Posts Tagged ‘car repo’

How Much Can You Save Buying Repossessed Cars?

Thursday, May 5th, 2011



Many buyers become wary when searching for repossessed cars for sale. Often they think the car will be in poor condition and not maintained. Sometimes this can be true, but on other occassions a repossessed car will be in pristine condition. When buying a repossessed car it is important to think about who the owner was before it was repossessed. Often they will have been professionals, company executives, salesmen and other individuals in highly paid employment. They may have seen the car as their pride and joy, carrying out regular dealer services, and paying top dollar for the maintenance of their vehicle.

Cars like this will be listed hundreds or even thousands of dollars below the market value. Yes really that much!

Remember the bank or finance company which repossessed the car will be looking to recover debts as quickly as possible. Selling the car at the highest price possible is not a priority for them. Instead they will aim to recover the debt as quickly as possible. This means a quick sale of the vehicle at a cheap price. Repossessed cars will always be sold may below the list value. There are many documented cases where a bank has repossessed a car with a value of £10,000 and then sold the car for £7000.

Knowing where to buy repossessed cars is the first step. The majority are sold at car auctions. The bank will repossess the vehicle and then sell the car on via a car auction. Auctioneers are cash ready and so the bank will see this as an attractive avenue in order to get money back quickly. If the auction will not pay the finance company a lump sum up front, it is much more likely that the auctioneer will be able to auction the repossessed car quickly. This huge saving will ultimately be passed on to the someone buying the repossessed car.

Sounds simple? In reality actually going ahead through this process is not so straightforward. Knowing what to do in the auction is extremely important. Inexperienced buyers often end up paying a lot more than an experienced buyer. Knowing how to succeed in auctions can help you make massive savings.

Read our guide on buying repossessed cars from auction to help you with the buying process.

If you are looking to buy repossessed cars on the internet we would highly recommend Government Auctions UK. This site has agreements with auctioneers and police services to sell repossessed cars. It is by far the best option on the web with legitimate deals being closed daily.

One of the most essential parts of the repossessed cars buying process is being able to identify a car which is in good condition. Low mileage is not the only factor which determines whether a car is in good running condition. The main auction companies often provide you with the opportunity to check the vehicles prior to auction as well as history regarding where the car came from – this may be details of whether it was repossessed or a stolen recovered vehicle. If this is something you arent too sure about, look for a mechanic or someone who knows about cars to take with you to auction. Paying a small amount for their expertise could be hugely beneficial when looking to save hundreds or even thousands!

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Repossessed Cars: Types of Cars

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009



Many buyers of cars rave about the amazing deal they picked up. Not only can they buy repossessed cars at knockdown prices but there is also access to a wide range of ex-demonstration, company, fleet and ex-rental cars. You too can reap the benefits of buying a bargain used car if you follow the tips which are laid out below.

Most important when buying any prospective car is to try and establish how well the car had been taken care of previously.

Questions to Ask?
Was the oil changed on time?
- Was the car given routine services and maintenance?
- Were repairs made immediately when required?
- Was the car ever involved in an accident?

As a buyer of repossessed cars, being able to find the answer to these questions can help you find the bargain repossessed car that you have been looking for at a superb price. It’s important to be extra careful and following the correct steps can ensure you pick up a bargain repossessed car.

Types of Used Cars
Cars which are available in auction, are often classed as repossessed but can go by a variety of names. It’s important to learn the terms so that you get a better idea of what type of car you are buying and what to look for whne inspecting a vehicle.

1. Company Car
Company cars are usually bought by a company or organisation as new and then driven by an executive of the company for a period of time. Company cars are often
sold on in auction after a few years use but have often accumulated many miles during that time.

2. Demonstration / Demo / Ex-Demo Cars
Demo or ex-demo cars are usually used by a dealership for customer test drives. They have often been driven by the sales staff, dealership staff or customers. These cars aften nearly new and are fairly low mileage.

3. Rental Cars
Rental cars end up at auctions after 2 or 3 years use by a rental company. Again these can be high mileage vehicles but many experts insist ex-rental vehicles are good value if in good condition.

4. Repossessed Cars
When an owner is struggling to keep up with car repayments, the car can be repossessed and sold on in auction. Repossessed cars can be a great option as they have often been looked after well and are only repossessed once the owner suddenly falls into financial difficulty.

5. Salvage Cars
Salvage cars are damaged vehicles which have not been repaired due to the expense in fixing them so they are sold to salvage companies or auctions for parts. Some salvage cars can prove to be a bargain, as they have been written off as non-roadworthy when in reality they have only little damage and can be repaired.
It’s recommended that you have a good knowledge about cars before attempting to try and buy a salvage car. If you don’t know what you are doing, they can be a risky proposition.

When buying any car, particularly repossessed cars it’s important to check the following:
- Age of vehicle
- Maintenance Records / Service History
- HPI Check / Car History Report
- Number of Previous Owners
- Mechanic Opinion
- Price

Read our guide for buying repossessed cars for further free information.