Are you in a position where you need a new car but you are low on funds? Police impounds are an ideal option if this is the case or if you are just seeking a good used car at a great price. Vehicles are impounded by the police for a number of reasons. A vehicle may be seized if it was purchased with funds gained illegally through drug dealing or fraud or the owner having a significant number of outstanding fines, for example. Your taxes pay to uphold the law, so why shouldn’t you benefit by purchasing seized goods at great prices? Cars and other property can be sold at discounts of up to 75% off the prevailing market prices at police auctions. Sound good to you? There is some information, you will need to have in order to ensure your success at an auction and I will discuss all you need to know here.

Police impound auctions take place regularly in all major cities. They may be run by government officials or by third-party auction agencies. They will often be advertised in local newspapers, so it is worthwhile keeping an eye out for these notices. Alternatively there are some online services that provide full listings of impound, government and repossession auctions nationwide.

Cars will only be available at impound auctions when the legalities in respect of the case they were involved in are complete, so you don’t need to worry about this aspect. However, prior to attending an auction, you would be best advised to check out the listing of vehicles available. By doing this you can narrow down the cars you would like to bid on. You should consider carrying out a background check on any vehicle you are seriously interested in. You should also check the market value of the vehicles on your shortlist at this time and set your maximum bid so that you are mot distracted at the auction.

Before the auction, you will have an opportunity to inspect the vehicles. As cars and property are generally sold "as seen" at these auctions, it is important to carry out an inspection of the bodywork, interior and also to run the engine and check oil and transmission fluids. You may consider bringing a mechanic with you if you are not knowledgeable about cars.

You will also need to bring some identification, such as a driver’s license to the auction. Some auctions require proof of funds such as a letter from your bank or credit card company. Purchases will normally be finalized on the day of the auction.

Police impounds represent a great opportunity to purchase a good used car at a significantly reduced price. The more auctions you know about, the more chance you have of getting the car you want at a price you can afford. Do a little research before the auction and make sure you inspect any vehicle you wish to bid on, before the auction commences. When it comes down to it, the process involved is very simple and well worth a little research for the kind of savings you can make on police impounds at auction.