An Introduction on eBay - eBay car auction site

EBay has become one of the most popular ways to sell goods currently available in the world. Thanks to eBay, virtually anyone with a computer, an internet connection, and a simple to make eBay account can trade online.

People are free to sell goods, buy goods, sell unwanted goods, buy goods in bulk and sell for profits, whatever the cause, eBay can suit your n needs. The auction site has become so popular over the last few years that the company is now expanding to heights never before imagined by the founders.

EBay is well known around the world and it has users based in many countries. The good thing about eBay is that can sit in the comfort of your own home selling away until your hearts content.

eBay car auction site Now, on to the car auction side of eBay..

Although eBay is more than just a car auction site as we have discussed above, it is indeed also a very popular car auction site. Many people who trade in cars are turning to eBay to sell their cars.

You can sell cars fast on the eBay car auction site, write out full detail on the car you are selling, offer specific viewing times, and to be honest, probably get a price on your car than you would offline. This is simply because you are advertising your car to much people. You can reach thousands of people via eBay, so the marketing power of the auction site is tremendous.

How long to list the car for on the eBay car auction site

We generally don’t give a guideline to this because it depends on how fast you want to sell the car, however, if you want to advertise to more people for longer, you could put the car on for 10 days, set a reserve price, and see what happens.

A reserve price is simply a price that you wont take any less than, viewers wont get to see this, but lets say your car is worth $2000, and the auction finishes with $1500, you wouldn’t have to sell the car, this means eBay offers some form of protection for sellers who want the money they feel the item is worth.

However, if you don’t set a reserve, you have to sell the car at whatever the auction price is, so if the car sold for $1500, you would have to sell the car for this price.

Your old car just went to pieces today and you have very little money in your pockets. Perhaps you could look at the very limited selection at one of those local car dealerships that offer financing on a high sticker price made even higher by the interest rates they plan on charging you. You could go to the bank for a loan and beg the loan officer to give you some cash at a very high interest rate. You could do either of these things but you wish there was another option. Well, there are other options and they are called car auction sites.

How Do Car Auction Sites Work?

If you want to avail yourself of this great money saving opportunity, it may prove helpful to learn a bit about car auction sites first. Car auction sites offer a wide range of vehicle choices due to their very nature. The automobiles being auctioned are usually placed up for bid by individuals or small auto dealerships so prices can range from the no reserve car auction to items that have a preset price or at least some reserve on the car where the seller has the right to refuse to sell unless the price goes higher than his stated reserve price. Thus if a seller put a vehicle on an car auction site with a reserve of two hundred dollars and the highest bidder only bid one hundred ninety dollars, the seller would have the choice of selling the car for the one hundred ninety dollar bid or refusing the sale and relisting the car thru another car auction site.

There are a few things to consider before bidding on car auction sites as well. One major consideration is the location of the vehicle and the cost and method of shipping. The automobiles sold on car auction sites are located around the globe so pay close attention to where the car is located before bidding because all bids are considered final and legally binding as contracts and if you win the bid you will be expected to fulfill your contractual obligations towards the purchase.

Another consideration before bidding on car auction sites is the reputation of the seller offering the vehicle you are looking at. Car auction sites such as Ebay Motors have a great way of making sure you know the sellers reputation. Every buyer and seller on Ebay has a rating. It is generally considered a very good practice to buy from sellers who have high ratings and good feedback. This helps to insure that your experience with car auction sites will be a pleasant one.

With the world becoming more and more globalized, there has been a increase in business for car shipping companies to ship all types of vehicles ranging from motorbikes to lorries, trucks etc. Online car sales and car auctions have also contributed to an increase in demand for car shipping services.

As a result, today there is a wide range of car shipping companies to choose from. But how do you go about picking a car shipping service that is suitable for your car? Here are a few tips to bear in mind.

1. Enclosed Or Not Enclosed

You will need to decide whether your car needs to be enclosed in a container or not during shipping. Generally enclosed containers are more expensive but the advantage is your car will not need to suffer from wind, rain, debris etc during transportation.

