Inspect
Take the time to thoroughly investigate any potential purchases even if they appear perfect at first glance. This way you might see any worrying indicators that would require more money to address. For instance, be cautious of any odd odor in your shortlisted salvage car because this could signal a future issue or mean that you will always be saddled with the car's foul, musty odor. Always conduct a physical verification and check vehicle history.
Understand the meaning of ‘As-Is’ before shortlisting
‘As-is’ car in auto auction means that vehicle is being sold at its condition during the sale. The vehicle cannot be returned if anything breaks later on. Since vehicles purchased at auction are not covered by warranties, you must make sure you are fully aware of the mechanical condition of the vehicle. If you are not mechanically inclined, hire a mechanic to identify all issues the car has. Once you buy a car from a public car auction, there is no going back.
Set A Budget
Setting a budget is a must. It is very likely to push your limits when bidding for a car in a live auction. Especially if your dream car is up for bid, it's natural to get excited. If you don't set a budget, you would end up with an expensive deal, and that too out of your budget. So, to avoid this you should set a budget before going to the public car auction. Decide on a comfortable price range you can bid after considering all costs (repairs and insurance too). In this manner, you will be able to control your emotions and avoid overpaying.
Look closely at other bidders
Look at the other bidders and study how they are bidding on the cars. Before you bid for the car, pay close attention to bidding patterns. It's critical to understand your adversaries and the goals they have for the vehicles up for auction. Before attempting to place a bid, watch a few rounds of bidding. You'll get a sense of the audience and the bidders' spending limits from this.
Be flexible
It is not always possible to get your desired car in your first auction. There is a possibility that several people will bid for the same car. So, it is always better to shortlist a couple of cars from the auction so that you have a few options and you don’t overbid unnecessarily.
Final Word
When attending a public auto auction for the first time, keep in mind the aforementioned points to avoid getting into any trouble or getting stuck in a bidding game. Mark your budget, and compile a list of cars you want to target and your primary steps would be covered. And for access to a larger inventory and convenience, consider online auto auctions. Select a leading platform that provides VIN lookup assistance in online public car auctions so that you can get up-to-date information about the car.