, you’ll have the chance to check out the listings before the auction occurs.
  2. Be flexible.
  3. Know the rules.
  4. Arrive at the auction early.
  5. Bring someone with you.
  6. Stick to your budget.
  7. The car is sold as is.
  8. You may need cash to buy the car.

How do you buy seized cars?

One of the best ways to purchase police impounded cars is through a live auction. A live auction provides you with the chance to inspect the vehicle before bidding on the car. Police departments around the country routinely host live auctions for impounded cars.

Why you should never pay cash for a car?

If you put a big chunk of your savings into the purchase of a car, that’s money that’s not going into a savings account, money market or other investment tools that could be earning you interest. The second con to paying cash for a car is the possibility of depleting your emergency fund.

How many cars are in a public auction in Las Vegas?

Public Car Auctions in Las vegas, NV 89011 Sequence Description 1 – 999 Run & Drive® 1000 – 1999 Motorcycles & Motorsports 3000 – 3999 Stationary Vehicles 4000 & up Specialty & Miscellaneous

Where can I buy a salvage car in Las Vegas?

The Las Vegas, NV location offers all sorts of buyers a wide range of clean and salvage titled cars in our online auto auctions. Copart’s online salvage auctions offer many individual consumers, dealers, body shops, and dismantlers the chance to bid on a large assortment of trucks, cars, and SUVs in the Las Vegas, NV area.

What happened to my son’s car in Las Vegas?

“My son’s car was ‘misplaced’ during a trip to Vegas. He was robbed, his wallet and keys were stolen. He had to take the bus home. The car was towed by TriState on Westwood Dr.

Do you get to keep your car if you win an auction?

Then you’ll get to keep your car, truck, SUV, boat, powersports vehicle or whatever else you win. We invite you to stop by anytime Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to preview vehicles in person, meet our friendly Copart team and get your auto auction questions answered. You can always give us a call, too.