I would recommend to use an the enclosed method of transportation if your car is a brand new one or is expensive. An example would be a vintage car or an expensive sports automobile.

2. Shipping Routes

You may need to check with the car shipping company whether they can deliver to your house. Some shipping companies only deliver to major cities and certain pickup locations after which you are expected to go there to collect the car.

Other car shipping companies will charge an additional fee to ship it to your house. So it is important you check with the company before hand the shipping arrangement.

3. Car Inspection

Most car shipping companies will have a car inspection checklist before and after the car is shipped. You want to go through that checklist and make sure your condition of the car is checked correctly before shipping.

You can take your time to inspect the car after it has been shipped to check for any damages to your car.

5. Car Shipping Insurance

You may want to check with the car shipping companies on the shipping insurance coverage on your car and the cost involved. Most car shipping companies include insurance in the total shipping cost but some don’t and will require an additional charge. So make sure you know the insurance coverage and the cost if needed.

You’ve finally gotten your hands on the classic car of your dreams, but wait a minute, now you have to figure out how to get your hands on the car parts you need in order to keep it running. If you’ve worked hard at acquiring the car, then it is probably a safe assumption that finding the parts you need is high on your list of priorities.

However, you can’t just walk into a dealership and place your order for the parts you need because there is a 99% chance they are no longer manufactured by the automaker. Regardless, no matter what your taste in classic cars, whether it is for muscle cars, antiques or vintage models, if you know where to begin looking then with a little digging you can find what you need.

Here are some places where you should begin your search:

Online Auctions

Ebay is a great place to start your search for the classic car parts you need. Just about everything you could ever want can be found on Ebay, or more precisely in the case of cars, Ebay Motors. If you find the parts you need this way you’ll have to pay shipping charges, but this is just a necessary evil you will have to contend with if you want the parts; however, if you are trying to keep your costs down you can try searching the local swap meets.

Swap Meets

Swap Meets can be hit and miss, and are probably not your best bet for finding the parts you need, but it never hurts to look. You may get lucky and find just what you are in need of, and even better, probably get it for a very low price.

Classic Car Part Dealer Publications

You will often find it very easy to find the parts you need in these types of magazines; however, the downside is that it will probably cost you an arm and a leg to get the parts. This is an option you should use only as a last resort, especially if you are trying to avoid breaking the bank. Explore all of your other possibilities first and if nothing pans out, and you really need the part, or parts, than do it, but don’t just make the purchase because it is easier than being patient and looking thoroughly. You may regret your decision a week later when you stumble across the parts for a lot less money somewhere else.

Clubs and Organizations

Where there is a hobby there is usually a club or organization to go along with it, and this couldn’t be truer of classic car restoration. By locating and joining one of these clubs you can improve your chances of finding the parts you need. This also allows you the chance to network and get to know others who share your same interests, and may even own the same car you do. If this happens to be the case, they may be able to point you in the right direction on where to get the parts you are looking for. Finding these clubs is as easy as logging onto the Internet and doing a search, so there is no excuse for you not to try.

Junkyards

Okay, so having to dig through the junkyard is a not so glamorous idea, and one that you probably didn’t consider when you bought your dream car; unfortunately, you may have no choice. But look on the bright side, it may payoff big time, and if you’re lucky, your local junkyard will be entirely computerized so that all you will need to do is make a phone call to inquire about what you are looking for. You may get lucky enough not to have to go to the junkyard after all.

Whatever the case may be, you probably put a lot of time and effort into getting your car, so what’s a little more effort in order to get it running. The moment you hear that engine ignite and begin purring will make all the hard work worth it.

American car manufacturers offer greater incentives than Japanese car manufacturers. For example, Chevy offers incentives as big as $5,000 on their Silverado trucks; whereas Toyota never offers more than $1,500. Why is this? It’s simple. More people choose to drive Japanese cars than American. Japanese automakers don’t have to entice consumers because consumers are willing to buy their vehicles without them.

