If you're in the market for a used car, you may have considered buying a car from a police auction. Police auctions can be a good place to find a bargain, but as with almost all types of car auctions, to find the best deal you’ll need to ensure that you’ve done your research beforehand, and that you’re fully clued up on exactly how it all works.
The term ‘police car auction’ can be used to refer to car auctions featuring cars that have previously been seized by the police, or it can be used to refer to auctions where ex-police cars are being sold. We’ve got years of experience in facilitating online car auctions here at RAW2K, and having spent so long dealing in the second-hand vehicle market, there’s no-one better qualified to provide you with the ins and outs of police car auctions.
So, here’s what you need to know!
Advantages of police car auctions
In all fairness, there are a couple of advantages to buying a car from a police auction. One of the biggest ones is that you can often find cars at a significantly lower price than you would at a traditional dealership or private seller. Police auctions typically feature vehicles that have been seized or confiscated from criminals, or simply abandoned. As a result they offer a wide variety of cars in different conditions, from high-end luxury cars to more affordable, everyday models. The police are often keen to sell these vehicles as quickly as possible, which is why they often go for such a low price.
One great advantage to buying an ex-police car from a police auction is that you can be reasonably sure that the car has been maintained to a reasonable standard, as the police need their vehicles to be reliable when out on patrol. What’s more, none of the police seized vehicles we sell here at RAW2K pose any risk of criminal liability, as this is all checked before we allow a vehicle to be put up for auction.
Factors to be aware of when using police car auctions
There are a few things to be mindful of though when buying a car from a police auction. One is that you may not have the opportunity to inspect the car thoroughly before you buy it - many police auctions offer only a brief viewing period, and you may not be allowed to test drive the car. This means that you may not be able to get a good sense of the car's condition, and you could end up with a vehicle that requires significant repairs.
Moreover, there’s always a chance that the car may have been involved in a crime or accident in the past, which could affect its value and performance. While the police will typically disclose any information they have about the car's history, the condition of the vehicle will be more of a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of scenario.
So, is a police car auction a good place to buy a car? The answer is: it depends. If you’re willing to take a risk and do your due diligence, a police auction can be a great place to find a bargain. However, if you are not comfortable with the potential risks associated with the police auction process, you can always explore the salvage vehicles available through our other online car auctions, right here at RAW2K. We’ve got a huge range of salvage cars to choose from in our online car auctions, including many from world-famous brands like Mercedes, Citroen, and Peugeot. Our auctions are refreshed on a daily and weekly basis, so there are always bargains to be found. Why not take a look around, and see what you can find?
