Auto Reconditioning | Auto Auction Registration | Auto Transportation | Auto Inspections | Online Auto Auctions | Auto Auction Tips
Do you remember buying your first car? If you do, what factors played a role in deciding which was best for you? Number of miles? Model? Year? Or maybe you were just looking for whatever could get you from point A to point B. The same consideration you put into buying your first car is the same that goes into auto dealers deciding what auto auction is best for them.
Although we have been around since 2008, we haven’t always been everyone’s best choice. Whether it’s because we’re not open to the public or we don’t have the inventory dealers are looking for, we’ve had dealers pick other auctions besides Big Valley Auto Auction.
In this article, we’re going to talk about what factors you should consider when choosing the right auto auction for you to buy or sell from.
After reading this article, you’ll have the information needed to decide what to look for in the perfect auto auction for your dealership.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing an Auto Auction?
Just like you took specific factors into consideration when choosing your first car, there are 6 factors you need to consider when choosing an auto auction:
- Reputation
- Public or Dealer Only
- Inventory
- Online or In-Person
- Services Available
- Types of Payment Accepted
Reputation (Customer Reviews / Google Ratings)
Before you choose the nearest auto auction to your location, you’ll want to make sure they’re a trustworthy and good quality auction. One way to check out an auto auction’s reputation is by reviewing their Google ratings. While Google reviews are not guaranteed facts and experiences differ between customers, they are a popular source of proof when it comes to verifying a business’ reputation. Alliance Auto Auction-Dallas is rated 4.5 stars on Google, with a total of 344 reviews.
However, before going to Alliance Auto Auction, it’s important to know that they are a dealer-only auto auction, which means they are only open to registered dealers. If you’re not a registered dealer, you will need to find an auction that holds public sales.
Public or Dealer Only
Once you’ve chosen which auto auction has the correct credentials, you’ll want to see if they’re open to the public or specifically for dealers. A public auto auction, such as STA Auctioneers in Donna, Texas, holds sale days on the last Thursday and Friday of the month and allows anybody to attend. All you have to do is register at their office location or submit an online registration form.
A dealer-only auto auction like South Florida Auto Auction only allows registered dealers to buy or sell during their weekly Wednesday sales. Being a dealer-only auto auction also prevents non-dealer guests from accompanying dealers to auction day. The difference in who is allowed to attend these events also affects the type of inventory you’ll find at each auction.
Inventory
You’ll find different types of vehicles at different types of auto auctions. Since public auto auctions are open to anyone, you’ll find cars that regular people are trying to sell, whereas dealer-only inventory consists of repos and dealer trade-ins.
There are also auto auctions that only sell certain types of vehicles. Gooding and Company is a public auto auction that specializes in antique, classic, sports, and racing cars. Examples of cars you’ll find at Gooding and Company are a 1953 Ferrari 166 MM/53 Spider and a 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix.
1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix sold at Gooding and Company
On the other hand, an online auto auction like Salvagebid has clean and salvage inventory that consists of cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, RVs, boats, snowmobiles, buses, jet skis, trailers, industrial equipment, and other vehicle types. However, Salvagebid is an online auction, which means there is no physical location. You can go to their website and gain access to numerous auctions going on in real time. If Salvagebid doesn’t have the inventory you’re looking for, there are more online options available.
Online or In-Person
Now that we’re in the 21st century, you don’t have to physically attend an auction to buy or sell a vehicle. Just like you can stream movies on Netflix, you can buy vehicles online, from the comfort of your home or office. A Better Bid is a website that gives you access to over 150 live auto auctions open to the public, with 300,000+ repairable, wrecked and salvage title cars for sale. This is ideal for anyone who is out of town or doesn’t like being around other people. However, not every auto auction has the option to bid online.
And while online auto auctions are rising in popularity, they aren’t replacing the traditional in-person auction experience. ADESA San Antonio is a dealer-only auto auction located in San Antonio, Texas, that has sale days every Thursday, featuring an IN-OP sale, Early Bird sale, Fleet/Lease sale, Ally sale, and Dealer Consignment sale.
Services Available
All auto auctions offer different services to meet their dealers’ needs. Georgia-Carolina Auto Auction provides 7 different services:
1. Reconditioning
Georgia-Carolina’s reconditioning services include a basic car wash, polishing, interior cleaning, and paintless dent repair.
2. Post-Sale Inspections
For a small fee, ASE Certified Mechanics inspect vehicles to identify any potential mechanical complications. In the case that a problem is discovered, the vehicle is entered into arbitration for further evaluation.
3. Transportation
Georgia-Carolina Auto Auction has the equipment needed to transport boats, RVs, or any other automobile to your location.
4. Mechanical
Georgia–Carolina Auto Auction’s mechanical services are performed by ASE certified auto technicians. Mechanical services available include oil changes, engine and transmission repairs, auto diagnostics and more.
5. Locksmith
The locksmiths at Georgia–Carolina Auto Auction specialize in replacing keys, repairing or replacing ignitions, and various other related services such as programmable chip keys, and VATS (specialized anti-theft keys).
6. Floor planning
Georgia–Carolina Auto Auction accepts several major flooring companies, which include, but are not limited to:
- TMCC
7. Title Services
Georgia–Carolina Auto Auction has professional staff members that assist with all transactions related to retail and wholesale vehicle title work.
Types of Payment Accepted
Once you’re done buying a vehicle, the last step will be to pay for it. However, not all auto auctions accept the same payment options. Before attending an auto auction, you’re going to need to make sure they accept your preferred method of payment.
Capital Auto Auction in Washington, DC accepts cash, cashier’s or certified bank checks (drawn from U.S. banks only), or wire transfer.
While most auto auctions accept the same forms of payment, there are others that have their own specific plan. Manheim Auto Auction has their own floor plan financing resource called NextGear Capital.
After verifying that your preferred payment type is accepted, you can begin to decide if that auction is right for you.
Am I Ready to Choose an Auto Auction?
If you’re still figuring out exactly what you need in an auto auction, then you may benefit from a little more preparation time. However, if you’ve carefully compiled the list of everything you’re looking for in an auto auction, then you’re ready to search for the right one.
Whether you’re new to the auto auction industry, or you’re still in search of an auto auction that fits you, you can use this article as a guide to help you categorize each factor that makes up your ideal auto auction.
If you're interested in buying or selling inventory from a dealer-only South Texas auto auction that provides inspection, reconditioning, and transportation services, as well as online availability, you can click the button below to speak with our dealer registration specialist to get you registered with Big Valley Auto Auction.
Not ready to talk? That’s okay! First, learn more about what it’s like to buy and sell at Big Valley Auto Auction by clicking the image below:
