Auto Auctions: Buying & Selling

Tempe auto auctions are one of the best places to pick up a used car, especially high end luxury cars at a fraction of its original retail price. Have you ever pulled up next to a fully loaded Mercedes at a stop light, glanced over and noticed that the driver is barely out of high school? How could they possibly afford the car payment on that kind of ride? Well, they probably purchased the vehicle at a Tempe auto auction and got a great deal.

If you have ever dreamed about owning a high-end luxury car or a customized vehicle loaded with aftermarket parts and accessories, you've probably done just that - dreamed about it. Paying retail price for a car like that can put a huge dent in your wallet or your savings account. However, you can get a car like that for much less.

There are many different kinds of Tempe auto auctions, but two of the most popular happen to be police confiscated auto auctions and government surplus auto auctions.

Police confiscated auto auctions feature cars that have been seized due to asset forfeiture in addition to surplus vehicles that have been used by the local police department. Police car auctions are one of the best places to pick up a used car. Many people think that the only vehicles available at police car auctions are actual police cars. Well, they're right ' but only partially!

Government auto auctions get their supply from criminals. When someone is convicted of a crime, like drug trafficking, the government can seize their assets, including their vehicle. Bad for the criminals but good for you! Government seized automobiles are usually luxury vehicles - BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes, Infiniti, Lexus - and sometimes you may even come across and exotic import like an Aston Martin, Maserati, Ferrari or even a Lamborghini! Not many people can afford a car like this, but it's possible if you attend a Tempe auto auction.

Government auto auctions may also feature their own surplus vehicles, or those no longer needed. These can be passenger vehicles, decoy cars, heavy equipment or even motorcycles, bicycles and ATVs. Other cars featured at government auctions are retired fleet vehicles. These kinds of automobiles are replaced regularly by their respective agencies and are usually domestic cars with high mileage that have been meticulously maintained. You are much more likely to receive vehicle history with a government-owned and operated vehicle than you are a seized vehicle. Keep this in mind if vehicle history is important to you. However most vehicles can have a carfax report run to check on any potential ownership problems or maintenance issues.

Please remember: Inspecting cars being sold at a police seized car auction is a must! Cars sold at police seized auctions are sold 'As-Is' with no warranty or guarantee unless still under manufacturers warranty. In an 'As-Is' auction, there is no warranty on the merchandise and the bidder is responsible for removal from the auction location. This means that the bidder must rely on their own inspection and knowledge to make bidding decisions. Some auction houses, however, allow bidder to bring their own mechanic for vehicle inspections.