You Should Understand Government Auto Auctions

By Robert Thomas.

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. There is no registration fee for taking part in a government auto auction and anyone who has a driver's license and is over 18 can bid for the cars at these auctions.

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.

Government auto auctions are conducted by the General Services Administration and, on an average, over 30,000 cars and trucks are sold in this way every year. While a few of these vehicles may have seen heavy use, the majority will have low mileage and be in very good condition. 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. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that you can blindly bid for a car of your liking at a government auto auction - these are used vehicles and as in all such cases, there is always an element of risk involved.

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.

But since these are government auto auctions with no personal profit involved, there is no chance of being deliberately cheated and so the risks of buying from here are much less than in private auctions. 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. But be prepared to be patient and wait until you find the right car - rushing into buying a car only because it is available cheap can result in your ending up with a car that is not right for your or does not meet your needs. Another source of government auctioned cars is the U.S. Marshal Service which auctions off vehicles that have been seized by law enforcement agencies.

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