Talk to me about car auctions...

[laser wheels]

I haven't been to a car auction in over a decade, and have never bought anything there. Seeing as I live and work right next door to one - Manheim, Washington - I've decided I'm going to start going again. So, please feel free to regale me with your anecdotes and advice as regards them auctions. If nothing else I hope it may be an interesting* thread topic.

 

Personally speaking, I remember seeing the odd tatty old BMW back in the day, and the occasional Sierra of Cavalier or maybe a tidy ex-giffer Astra or Escort back in the mid '00s. Unfortunately, I have a suspicion that anything like that these days would be punted straight onto the 'bay with 'future classic!' in the listing somewhere.

 

So, what are they like now then? Worth the bother? Could I get something even half interesting for, say, £200 or £300?

[Cavcraft]

Not been for ages but people I know (locally) who do say the low scrap prices means there's some proper cheap cars about and only the indemnity fee on top tips the balance sometimes.

[eddyramrod]

Yes, you could.  When I visited the Solent Collective recently, we saw a 206CC go through well within your budget; the rest of the stock was a bit mixed, but very interesting.  It would seem it's still possible to buy a cheap daily/work vehicle at least, at sensible prices.  You're going to need to go with a very open mind!  Literally anything could turn up.

[sporty-shite]

Just find put what tbe buyers fees are. I'm led to believe that the large auction groups like Mannheim and BCA charge ridiculous fees to small scale buyers.

[meggersdog]

It's a long time since I've been to a Manheim auction but with BCA not only do you have to think about the indemnity (buyer's fee) but they also charge the private buyer £25.00 admin to fill out the V5c.

[skattrd]

Just find put what tbe buyers fees are. I'm led to believe that the large auction groups like Mannheim and BCA charge ridiculous fees to small scale buyers.

 

Last time I bought from an auction iirc the car was around £600 and fees were over £100 on top ... defo check first.

[Robson3022]

A while since I've been to Manheim but a mate was buying quite a bit from there not so long ago. Like most auctions it was an absolute lottery! Seem to remember an approved Vitara 4x4 only being a 4x2 ha!

[DVee8]

We could even have a northeast auction meet.I work next to Manheim drive past almost every day.

I haven't been since around 2003.

[omegod]

Grab the smelling salts chaps 

 

 

http://www.flippingcars.co.uk/manheim-car-auction-buyer-fees/

[mercrocker]

I used to buy stuff in the 90s but haven't done so since....It would seem worth while going to a sale or three first to get the drift of the place.   What the auctioneer says (or doesn't say) is often quite informative.   There is usually no warranty on cheap stuff and only an hour's grace on dearer chod and little opportunity to assess a car other than if it makes it through the shed.   Checking out cars at Southampton auction is difficult this time of year - all outside, no lighting, no chance to get in and sniff around.   There was an 05 Mondeo estate the other week knocked down at £130 - didnt look and sound too bad at all.

[colino]

If you are a privateer, stay away, it really isn't worth the bother.  For example, you have bought a £200 banger and you have to go up to the rostrum to pay the deposit.  What's that?  Cash?  £200 deposit(!)+1.25% surcharge for counting it +VAT on that service.  Even worse, 3% surcharge +VAT if you pay with your credit card.

Indemnity for that POS?  £100.  +VAT

Buyers premium on that aforesaid POS?  £95.  +VAT.

You think your done?  No, your a privateer, so that will be £25 +VAT for them to complete the V5C for you.

So, to recap, you've bought a £200 trade-in (that has been entered because it absolutely does have a ticking bomb about to go off in it), but your bill, especially hard if you pay by CC, actually reads like this.

£200 "deposit" = £200 +3% +VAT on the 3% translates to £207.20.

Indemnity, £100+VAT +3%CC +VAT on the 3% translates to £123.60.

BP, £95+VAT +3%CC +VAT on the service translates to £116.85.

V5C? £25 +VAT +3%CC +VAT on their service equates to £30.75.

 

Your £200 car just cost you £471.20.

[laser wheels]

Grab the smelling salts chaps 

 

 

http://www.flippingcars.co.uk/manheim-car-auction-buyer-fees/

 

Flipping Norah! I knew there were fees but £200 on a £200 motor? Ouch.

[laser wheels]

Last time I went, you had to buy a catalogue for a quid to get in - is that still the case? There is one on Thursday evening. Think I may have a mooch along, scope it out.

[Kiltox]

Don't use the online live bid facility or there's a high chance you'll end up with a mobile toilet with a knackered engine

[Crusty Sills]

Last time I went, you had to buy a catalogue for a quid to get in - is that still the case? There is one on Thursday evening. Think I may have a mooch along, scope it out.

My local auction EAMA in Norfolk charge £1 for a catalogue but that all goes to the local Air Ambulance.

[Bucketeer]

I worked at BCA Brighouse for a few years. The savvy (no, not him) buyers would come down the day before a sale and have a good look round the cars in the yard at their leisure. Obviously there were always some late entries that you wouldn't see but most of those were private seller shonkers anyway. The best value was usually to be found with the dealer trade-ins and the like.

 

You can buy a car 'outside the sale' once it has been through one auction. Someone in the office should be able to tell you the reserve of any car you're interested in and put any offer you have to the owner.

Speak to the yard workers (unless it's sale time and then they will be v.busy). They're the people who move the cars about and get a decent feel for them (and also get asked to 'hide' faults - private sellers/traders again).

 

From your original post it appears that you're not going to BCA, you're not going to Yorkshire and you're not traveling back in time 12 years, so none of the above may apply.