The reason for this is that Japanese vehicles are much more reliable than American cars. In most cases, people who own Japanese cars never have to worry about their car breaking down or needing major repairs. Oftentimes, they only need to be concerned with putting gas in the vehicle and having the oil changed regularly for the entire life of the car. You can’t get this sort of quality with American made autos.

Since Japanese vehicles tend to be pricey because of the lack of incentives they offer, if you want one, you can always buy used, and if used is still a little out of your price range, then your best option is car auctions. Car auctions combine the legendary quality of Japanese vehicles with extremely reasonable prices that will keep you bragging to your friends for weeks.

Japanese car auctions happen quite frequently. You just have to keep an eye out for them. If they don’t happen often in your city, then you may have to check surrounding areas, but rest assured, you will find one. It may require a little extra driving, but you will find one.

There are different types of car auctions. If you prefer the comfort of your own home, then the Internet is an option at your disposal. It may seem complicated, but shopping at an online auction is actually very simple; all you have to do is set up an account, and your off and shopping. Using the Internet gives you access to hundreds of car auctions all over the world. You can get all the facts about a car, such as what options they have and how much mileage, as well as make a bid.

Once you win the auction, you have the option of having the car shipped to wherever you choose. By taking this route in buying a car you can save you as much as $3,000, a much better deal than shopping locally.

But if you’re the type that prefers to do business with a person, rather than a computer, then you have other options besides the Internet available. These options include police auctions, IRS sales and private financial corporation auctions. In the case of police and IRS auctions these vehicles often have been seized from people who were convicted of a crime or owed back taxes. For private corporations, the cars once belonged to individuals who fell behind on their payments and the cars were repossessed.

Japanese cars are the best sort of investment you can make in a vehicle. They last longer and generally depreciate slower than other vehicles. By shopping for them at car auctions you can acquire them at a fraction of their actual value, an impossible deal to get on a car lot.

A salvage car auction may be also advertised as insurance car auction. What you should know is that a salvage car auction has absolutely nothing to do with the normal auctions - public, government or wholesale.

Salvage car auction venues offer cars that have been collected and rebuilt by the insurance companies in some cases, while in order they are sold in their damaged condition. Normally you can reach a price with 20% to 50% cheaper than the regular price of the car you are looking for. In some cases, the cars being sold at salvage car auction places might have just a minor problem but in most of the cases, these cars have suffered a serious damage.

The main problem with cars being sold at a salvage car auction is that these cars are usually damaged to an extend that a regular car buyer cannot properly asses. That is why it is strongly recommended that only experienced professionals buy from these auctions. If you are not one, than get somebody along with you when going to bid on a salvage car auction. On the other hand, if you are looking for a car just because of the spare parts than you should not care that much. Just check if the parts you are interested in are in order and of course be careful with the price you will have to pay. As you may guess, there is no need to pay a prices closer to the regular price of the spare parts you are buying the car for.

For the same reason described above is a must that you perform a proper check of the car you want to purchase and second - to check the vehicle history report. A car might look in good condition but it might has been seriously rebuild or repaired in a way that will cause you troubles later. Even after you have repaired the car, you should ask for a complete check by a car company to ensure that all in your car is in complete order. The rest of the usually checks that are done when buying a car are still a must - you should read carefully all the paperwork involved, check the VIN numbers and the car history.

Be prepared for the inconveniences that you might experience later in case you have bough a rebuilt car from a salvage car auction. The fact that a car has been rebuilt stays in its record. Cars that have been rebuilt are not favorite to insurance companies or banks. In addition, even if the car you are purchasing is still under the manufacturers warranty period, this warranty might be voided in case the car has been rebuilt. So never, rely on the fact that "the car is still in the warranty period…"

Finally, this is what we would advise the regular car hunters - try another car auction and leave the salvaged car auction venues to the professionals. It is worth neither the hassle nor the risk buying from a salvaged car auction just to save a minor amount of money.

Not every person who drives a luxury car is wealthy. The guy next door who drives a BMW or Mercedes may have received the car as a gift, inherited it, or won it in a bet or a raffle.

