Buying your brum at auction

Buying a car is a tricky business. There are so many different ways to buy; it is hard to know where to start.

There are various factors involved in buying a car, saving money being paramount. You ideally want to buy the car at the best price possible to get the best value for money.

As well as used car websites, buying at auction is a great way of doing this- It is an effective way to save money and get a great deal. The majority of the cars on offer are in good condition but still requiring a little work, but there are a few classics that are ready to be driven off there and then. I do not know many people that shop for cars at auction; therefore you are not up against as much competition as buying through a private seller.

A guide to buying at auction would be to have with you some sort of Value guide. This will act as your right hand man should you struggle with knowing what is what in the used car world. At the auction, it is a good idea to check out the history of the car you are viewing. You can request that you run a check over it to ensure that it is in good working condition. You have a right to this, as it could detail any damage the car has endured and be a good indication if you think it could be ‘off the back of a lorry’ (Pardon the pun). You could also reference a valued car magazine to gain a more in-depth knowledge.

It is a good idea to get to the auction bright and early. This gives you the opportunity to look over the vehicles there thoroughly, possibly even before they go onto the auction block and their 360 degree view could be restricted.

Should you see something that you like, it is wise to check if there are any other charges that will be added on, E.g. any auction fee. Once you have done your investigating, you can feel ready to place your bid. Make sure that you are 100% comfortable with the bid that you offer as you can easily forget your budget under pressure. There is a chance you can feel bullied by the auctioneer to keep on bidding, even when the amount has surpassed your limits. This puts you in an awkward position as you can end up paying out more than what is car is actually worth.

Remember, at any time if you feel you are being conned into doing something you are not entirely sure about, don’t do it. Happy bidding.