 

EDIT - the 'past and present tense' part of my brain seems to be malfunctioning, so just add/substitute was, is, were, are, could, can, etc to my first two paragraphs as you see fit.

[AlabamaShrimp]

With the fees being stupidly high what's it take to register as trade?

[Kiltox]

With the fees being stupidly high what's it take to register as trade?

Trade insurance

[NorthernMonkey]

The purchase of in excess of 100 units a year to get anywhere near sensible buyers fees with BCA....mind you, you get a voucher for a free lunch at each sale too :-/ lol

[NorthernMonkey]

Still considerably more than the flat £20 fee I used to pay at midland road, Bradford back in the olden days though!

[andrew e]

Speak to Lord Sward. If you want to know about the burds in the canteen. From the couple of times I've been, I wouldn't say its the place for a couple of hundred quid bargain.

[sierraman]

Wouldn't bother. Cars are that cheap you can get a car now that you can actually inspect properly for £5-600 buying private or whatever. If you insist though I'd steer clear of the back'o'the'woods type of rural auctions that have a general entry or these 'Ccj? No problem' places. The fees as mentioned are lesson an issue if you buying something for £3-4000. But then would you want to spunk that sort of money on a car you could only feel the outline of for 3 minutes on a wet Tuesday night in February?

[outlaw118]

Myself and Mr Purplebargeken went to Enfield and whilst there was a lot of ex-rep and p/x from Glyn Hopkin there...(Fiat 500's) we were both threatening to kick each other in the cluds if we bid. A Breadvan Polo went through unsold - no bids at £10... but the sellers fees would have been £30 on top! Hopefully this PDF link will work...http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/Global/UK/Buyers%20Fees/BCA_Standard_Buyers_%20Fees_January_2016.pdf

 

Yes, you can pick up a MEGABARG but beware small-print.

[outlaw118]

Or you can nip South a bit and go to Cannock autions with TEH MIDLANDZ MASSIV and get a dethburger into the deal....

[NorthernMonkey]

To be fair to BCA, they're the only place you can reliably pick up low mileage, full historied retail ready stock.

For the private buyer looking for a bargain, the numbers don't add up though...you're far better trawling the likes of auto trader and buying on the strength of the private seller just as much as the car.

[stripped fred]

If you do get a 'bargain' you need to consider the amount of cash you may need to spend on an unknown quantity. At least if you buy privately you can suss out the seller and give it a good going over. I suppose it comes down to your attitude to risk. I do like visiting auctions though. It's quite a buzz.

[wuvvum]

If you are a privateer, stay away, it really isn't worth the bother.  For example, you have bought a £200 banger and you have to go up to the rostrum to pay the deposit.  What's that?  Cash?  £200 deposit(!)+1.25% surcharge for counting it +VAT on that service.  Even worse, 3% surcharge +VAT if you pay with your credit card.

Indemnity for that POS?  £100.  +VAT

Buyers premium on that aforesaid POS?  £95.  +VAT.

You think your done?  No, your a privateer, so that will be £25 +VAT for them to complete the V5C for you.

So, to recap, you've bought a £200 trade-in (that has been entered because it absolutely does have a ticking bomb about to go off in it), but your bill, especially hard if you pay by CC, actually reads like this.

£200 "deposit" = £200 +3% +VAT on the 3% translates to £207.20.

Indemnity, £100+VAT +3%CC +VAT on the 3% translates to £123.60.

BP, £95+VAT +3%CC +VAT on the service translates to £116.85.

V5C? £25 +VAT +3%CC +VAT on their service equates to £30.75.

 

Your £200 car just cost you £471.20.

So what's the difference between indemnity and buyer's premium, and how do they get away with charging both to the buyer on the same sale (when they're presumably charging the seller as well)?

 

I haven't been to a non-classic auction for ages - I sometimes wonder whether I should, but my mates who still go tell me it's nothing like it used to be.  I used to go all the time about 15 years ago, and I'd buy something almost weekly - I did end up with some right snotters sometimes, but those weeks were balanced out by the day I drove home from the auction in a burgundy Seat Malaga 1.5 GLX I'd just bought for £80.

[Station]

Grab the smelling salts chaps 

 

 

http://www.flippingcars.co.uk/manheim-car-auction-buyer-fees/

 

It costs them 68 - 290 quid for some fat bloke with his gut poking out under his company personalised bri-nylon darts shirt to drop a hammer? As bad as estate agent 'admin costs'. They sign and turn pieces of paper over ffs for that.

[Bucketeer]

The traders and regulars are great people to get to know. At BCA, if any of us staff wanted a car (very often) they would bid for us and we'd just pay them in cash. Low fees and convenient, plus there might have been something in the rulebook about employees not buying cars. It became a bit addictive, I bought four in one sale once, all of them doctored slightly so that no-one else would bid on them. Swapping plug leads, drop of oil on the exhaust, all the usual fare.

 

In the 'B ring' (older, higher mileage) sales, there was a scrap guy who had a deal with the auctioneers so that if any non-reserve car was making no bids, they would invent a bid of £25 from him and sell it. He didn't need to be, and wasn't often, present at the sale. There always used to be at least half a dozen cars per sale heading his way for £25 each. I always thought that would be great fun, you never know what you're going to get, Christmas morning every morning.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Andy18s had to pay a £30 fee on top of a £420 hammer price at Cannock last weekend for a sub 60k mile Clio, cheap auctions are available to the public, you just have to find the right ones.