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Are the car auctions offered by the police stations and other resources really worth it?

I want to purchase a "Point A To Point B" vehicle for my young son. who wil be traveling from school to his part time job. This will be his first vehicle and I don't want to spend alot of money until he is more experienced. Someone told me about the auctions offered in my city. I would like to know what they are all about and would the cars be safe or worth it. What should I look out for and how prepared should I be?

Public Comments

1. They are usually either ex-city vehicles : police, fire, maintenance, etc... that the city's feel are too expensive to maintain for all the use they put on them. Most are very high city mileage vehicles. Or they might be drug seizure vehicles also. I don't think they are to bad of a vehicle for a first car point A to B. The cities maintain them pretty well. Just remember there's no warranty so be sure you know what you are getting. Also If you end up with a drug seizure vehicle you may want to make sure the drug dog has gone over it. It doesn't happen much but it has happened.


2. I've looked into them, and honestly most of the stories you hear about $5 are just that, stories. The auctions are not just local public, Car Dealers from all over come to these things and buy the cars they sell on the lots. You might be able to find a real cheap beater, but then you would probally pay more in maintenance then if you would have just bought a used vehicle. I would just look in the local classifieds, VW is probally the way to go, easy to work on if they break and there are parts for them all over the place, as long as you get something from the 90's.


3. They can be any type of vehicle that came into the govenment entities possesion

   some might be older retired former

   Forest Service

   Police

   Fire Dept.

   Health & Welfare...

   they also can be drug seized or stolen vehicles too... its a mixed bag...

   just like any vehicle have it checked over and inspected by an ASE Certified mechanic and go with the mechanics advice of purchase or not...

   high miled vehicles although well maintained could be to the point where they will dollar you to death in repairs...

   a nice good looking car that seems good might have had engine damaged in a high speed police chase etc.

   don't get me wrong good cars can be had there too but be carefull....

   in 1984 my brother and I went to Boise car shopping for a sportier 2 dr than the lod folks 4dr he'd driven for 3 1/2 years...

   one car we looked at was actually one a kid had gotten luck at a police auction...

   it was a 1966 Pontiac Lemans in nice shape... it was stolen by drug dealers and had been later seized by police far away from where the owner lived and the owner couldn't come to Idaho to get it...

   it had been disasembled in drug search and they tore the head liner out... which wasn't replaced when they re assembled the rest of the car...

   this was all that was wrong with it when we saw it... He had paid $900.00 for it and put new Mags and wide tires on it so he was asking $1100.00 for it still a bargain...

   it was only the 2nd car we looked at we bought the 4th one instead

   Walt



4. Police auctions can be a real bargain, depending on what you're looking for.


5. Hi,

   you will find great auctions at http://carauctions.co.nr , you will find cars really cheap at auctions

   Hope this helps you