Know the Pros and Cons. One obvious advantage in getting a salvaged car in seized car auctions is that you get to own a car and amazingly save money without having to go through an irritating dealer. Buying a salvaged car is not really as cheap and fun as it may seem. You may not be able to get full liability car insurance. You will have to shoulder the expenses for the repairs. These repairs may sometimes cost you much. And you will be required to pay on the spot immediately after the bidding process. So you need to bring with you cash, checkbook, or pre-approved loan from a financing institution before attending an auction.
Today you can cut out the middle man thus reducing the middle man fees. Using the Internet also allows you to find the parts that you need even if they are not in your local area. It also opens you up to new methods of communication to help you find specific parts you might be looking for.
Your local online classifieds: Try searching through a site like Craigslist if there is a board for where you live (or don’t mind driving to). Craigslist is full of people who are looking to buy and sell car parts online. There is even a specific board just for car parts listings. With a few simple emails, you might be able to find exactly the part you are looking for, or with someone who knows how to find it.
The last option you may take advantage of is to contact a junk car removal company that pay for towing away your damaged car, as they recycle it. This is a good opportunity too, as you will get more money than if you shred your car at a scrap yard. The exact amount of cash you will get will depend not only on its condition, but also on its weight and size.
What this means is that you can sometimes save a lot of money by sourcing the motor spares you need online, instead of buying through garages, or through major car manufacturers.
Looking for used car parts can be easy if you know where to go to find them. Depending on the area you live in there may or may not be a local 94 ford f150 yard. This is the best place to buy used car parts. There are two different types of auto wrecking yards. One is a pull it yourself yard in which you pay an entrance fee to get into the yard and remove the parts you are looking for yourself and pay for them once you’ve taken them off. The other type of yard is a full service yard in which you tell the salesperson what part you need and they will have it removed for you.
Every junk yard is a little different with regard to pricing. And the amount you can expect to save will vary based on the type of item you’re looking for. For example, car seats may carry higher savings than fuel pumps. As a general rule, you should expect to pay 40% to 50% less than you would for a comparable new unit. A brand new “straight-from-the-box” alternator might cost $200. At a junkyard, you should expect to pay $100 to $120 for the same brand and model.
Don’t be greedy. Now, I understand that this is all about getting the top dollar for your car, but, there is a walk-away price for any business. Most salvagers are only willing to pay a little more then half of what they can make off the car. So, if your asking price is more then 65% of what they can make, then they will more then likely walk away from it.
Lastly, before you decide on a repair shop, consider the reviews that the shop have received. Look online and do a search for reviews of a particular shop. You are bound to find something and if the reviews are good, you know you’ve made a good choice. If they are bad, you saved yourself from a car repair nightmare. Also check with your local BBB to see if there have been any complaints.