What You Didn’t Know About Buying a Car at Auction

About 9 million vehicles are sold through auto auctions in the U.S. each year. Cars of every shape, size, color, and condition change hands with the bang of a gavel, with most transactions lasting just minutes.

Some auctions are private, not open to the public, while others, including government and police auctions, can be open to anyone who qualifies to participate. At times auctions have a specific category of vehicles, whether dealer consignments, former rental cars, totaled or repossessed cars, off-lease, salvage, fleet, or, in police auctions, impounded or abandoned. It’s important to learn as much as possible about the ...