How to Find The Best Car Auctions Near You

Finding reliable car auctions in your area can be difficult, especially with the range of scams that exist online. The good news is that there are reliable ways to secure great deals on used vehicles at trustworthy auction sites in your area. This guide aims to help you find the best car auctions near you and avoid car auction scams. 

5 ways to find the best public car auctions near you

There are two main types of car auctions, which are public auctions and dealer-only auctions. Dealer-only auctions require you to get a license and purchase a certain number of vehicles each year to keep the license. So, for most car enthusiasts, the best way is through a public auction. This can include online auctions as well as in-person auctions. The following are several ways to find the best car auctions near you. 

Auto Auction Mall

Auto Auction Mall is a popular website that allows you to find great auctions near you through their search feature. They also have popular online auctions to consider as well. The way it works is simple. Simply type your location into the search bar and browse through all of the car auctions in your area. This may not include all of the auctions in your area, but it is a great place to get started. You can start your search with Auto Auction Mall here. 

Local newspapers

It may seem old-school to check local newspapers, but it can be an incredibly effective strategy that many other would-be bidders may fail to check. In addition to the paper copy of the local newspapers, you can check the newspaper’s website as well. Primarily, be sure to look in the business directories and upcoming events sections. In addition to finding car auctions, you may also be able to find great deals on used vehicles in the “vehicles for sale” section of your local newspaper. 

Car dealer magazines

Car dealer magazines are another great place to look for car auctions near you. If you are currently subscribed to some, then check the most local copies and see if there are any insights about auctions either in your area or online. They may also have information about used cars for sale by owner as well. To help you get started, we recommend checking out Used Car Dealer and Auto Dealer Today. 

Google search

Every local area is unique, and the websites that can be useful in finding car auctions near you may vary based upon the area you live in. Subsequently, if you have not found any notable car auctions in your area through Auto Auction Mall, local newspapers, or cal dealer magazines, then try searching for “the best car auctions near me” in the Google search. This can use your location to provide specific results related to your location and may show reputable auctions in your area. However, be careful to avoid scams as they can be plentiful. 

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Business directories

There are a lot of resources that offer business directories. As mentioned, your local newspaper is the best place to start. However, you can also check website resources such as Google My Business, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, Yahoo, Foursquare, and Yelp. These directories may not show car auctions near you specifically, but they may reveal certain private business types that hold them.

4 best ways to find government car auctions near you

Much of which we have discussed thus far is related to online or in-person public auctions. However, government auctions can be just as useful for finding great deals on quality used vehicles, particularly with government-seized vehicles. The best types of government auctions that we recommend are federal auctions and local police auctions. 

Ask your local chamber of commerce

Your local chamber of commerce should have records of all government-held auctions in your area. You can simply contact them to find out the schedule. To find your local chamber of commerce, check out this online directory for local chambers. 

Government Auctions (website)

GovernmentAuctions.Org allows you to search and find various types of government-held auctions, including auto auctions. Simply search your state and see what comes up for your area. Keep in mind, this organization does not have every government car auction listed, so do not give up hope if you do not find this resource useful. Another useful government auction website is usa.gov (see below). 

Call your local police department

Police departments hold police impound car auctions for government-seized vehicles. They list them in the local newspaper at least 90 days before the auction date. However, you can also contact your local police department as well. Of course, you should never call 911 for this information (very important). Instead, look up your local police department’s non-emergency phone number and call that number instead. They should be able to provide the date, time, and location of any police impound car auctions in the near future. 

Look up federal government car auctions

All federal government auctions are listed on usa.gov under the “government auction and sales page,” which you can find here. Previously, this was known as govsales.gov, a fairly popular website for car auction enthusiasts. Keep in mind, these are federal government car auctions rather than local auctions, so finding one in your area may be more of a challenge.  

How to avoid car auction scams

It is important to verify (at least once) any car auction you find. This guide aims to provide only the most reputable resources to help you in your search for the best car auctions near you, but it is important to keep in mind that scams are still possible, especially when searching on non-government websites. Car auction scams (and used car sale scams) are far too common, so it is important to verify their legitimacy before agreeing to a purchase or financial payment of any kind.