If you don’t have any rich relatives likely to give or leave you a Jaguar, or if you don’t fancy your luck in games of chance, there’s one more option for you. Get a government-seized car on auction, and you’ll be able to drive the car of your dreams without paying an arm and a leg for it.

What is a government-seized automobile? When criminals are caught, the government seizes their property, including their automobiles. The government then auctions these automobiles off.

As you might imagine, a lot of criminals drive expensive or highly customized vehicles, and these are the kinds of vehicles that end up in government-seized automobile auctions.

How do I find a government-seized auto auction? These auctions are held at frequent intervals in different parts of the country. There is likely to be one near you, but if you’re willing to travel, that expands your range of options considerably.

You can look for auction listings in newspapers or online. If you decide to look online, you can either do your own search or use an online auction directory service (for a one-time fee). If you hire a directory service, make sure you get a money-back guarantee.

How can I participate in a government-seized auto auction? When you’ve found an auction you want to participate in, get in touch with the auction administrators and ask about registration requirements. In most cases, registration is free, and a photo ID is all that’s required.

How do I pay for my purchases at these auctions? Most auctions accept cash, cashier’s check, and credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Payment terms differ from auction to auction. Some auctions will require a deposit on the day of the auction and the balance the following day.

Other auctions require immediate full payment for all purchases. Auctions that allow deposits on the day of the auction might require immediate full payment for purchases worth less than a certain amount, say, $5,000. Before you go to the auction site, find out what modes of payment the auction allows.

Are these auctions for real? It’s possible to get good deals at these auctions, but you will have to do your homework. Don’t go in there before you’ve armed yourself with information about the kind of car you want and the kind of prices such a car would fetch on the market.

The best deals at government-seized auto auctions are usually on older, well-maintained vehicles.

There are several downsides to acquiring vehicles at government-seized auto auctions. First, the selection changes all the time. You can’t specify the kind of vehicle you want. You have to settle for what’s available. And because of the constant changes in selection, you can’t expect detailed information on descriptions and prices.

What information you do get is not necessarily reliable. It would be best to check out the vehicle yourself. If the auction is far from your place of residence, you will have to travel to the auction site at least a few days before the day of the auction to inspect the goods.

Second, you won’t be able to test-drive the vehicles. You’ll be able to look the vehicle over and ask questions, though. Vehicles aren’t available for inspection on the day of the auction, but there are auction previews, usually a day or two in advance. This is another reason to travel to the auction site at least a few days beforehand.

Third, these auctions don’t offer warranties. So be sure to get as much information as you can about the car you want. Ask the auction administrators for the car’s Vehicle Information Number (VIN) and use it to get a CarFax report on the car.

The CarFax report will give you valuable information, including odometer readings and history of flood damage or accidents.

Finally, bidding can get extremely competitive, especially if the car you have your eye on is new, popular, or well-maintained. You may find yourself bidding against used-car dealers, many of whom search these auctions for bargains that they can resell in turn.

Furious bidding can push auction prices up, sometimes close to or even exceeding the actual value of the automobile. When this happens, there’s little point in acquiring the automobile at an auction. You might as well buy it somewhere else.

A government car auction is usually auctioning off government-seized cars, or decommissioned cars that the agency no longer uses.

Government car auction events are usually held regularly at different locations. The fastest and the best way to learn when and where a government car auction will take place are to check the local newspapers. Another way of locating a government car auction is to find an online auction service to locate it for you. There might be some fees involved but it will save you a lot of time.

If you are about to bid on a government car auction, you should still be careful about certain thins. The fact that you are purchasing a car from a government car auction does not mean that the car you will buy will be in great condition or that there will be no problems with it. The government can auction vehicles that are no longer required but also can auction vehicles collected from other companies or even criminals.

You should arrive at the auction early, choose a car and than start with the checks. It is a must to check the Vehicle Identification Numbers (if they match on the papers and on the car) and run a CARFAX report. Ask the auction administrator for any other information about the car such as the mileage information. It is best of you can have the car inspected by a mechanic. Having done all of the above, you should have acquired enough information to make a decision – weather to bid on this car or not.

