Government Seized Vehicles - Get Your Next Ride Without Paying Dealer Markup

Every day in the United States, the United States Government will seize vehicles during the course of prosecuting people for crimes such as running drugs, and not paying their taxes. These cars become the property of the government after they are seized, some of them the government will send to their various agencies for their official use. But there are many types of vehicles that the government has no use for, and sometimes the government already has enough of one type of vehicle. This leaves the government with one option, sell them by way of a public auction.

Government auctions are held in all fifty states, for the purpose of disposing of surplus and seized property, including vehicles. The vehicles are available for inspection by the prospective bidders prior to the auction, and then they are put on the auction block to be sold. The bidding starts cheap, and it sells for the price of the high bid, no matter how much lower than the value it is. Most cars that are auctioned will sell for a few thousand less than they are worth. Sometimes a nice car will sell for less than a thousand dollars. This is a rare exception, and not the every day rule, but it has happened. Some used car dealers have been known to attend these auctions to purchase cars to sell on their lots for as much as twice what they payed for them. One of the best things about government auctions is that you can buy a car for less than what it is worth, and you do not have to pay a dealer markup, which has been known to exceed 100% of the price of the vehicle. This alone makes it a good idea to attend a couple of government auctions before you go to a used or new car lot to purchase a vehicle.

Some vehicles may still be under the factory warranty, but you should always inspect the vehicle before you bid on it, because they are sold as is. The government makes no guarantees on used vehicles, and all sales are final. If you are not knowledgeable about cars, take someone who is to the auction with you to check them out for problems before you make a bid on the one you want.