| In these tough economic times we're all looking for | | | | yourself). A thorough inspection will put you in a good |
| ways to cut costs just about everywhere. Many | | | | place to know if the car is worth bidding on or not. |
| people have for the last few months held off buying | | | | Next you need to see if the title of the car is free |
| that new family car - rightly so. | | | | of any liens and also use the Vehicle Identification |
| As consumers, credit is hard to get for vehicle | | | | Number to run a report of the vehicle's past. This |
| finance. Then of course there's the ongoing issue of | | | | way you will be able to ascertain whether the car's |
| the financial stability of US automakers that are | | | | been involved in any accidents, if lenders will try to |
| making a lot of people weary. | | | | seize the vehicle after you purchased it, etc. |
| If you need to buy, but aren't looking to dish out big | | | | By now you would have a good idea on the 'legal |
| bucks, consider using police auto auctions. | | | | status' of the vehicle. The third, and arguably most |
| Police departments have for many years conducted | | | | important, phase is to have a good determination of |
| auctions for vehicles they confiscated from criminals. | | | | the valuation of the car. |
| The great benefit is that the police have no vested | | | | Why is this so vital? It would simply make no sense |
| financial interest in auctioning these cars and they | | | | bidding $1000 on a vehicle worth only $500. |
| tend to go for very, very low prices. | | | | There are a number of valuation parameters that the |
| So if this sounds appealing to you, but you're not | | | | auto industry uses. You can do a simple non-scientific |
| really sure how to go about it, here's a quick outline | | | | determination by looking at comparable prices for |
| to follow at police auto auctions: | | | | certain makes and models on the AutoTrader |
| Your first step would be to have a closer look at the | | | | website. |
| vehicles your interested in at the police auto auctions. | | | | Armed with all this knowledge you'll be able to attend |
| Remember that cars at these auctions are sold | | | | the police auto auction with confidence without |
| without any warranties whatsoever. If you bought | | | | risking overpayment. These police auto auctions have |
| something with some serious defects, you'll have to | | | | resulted in huge savings for consumers over the |
| fix them and live with it. Don't let this scare you off | | | | years and this success can be easily replicated at |
| though. Consider taking a friend with you with a good | | | | your local auction. |
| knowledge of cars (if you don't have the know-how | | | | |