Did you know that you can find some of the best deals on cars at public auto auctions?  Most people generally think that a public auto auction consists of beat up cars that barely run and need to be repaired in order to get them up and running.  This is very far from the truth.  In fact, you can get cars that are worth $10,000 for next to nothing.  I’ll give you some secrets on how you can find them.

Know where to go – Some auction places want to scam you, so make sure you know where you’re going.  The auctions you generally want to go to are the ones that aren’t marketed that well.  Places that don’t have a great market aren’t going to have a lot of customers.  It never hurts to check it out because 99% of the time, you have to pay nothing to get in.  You can always check out the auction to see if there are cars you’re interested in.  If you want to place a bid, make sure you follow the guidelines before you do.

Never get greedy – The thing with auctions is that some people get into a heavy competition.  Some people will continue to bid just for the sake of winning.  At the end of the auction, you’ll find that the car was worth less than what you got it for.  Always have a plan and make sure you stick to it.  I recommend you attend a few auctions before you place a bid just to make sure you know how it works.

Know about cars – When you’re at the auction, they will usually let you check them out before you buy them.  If they sell as-is, make sure you get someone to look at it to make sure there are no major problems.  You don’t want to think you got a good deal and down the road you have to pay for a new engine and transmission.  Either knowing a lot about cars or having a mechanic friend helps out a lot.

These are just a few tips you should follow when looking for the perfect car at an auction.  If you learn how the system works, you can really find some great deals.  This is how your local used car dealerships usually find deals.  Search for certain auction houses because they are all different and hopefully once you get the hang of it, you can find a great steal!