British Car Auctions

So you want to but a new car? What do you do? Read the newspaper and magazine ads? Visit a dealer? Import? Or perhaps buy on-line? The options are endless but only one is practical, economical, realistic, no beating about the bush and lots of fun!! Yes I’m talking about the Car Auctions. Maybe you’re like me and have nightmares of being swallowed up in a sea of mayhem and confusion, seemingly surrounded by aliens speaking a completely incomprehensible language. Well you’re right, it is a sea OF CARS, and it is mayhem OF LOW PRICES, and aliens who are just as unusual as YOU ... more

I'm a veteran of the car auctions and I will share some of my knowledge and opinions with you. Statement You can save loadsa money! Truth. Only on forecourt prices which are over the top anyway Advice. If you go to an auction go with someone who knows the score or you'll be sorry. You'll see lots of dealers there who will be looking for the cream to sell off their forecourts. If they swarm around it it's worth bidding on. Remember that they pay less commission on their bids than the public so they can afford to compete with you on the bids. When you see the driver bring the car in don't be ... more

It could quite easily have been my worst nightmare, or so i thought.... Having heard about car auctions i was very curious as to what all the fuss is about, and more to the point, if a normal person with reasonable car knowledge could drive away with a bargin. Talking last week to someone who goes, and bombarding him with questions, he finally gave in and took me along with him on the friday. His only advice before we left was, "Dont take ANY money, maybe enough for a cup of tea." I quickly found out why. First let me explain how it works: To be able to bid you need to put a £500 deposit down ... more

Firstly, Derrrrrrr's review here is useful and hints at the very many pitfalls of auction buying. Having said that a key factor for me is that the traders also buy their cars/vans at auction and sell from fancy forecourts with the same faults. The difference might be that you get a warranty but then again you might skip the expensive warranty on that late low mileage shiny 1 owner... that is missing a cooling fan. I'm always surpirsed how expensive cars/vans are at auction but the traders also make on HP and warranties. They also repair cars at maybe 10% of the cost to a private buyer. Agaion ... more

i worked at a car auction site for over 18 years, can i just say to everyone thinking of buying cars through auctions be very careful as to what your buying. if its your first time always look around notice what happens and always try to find out as much info about them as possible. in my time i have seen some lovely cars going through auctions but i have seen some really bad ones as well. remember when buying at auction you dont get warranties with them. alot of the cars are sold as seen. so basically your buying someone elses troubles. always keep your eyes open for the cars that have been ... more