A thing to be careful about – there is a competition in the bidding at any government car auction. What it means is that every new bid should be higher than the previous ones. As you may guess, the cars that are in better condition will attract a lot of attention – not only from car hunters such as you but also from other car dealers. This means that a car may reach a bid much higher than its current market value. Go with a clear budget and a good research about car prices so that you do not end up spending too much or more than the same car market value.

Vehicle auction venues are a great place to find a vehicle deals. There are several of vehicle auction venues – regular ones (standard auctions where vehicles are sold), government (seized or surplus government vehicles are sold), insurance (insurance companies sell damaged and rebuilt cars). Most of the auctions are public but there is a great number of private auctions held as well.

Vehicle auction websites are also available. They are just like the “actual” ones with the only difference that they are in fact held online. The most popular auction website that also holds vehicle auction stuff is eBay.

If you have decided to try your luck at a vehicle auction, there are some things you should know in advance. The general rules are the same for all auction types.

One thing that is of great importance is about the origin of the vehicles. Each vehicle should have a clear history available at the auctioneers. If you have decided to bid on a specific vehicle, it is best if you first check it and than decide if you still are eager to bid. Generally speaking all vehicles sold at auctions should be fine in terms of origin but you never know.

The second thing to watch out for is the condition of the vehicle. It is recommended that you take mechanic along so that he can check the vehicle you want to purchase. There are plenty of vehicles that look just fine but have serious problems.

The next tip highly applicable to vehicle auction buys is the price. First, you should make a research in order to find out what are the latest price trends of the vehicle you are looking for. Than be careful not to be sucked in the bed-swirl. The vehicle auction bids should be competitive so a price can reach sky-heights just by many participants bidding madly. You may end up paying a price just like the normal value or even higher. Also at some auctions, you can actually negotiate the price so check and do not underestimate this option.

Be careful when going to government auctions. While the vehicles sold there may be up to 50% cheaper than the market value of the same vehicles, bare in mind that most of them are no driven nor maintained for a long time or are damaged in a way or another. Insurance vehicle auctions may also look like a bargain heaven but the situation there may turn into a nightmare easily. This type of vehicle auction venues offer cars that have been damaged by their owners to an extend that the insurance company has had to replace them with new. So it is likely that you will buy a rebuilt vehicle or one with serious problems. Rebuilt vehicles rae not a good idea as their manufacturing warranty is voided, and most of the insurance companies don’t want to deal with them at all. That is why insurance vehicle auction places are recommended for professionals who either know what they are doing or are looking for a cheap vehicle for spare parts.

Finally, it is best if you visit vehicle auction venues a few times to get accustomed to the situation before you actually run into the auction game.

State car auction gatherings are car auctions specific to a certain state or a few states. Only authorized state dealers can participate in a state car auction that is good for the car buyers.

You can find various types of vehicles at a state car auction. There are brand new as well as used cars.

Information about the upcoming state car auction venues is often published in the local newspapers as well as in the specialized vehicle magazines. Information is also available online and often it is even more detailed tan the press one.

The state cat auction venues are always public. Some of them are also in fact a government state car auction gatherings at which surplus or seized vehicles are being sold.

Usually a state car auction is a big car marketplace. That is why it is recommended that you go there only if you have enough experience in car auctions. If you are a first time buyer, take somebody experiences along to help you.

Another thing to remember is that you should check the auction conditions before you start bidding. You should also gather enough information about the car brand and model you want to purchase and be informed about its market value and price trends.

Set a budget and do not be tempted to overspend. The fact that you are at a state car auction means that there are hundreds of suitable car deals so there is no need to jump for the first car you are bidding on. Remember – a state car auction attracts all sorts of buyer and most of them are really knowledgeable ones.

The same rules apply to an online state car auction websites. There are many but it is best to stick with the ones that look professional and big. You can get an idea if a state car auction website is good by reading the recommendations of other people that used the site. Joining an online auto club should give you enough information for the good online state car auction as well as some useful tips on how to participate in such auctions.