MIkes AutoShack Car Auctions

Public Car Auctions

Public car auctions are usually a much better option. There are many cars to choose from and the prices paid can be difficult to beat. Although forget all that "cars for $100!" or "90% off retail!" marketing hype we see on the internet. And the number and quality of the vehicles at these auctions has increased dramatically in recent months due to the bad economic times we're currently in.


The auto auction is used by auto dealers to sell cars at wholesale. Sellers include new car dealers who have taken in a surplus of used cars as trade-ins. Sometimes they drop a surplus of new models on the auction.

Buyers include used car dealers who cannot get enough used cars from their newer car sales and out-of-town dealers acquiring cars for shipment.

And, like stock market traders who buy a block of stock and sell it hours or days later, some auto dealers buy for speculation, hop­ing that the used car market will firm up so they can sell the cars back at a profit.

Like the stock market, the auto auction has a rigid set of rules. Only dealers who are registered and in good standing can buy and sell. When a dealer raises his hand to bid on a car, he is committed. There is no reconsideration or backing off.