Buying a government surplus car is really easy. There are just a few things you need to be careful about. This article will give you the top five things to look for when buying a surplus vehicle at a government auction. Are here:
- First, look for a car (or truck) that has been used in a rural or relatively remote location with paved roads. It’s best to buy a vehicle that has a higher ratio of highway miles to city miles. Cars used by branches of government tend to have more highway miles than city miles, and therefore are generally in better shape and will last longer.
- Do some homework and check out the maintenance schedules of the major government agencies that often have vehicles for sale as surplus. Some agencies have better maintenance programs than others. When I worked for a state agency in New Mexico, we had one of the best auto maintenance programs I’ve ever seen. When those cars were sold as surplus, they had plenty of life left in them. By contrast, some of the vehicles I saw at auction from other agencies were junk.
- Search for the model of the vehicle you want to buy to see what problems that model has typically had. Try to stay away from lemons.
- If you can get the VIN numbers (and they are sometimes available), look up the vehicle at http://www.carfax.com.
- And perhaps the most important tip of all: Call the fleet maintenance supervisor at the agency that overhauled the vehicle you’re interested in. Try to talk to one of the actual mechanics who has worked on the vehicle. Most of these people remember cars very well, especially if the fleet is 20 vehicles or less. They are usually very willing to talk to you about the car or truck in question. After all, it’s not skin to your nose whether or not you buy that particular car.
By following these tips, you can often find a good, affordable car at a government surplus auction.
