Inside the Birmingham car auction where you can pick up a bargain banger for as little as £50 – or save thousands on a BMW, Range Rover or Audi
Thousands of cars sell at 'wholesale prices' at public auctions every day
ATTENTION used car buyers – this article is for you.
The brave and the bold could save thousands of pounds on their next chariot by buying direct at auction.
Yep, cut out the middle man. Thousands of cars sell at “wholesale prices” at public auctions every day.
Many are low mileage, warranted, nearly-new motors from manufacturers, leasing firms and fleet operators.
Where else do you think car supermarkets get their stock? Others are old, high-mileage trade-ins from dealers that fetch as little as £50.
I will stress that buying a used car from Honest John at your local garage has many advantages.
And if that suits you, stick with it.
Honest John is convenient. He’ll probably do finance and offer you an extended warranty. Plus you’ve got someone to lynch if a wheel falls off.
You won’t get any of that love at auction.
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But you will get a bargain. Or at least a fair price on the day. And you’re not paying for Honest John’s new kitchen table.
I should also warn you that auctions can be intimidating. They are fast and frantic and all the cars are sold as seen, so you need to do your homework first. See my buyer’s guide, below
But the choice is H, U, G and E. The savings can be H, U, G and E.
And most auction firms will deliver to your door.
The other day I went to BCA Perry Barr, Birmingham, to check on the latest car prices.
Here are eight picks.
Range Rover Sport
PRICE NEW: £59,465
DEALER PRICE: £48,750
AUCTION PRICE: £42,000
SAVING: £6,750
Range Rover Evoque
PRICE NEW: £36,320
DEALER PRICE: £18,095
AUCTION PRICE: £15,700
SAVING: £2,395
Citroen DS3
PRICE NEW: £15,090
DEALER PRICE: £5,850
AUCTION PRICE: £3,900
SAVING: £1,950
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Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost
PRICE NEW: £13,840
DEALER PRICE: £7,850
AUCTION PRICE: £6,200
SAVING: £1,650
Nissan Qashqai
PRICE NEW: £19,720
DEALER PRICE: £6,995
AUCTION PRICE: £5,000
SAVING: £1,995
Audi TT
PRICE NEW: £29,355
DEALER PRICE: £7,250
AUCTION PRICE: £5,100
SAVING: £2,150
Volkswagen EOS
PRICE NEW: £21,512
DEALER PRICE: £4,170
AUCTION PRICE: £2,300
SAVING: £1,870
BMW 320D
PRICE NEW: £30,120
DEALER PRICE: £11,220
AUCTION PRICE: £8,900
SAVING: £2,320
How to buy a car at auction
- DO your homework. Decide on the car you want before you go. Maybe even do a recce visit to get used to pace of the day. Auctions are FREE and open to public.
- Arrive in good time, examine the stock, select your preferred car and some back-ups. If you don’t know much about cars, bring someone with you that does.
- British Car Auctions (BCA) has a one to five grading system to reflect any damage or repairs needed. Also look for “BCA Assured” stickers. That’s a 30-point AA check which includes brakes and tyre wear.
- When the car is driven into the auction hall, follow it in and listen to the engine running.
- Bidding. Have a price limit – and stick to it. Remember, you’ll have a Buyer’s Fee to pay on top (four to six per cent of sale price). And if you are bidding for an older car, keep some cash aside to have it serviced straight after. Don’t forget, auction cars are sold as seen.
- Be flexible. Don’t get hung up on one car and overlook obvious faults because “I like the colour”. Walk away and look for another motor.
- If you win, result. Go to the auctioneer’s rostrum and pay the clerk your deposit.
- Settle your account at the main office. You then have 24 hours to collect the car – or you can choose to pay for delivery.
BCA is Britain’s biggest vehicle auctioneer, with 24 sites selling around one million vehicles a year. You can find your nearest centre at bca.co.uk.
