4 IMPORTANT TIPS TO FOLLOW WHEN PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE PUBLIC AUTO AUCTIONS There was a time when people had no other option but to go through the fast-paced and often chaotic process of physical auctions to buy their favorite used or salvage cars for sale. But the introduction of online public car auctions has made buying and selling used cars much easier and convenient. An online public car auction offers several other benefits over a physical car auction such as better deals, larger inventories, and doorstep shipping. But bidding through an online public auction can be confusing for the uninitiated. In this post, we list a few easy tips to follow when participating in online public auto auctions. 1. Be sure of what you want Unlike a physical public car auction that has a limited car inventory, an online public car auction offers a range of salvage cars for sale. Though it’s a good thing to have access to a wider range of vehicles, it can also lead to temptation. One might get distracted and end up making an extravagant purchase beyond their budget that they might regret later. It is, therefore, recommended that one should assess their needs from the salvage vehicle and stick to their budget, come what may. 2. Don’t pin all your hopes on a particular model Once you know what category of car you want, shortlist a few car models that fall into your buying criteria. Don’t stay fixated on a particular model because you may not find an exact match on the online public car auction. In fact, it’s always a good idea to compare the available car models based on their pros and cons and then make a buying decision. 3. Don’t get carried away in the bidding process Many first-time bidders tend to get carried away during the bidding process. A live auction can be very quick and confusing. There are chances of bidding wars and without proper valuation of the car at hand, one can easily end up buying a used car for much more than its actual worth just to come on top of the bidding competition. So before you get into the actual bidding process, take time to observe other bidders. You might notice a few suspicious bidders trying to up the bidding price in all auctions. And be ready to walk away if the bid is not in your pre-decided price range. 4. Read all sales and vehicle history information carefully Many salvage cars for sale look good on the outside but have hidden issues that are not obvious to the naked eye. To ensure that the used car you shortlisted has no hidden issues, read all the available sales information about the listed car. Check the VIN to understand the car’s history. You can also look for public car auctions sites which have tie ups with third-party car inspection companies to get verified information on salvage cars. Wrap Up If you follow the tips we’ve mentioned, you will be able to sail through and maybe even be able to buy your preferred car at an online salvage cars auction. But keep in mind, the online used cars for sale space is swamped with numerous public auto auction sites and you need to be wary of the fakes or ones which offer limited information. We suggest that you ask friends or colleagues for references, read online reviews and testimonials to find a reputable public car auction website that you can trust. Good Luck!