Has anyone ever purchased an auto at a dealer auction? I have a friend that has offered to do that for me. Does it save a lot of money? Do they specify clean title so you know it not a salvaged title? Any input would be appreciated.

Be careful of what you ask for.

Auctions have come a long way over the years as far as protecting the buyers. If a title is branded with anything such as salvage, total loss, TMU, bonded, etc. it has to be announced. Also most all auctions run autochecks on the vehicles. They announce if vehicles have structural damage, were ever a lemon law buy back, flood damage, etc. I am not sure which auction your friend is referring to but most all auctios offer a PSI (post sale inspection). Make sure whatever you purchase is on a green light. Green light means ride and drive. After purchasing the vehicle have the auction do a PSI on the vehcile. If the vehicle has any unannounced frame damage or mechanical issues that will cost over $500 to fix you can turn down the vehicle and move on to the next one. You have to pay for the PSI whether the vehicle purchased passes or fails. Hope this info helps. Good luck!

I have a buddy that was in that business. He purchased many vehicles at auction. Sounds like your guy knows the ropes and yes, it saves money.

Why are those cars/trucks at the auction place to begin with?

You can learn what's out there by watching here... https://www.copart.com/ Can buy direct (with some fees) and/or through firms (for a fee as well). Titles in many different forms. I have more interest than time as some look interesting.

Charlie

Most are large dealership trade-ins that don't fit the dealerships used car profile, and they are just looking to get their $$ back out of them. Some are units that need repair that they don't want to invest in. Some are used car lot overstock. And (rarely) some are problem cars a dealer is looking to pawn off on someone else.

I.E. - A new Ford truck dealer would have little use for a ragged out old Tahoe with 300K miles. Not worth putting onto their used lot.

Fixed it for you - and yes I can be a grammar nazi.

Are you the lawyer that they always send my contracts to review? NEVER come back without red lines.

I've been to a COPART auction. Majority of their business seems to be insurance company totaled or stolen vehicles. I tried to buy back a truck my wife totaled because I wanted all my "goodies" for my new truck. Was shocked how much it sold for. And that it wen't to a dealer in Guatemala.

I'm looking for a lightly used Tacoma that's maybe coming back off lease. 20-30K miles with some warranty left. I was told a lot of them are sent through the auction. They are quite proud of them at most of the dealer lots. Thought maybe I could save some money this way.

Lots of manufacturers are cutting way back. Not enough semi conductor chips. Price of used is going higher. its nuts.

I've spent a fair bit of time on this topic. First thing you learn is there are few "bargains". May save some coin, but if it has a salvage/insurance claim title, value when you go to sell it is reduced, can be tough to finance and in some cases, tough to insure.

Charlie

I have been to several auto auctions and I've never seen a low milage vehicle, especially very popular truck like a Tacoma. dealers would keep these on the lot if they traded for one.
I have seen some real nice very high mialge trucks.

I go to an auction in Llano that sells vehicles. He allows prospective buyers to inspect any vehicle he has there as well as bring a mechanic to look at it. I've seen some decent vehicles go pretty cheap.

There are many reasons a car might be at the auction, most of them are not good. There are some deals out there like when rental car companies dump a whole lot of their older inventory when they purchase new ones. Or when a dealer has to much aged inventory and lot fees/floor plan are killing them so they get rid of them.

There are vehicles with good Carfax titles etc that look good but have been rode hard and put up wet that need a whole lot of repairs to make right.

I use to work for a used car dealer that just went out of business for all practical purposes.
Lets just say when a dealer spends a whole lot more money than he is making, they sometimes have to fire sale their vehicles to keep the boogey men away for awhile.

Good luck

I have purchased a couple cars at the "barn" both lasted me over 10 years.

Now is a terrible time to be looking. Dealers are struggling to find inventory for the used side of their lots, so many of them are paying whatever it takes to get them. The deals are not to be had right now.

Specifically, no dealer is going to turn loose of a low mileage Tacoma when the demand is this high. They can pretty much name their price.

Hang tight. There's a correction coming, and they will be prime for the picking.

Can be a good deal but with limited inventory right now you most likely won’t get a deal. I’ve been to several and it’s a coin flip. Depends on the crowd and who’s there. Can’t run with the big guys pushing volume over profit.

I used to buy and sell some car in my off time. I started out going to the wrecker yards auctions, those are ok if you want a older car, but then you have the brother in law deal where so guy is always bidding up the vehicle, I assumed he was related to the owners.

I got a dealers license and was able to go to some of the real auctions, and did buy a few vehicles, I did remember one time I got a smoking deal in Grand Praire area auto auction and when I went to pay they said the owner disputed the deal and I got screwed.

Selling cars seems like a hard way to make money to me..

Loan me some money.

I traded a 95% 2012 CC PS with 75k miles Nov 2019 that I guess went to auction then went to Mexico. The title to date has never been changed.

Things are different now due to inventory levels. When I bought a new 2009 Tacoma it was only $1500 more then a 2008 with almost 30k on it. Plus the new one was a TRD OR with factory tow pkg.

Paid $40K for my 2019 Tacoma TRD OR. I was offered $34K yesterday via text message. All they needed was VIN number and a few pictures. Currently has 28K miles. I bet a could squeeze a few more $$ out of them.

Wait...that's gouging right? LMAO...