3 Types of Auto Auction and Their Benefits

Are you looking for a car but all the new models are far out of reach? Getting used or salvage cars can be a great option if you know what things to look out for.

In the past, people who wanted to bid on a car needed to be physically present at the auto auction site, no matter how far it was from their home. Fortunately, due to modern technology, people can now bid on used and salvage cars online from the comforts of their home.

Online bids can be made prior to the start of the auction through the pre-auction bidding feature or during the action that allows for live bidding.

Nowadays, there are three main ways you can bid on a vehicle. Each of these bidding types comes with distinct pros and cons. Take a look at them below:

Live Auctions

This is the traditional way of bidding. If you want to participate in a live auction, you need to show up at the auction venue at a specific time or send someone else to bid in place for you.

One of the biggest pros of a live auction is that you can see your used car in the flesh, so to speak. Although auctioneers also take photos and try to give an accurate picture of the vehicle, due to lighting or other issues, the pictures may look different than the actual product. Live auto auctions give you the opportunity to come and check out the car for yourself, so that you do not have any unpleasant surprises after you buy the car.

Auto auctions are usually split into categories which will help make you understand whether the car is just for show or if it can be driven safely on the road. Cars that don’t run and have more of a collector’s value are placed separately from cars that drive. It is important for you to bid on a car that is more suited to your lifestyle. If you are interested in a sedan that runs with a few problems, it may sound like a good deal for you, but if you are not familiar with the mechanics, you can be making an expensive mistake. However, if you are looking for salvage cars for components, an auto auction, no matter what kind, is the perfect place for that.

At a live auction, if you are lucky, you may even be given a chance to get a feel of the vehicle you are interested in. This can help you determine if a car works better than you first thought or if it would be in your best interest to look for another car.

However, one of the biggest drawbacks of a live auction is that it could be far away from your home. You may have to skive off work to attend the auction and that can be very inconvenient. Even if you send someone else in your place, you will need to school them properly on the types of things you are looking for in a car.

Pre-Auction Bidding

If you have decided beforehand on exactly the car you want to buy and how much you can pay for it, you don’t need to attend a live auction; you can make a pre-auction bid in your absence. This will allow you to place your bid before the auction starts with your specified maximum bidding amount.

Pre-auction bids allow you to bid on a car in absentia. This can be very convenient if you can’t be present at the auction venue at the specified time or if you need a hard-to-find car model or rare parts.

Another benefit to these auctions is that these auctions don’t let you outbid yourself. For example, if your maximum bid limit is $5000 but bidding stops at $3000, the car will be yours for $3000, the maximum amount where the bidding stops.

Online Auctions

Online car auctions are one of the easiest and most convenient ways you can bid on used or salvage cars. These auctions are often held on auto auction websites, like on RideSafely.com. They allow you to bid on cars in real-time without being present at a physical auction venue. This also leaves less room for mistake; at a live auction you may accidentally bid on an item in the heat of moment. However, in an online car auction, you have to press a button so that your bid can go through.

Auction vehicles come from a huge variety of sources like charities, law enforcement agencies, private individuals, or car impound lots.

RideSafely.com also offers you pictures of your preferred vehicle which can help you determine the vehicle’s condition. It also comes with an extensive summary of the car’s features to ensure you bid on the vehicle that best suits your need.

If you want to buy a car without the hassle of visiting an auto dealership, RideSafely.com can save you the headache. All you need to do is sit on your couch, go online and start bidding.

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