Pros and Cons of Buying a Car from an Auction
Auto auction refers to a public sale where vehicles are sold to the highest bidder. The auto auctions are considered an ideal place to purchase a used car that also fits your budget. However, apart from the budget, there are other pros and cons of purchasing a vehicle from an auto auction.
Here we have listed all the pros and cons of buying a car from an auction, let’s outweigh each pro and con in more detail.
Pros of Buying a Car from an Auction
A car auction is counted as one of the oldest and preferred methods of selling a large number of cars within a limited time. Dubai car auctions and other Emirates is a common phenomenon and a majority of people purchase vehicles from these auctions. Listed below are some benefits that people avail when purchasing a car from an auto auction.
Financial Value
The core benefit of purchasing a car from an auction is its price. You may find your dream vehicle at an auction by paying a fraction of the money. However, the final price of the vehicle depends upon the bidding, and the vehicle is only sold to the highest bidder. Due to bidding, some of the most expensive classic cars are sold at an auction.
Classic Cars
If you are a car collector, then an auto auction is the best place for you to buy a car. A number of auto auctions sell classic and rarest cars in the world that are difficult to find somewhere else. You can read the vintage cars available for sale and their description on the seller’s website prior to attending the auction.
Wide Variety
A myriad of cars is available at the auto auction for sales, such as sedans, SUVs, minitrucks and others. This enables buyers to hand-pick their preferred vehicle within their budget. However, the buyer may have to compromise on the colour, condition and year of release, as limited models are available for sale.
Cons of Buying A Car from an Auction
Before you opt for an auto auction to purchase a used car, here are some cons of purchasing a car from an auto auction that you must consider.
No Test Drives
When buying a car at an auction, remember that you will not be able to test drive the vehicle. However, the seller provides comprehensive details regarding the vehicle and vehicle inspection report. Other than that, the buyer is completely dependent upon the physical condition of the vehicle.
No Warranty
Car dealers and showrooms provide you with different types of warranties for your convenience. Whereas, at an auto auction ‘as is’ policy is applied: therefore, it is rare to find a vehicle with a warranty.
However, some sellers might provide you with a three-month purchase warranty. You can test drive the vehicle during this period and exchange (depending upon the seller) it with another one if not satisfied.
Accidental Vehicles
The as-is policy also restricts buyers from completely evaluating the vehicles. In this condition, you might end up purchasing an accidental vehicle. Therefore, prior to buying a car at an auction, it is better to be aware of some tips and tricks that will aid in identifying car damages physically.
Mechanical Condition
The vehicles available at auction are in a physically perfect and presentable condition. This is because buyers are completely dependent on the physical condition of the car for making purchase decisions. The problem arises with the mechanical issues, as buyers are not allowed to scrutinise the mechanical condition of the car. Due to this, a buyer might end up purchasing a vehicle that has mechanical issues, thus increasing your car repair cost.
How to Buy A Car at an Auction
Here is the process of buying a car from an auction. Remember that the process may vary from auction to auction.
Registration
The first step is to register yourself for the auction. The process can be online, or you have to physically visit the seller’s place. The seller might charge a registration fee from the buyers. There are car auctions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other places also, make sure to select the Emirate as per your convenience.
Car Details
Once you are done with the registration, the seller will provide you with complete details regarding the vehicle. In case of online registration, the details will be available on the seller’s website. Whereas, in the case of physical registration you will be provided with the description before the bidding is initiated.
Bid
Different car models are displayed over which buyers have to bid. Sellers have a reserved price for each car and the bidding starts after that price. For instance: if the reserved price is AED 20, the bidding will start from AED 21. Make sure you have a definite budget to avoid overbidding.
Complete Formalities
After successful bidding, the buyer will be provided a limited time to pay all the dues and complete the formalities. After that, the vehicle will be handed over to the buyer.
These were all the pros and cons of buying a car from an auction. We hope that these pros and cons will help you decide whether to buy a car from an auction. If you are opting for an auction for the first time, read our blog on things to know before buying a car from an auction in Dubai and other Emirates.
However, if you want to avoid all of these hassles, you can buy a used car for sale in the UAE from dubizzle. Here, a number of inspected vehicles are listed for sale and due to the greater variety, you can easily find a car within your budget.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more tips on buying a vehicle from an auction.