Who needs car salesmen? (British Car Auctions (BCA))

Member Name: darkman2005

Product:	British Car Auctions (BCA)
Date:	14/01/05 (3469 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reputable, Quick, Efficient

Disadvantages: Somewhat risky, Faraway locations

Everyone loves a bargain. And when it comes to buying a used car, everyone has a theory on how to find one. So we go through the tireless process of looking through papers, ringing anonymous people for test-drives in places we have never heard of. Then it happens. We lose our bottle and head down to the local dealer and pay through the nose for a “safe” deal.

Well I nearly did the same thing except I was determined to rewrite the end line. I bought at auction. Yes those scary bidding halls filled with crooks and swindlers. At least that’s what I expected. In reality buying at auction was incredibly fun and a relatively safe bet.

British Car Auctions are the biggest such group in the UK with a network across Europe. This is big business and it’s happening most days of the week around the country. The majority of the punters are car dealers but there are a growing percentage of private buyers attending and not losing their bottle.

The process is incredibly simple. Each car is presented for sale. Every car has been checked so you can be sure that it is not stolen or defaulting on finance. Some are “sold as seen” which means just that. No warranties. Some are sold with warranteed mileage so you can be sure the figure on the clock is legit. Some are sold with a warranty against major mechanical fault. This sounds good, but the warranty only lasts one hour after auction, so you will need to take a mechanically mined friend.

The cars are parked in a lot for inspection prior to the auction. Cars cannot be started or opened. They are then driven through the bidding hall in running sheet order. As they pass into the hall, buyers get their only chance to scramble a look inside a door or perhaps even a peek under the bonnet. The bidding process then begins. It’s like very episode of Bargain Hunt you’ve seen, only with bidding gestures 1000x subtler. The hammer falls on the highest bid and the car is sold or “provisionally sold,” which means the car may have a reserve price to be negotiated upon after the auction. The winning bidder is legally obliged to place a deposit of £500 pound on the car.

Car presented are either fleet vehicles, trade-ins from reputable dealers or the lucky-dip of cars from private punters. It’s only the last group that should strike the fear into your heart and the buyer really should be aware of anything running through this bidding hall.

I found British Car Auctions to be a thoroughly efficient and understanding company to deal with. I saw the car I wanted through the online search database - late model Vauxhall Zafira with low warrnteed miles. It was being auctioned in Manchester. I asked a few questions about the car on email. It was answered the next day. I caught a train from London. The car went through the hall. I put up my finger until the bidding stopped. One hour and three signatures later I was driving my car home at £2500 under dealer list price.

My advice would be to stalk out the car you want. Be prepared to bid to the dealer list price and you should get it. Remember to include the £250 buyers commission in your price. Remember that you will be bidding primarily amongst professionals. Look as amateur as possible. Put your hand up nice and high, holding your What Car? Price guide. Once they sniff that you are a private buyer and have no idea, they should scatter leaving you with the car that you want, minus the annoying car salesman.

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