5 Ways to Snag Huge Bargains on Vehicles

Are you looking for a low price on a car but don't want to haggle with dealerships or individuals who place online ads? If that's the case, there's good news. You have at least five other ways to snag a great, below market deal on a vehicle. The only requirement is that you be willing to do a few hours of research and be willing to pay an auction fee in some cases. Other than that, your own ingenuity, perseverance, and patience are the only things needed to snag a smoking hot price on the car or truck on your wish list. Here are five places to begin hunting.

Fleet Sales

Rental agencies all over the world hold fleet sales on a regular basis. For the most part, there is no admission fee, the sales are conducted in-person and online, and items up for bidding tend to be between two and ten years old. Expect high miles and as-is condition. Even at that, it's possible to get solid bargains at fleet sales.

Classic Car Auctions

Most every city has at least one classic car auction per year. Note that the vast majority of these events charge an entry fee and often list all the available vehicles online so you can decide whether to attend or not. The clue is in the name, classic. So, don't waste your time or money if your goal is something else. Some of these sales events are conducted on special websites but others are live affairs. You can review a guide on online vs. in-person auctions, as well as the best classic car auctions that are held annually. For example, if you want a 1956 Chevy fixer-upper for a long-term garage project, these are the types of events you need to be targeting.

City/Law Enforcement Auctions

Call your city's police department office and ask about police sales. Cities, states, and the federal government sell vehicles that have been seized in court actions. Though you can get bargain prices on the available inventory items, most law enforcement agencies sell everything as-is. Often, you will have the chance to inspect the car for 48 hours before signing on the dotted line. It's a good idea to have a mechanic who can do a quick diagnostic on anything that catches your eye.

Professional Locators

Would you rather take the easy way and simply pay someone else a reasonable fee to do the hunting for you? If so, hire a vehicle locator and be very specific about what you want. Many of these individuals are retired mechanics or dealers and have access to vast networks of for sale vehicles at low prices.