When to buy at auction?

[HonestSteve]

I've bought at BCA before, some time ago, and was wondering what it's like these days. When is the best time for a private buyer to buy?

I was thinking the following....
Dec - Pre-Christmas and the new year is imminent (prices low)
Jan - Jan sales etc not many people making big buys outside of sales (slightly higher)
Feb - New reg is due and an influx of used cars (prices lowest)
March - Increase in trade ins, with fewer bought over the last 3 months, does the good stuff start to pull a premium? Stuff needing work goes for less due to the money chasing the influx of better cars?
April - Prices start to rise? Stock up for summer with the good trade ins and 6 months until a new plate is due/no year change

I was thinking i'd start looking for the right models and buy in Jan/Feb next year.
Also, does anyone know of anywhere that lists the sold prices? There were a few threads on here back in 2008

[NK85]

Before the hammer goes down...

[SantaBarbara]

What vehicle are you looking for, please?

[slk 32]

I think the days of getting a bargain at auction are long gone

Too many private buyers bidding prices up to the extent it would even be cheaper to buy retail with all the security that would bring plus all the additional (higher) fees the private buyer gets lumbered with

I've bought a couple of bargains in the past but you'll be up against it now I think

Good luck..

[HonestSteve]

NK85 said:

Before the hammer goes down...

Thanks for the tip fella

SantaBarbara said:

What vehicle are you looking for, please?

CX-5 (petrol) and a diesel X-Trail, probably 2015/16

slk 32 said:

I think the days of getting a bargain at auction are long gone

Too many private buyers bidding prices up to the extent it would even be cheaper to buy retail with all the security that would bring plus all the additional (higher) fees the private buyer gets lumbered with

I've bought a couple of bargains in the past but you'll be up against it now I think

Good luck..

I did fear this, the BCA website and service is geared up for private buyers much more than it was.
I was hoping for at least a £1k saving over the dealer price or i wouldn't bother, like you said i'd take the security of buying from them.

[mattman]

as above, previously purchased cars from BCA Blackbushe, but last time i went the prices were silly - a lot of cars were going above Autotrader prices.

Buyers fees for Joe Public are silly to protect the trade - you are better off buying privately

[jjr1]

This is a cracking thread......

Bought my 430D last year at BCA but had literally attended loads of auctions and the prices were just silly !

I can honestly agree that the private sale is much more likely to throw up a bargain.

[buyer&seller]

The idea that prices at auction are high due to privateers buying them is a myth, it's a combination of factors but private punters being the main one is way off the mark.

There isn't a good time to pick up a bargain, you may get a cheap car if you are prepared to go to an auction every day of the week and hope a car comes at the right money, but as you are looking for something specific you will have very little chance, it really isn't that easy I'm afraid.

[Chris_91]

The best time to buy is every week, the more cars you buy the less fees you pay. If you just want to buy one car from auction every couple of years, you'll get ripped off.

[craig-A]

slk 32 said:

I think the days of getting a bargain at auction are long gone

Too many private buyers bidding prices up to the extent it would even be cheaper to buy retail with all the security that would bring plus all the additional (higher) fees the private buyer gets lumbered with

I've bought a couple of bargains in the past but you'll be up against it now I think

Good luck..

Not so, depends on the car you are looking for. Bargains can still be had.
Mine was purchased just over a week ago from BCA Livingston, it's 08/08 Citroen C4 vtr+, 46k miles guaranteed, MOT to 04/08, £825 plus fees.
I agree fees are steep, total came to just over £1200, however in BCA's defence the fees are clearly posted in the auction hall and are comparable with other auctions.
I also agree that the auctions are set up to suit traders doing multiple purchases not private buyers, but it doesn't mean private buyers are excluded.

My last 2 cars were bought from auction, a 53 plate Laguna, total price £1500, ran for 3 years without incident and sold for £500. A 03 plate mx5, total purchase £1850, ran for nearly 4 years, written off in a car park bump, £1200 from the insurance company plus i kept the car and sold parts for a few hundred quid more.

Look on ebay/autotrader/gumtree at all the cars priced around the £3k mark, almost without exception everyone of these cars would go through the ring for around £1500, with a little knowledge of what to look for, a little patience to visit a few auctions before deciding to bid and an open mind to ignore the badge on the front of the car and judge it as your next saloon/estate/hatchback suitable for your daily grind and you should get a good deal.

Good luck

[tim0409]

HonestSteve said:

I was hoping for at least a £1k saving over the dealer price or i wouldn't bother, like you said i'd take the security of buying from them.

I was involved in the car trade years ago (buying trade ins from dealers and taking them straight to auction) so I am familiar with the process. Since then I have bought quite a few cars from auction for personal use but stopped a few years ago as it just isn't worth it anymore, especially on the kind of car your are looking for (newish). The buyers fee will be pretty huge which will wipe out most of any savings, and you have to factor in your time and the effort involved in spending hours at an auction, especially if you don't buy anything.

[SantaBarbara]

slk 32 said:

I think the days of getting a bargain at auction are long gone

Too many private buyers bidding prices up to the extent it would even be cheaper to buy retail with all the security that would bring plus all the additional (higher) fees the private buyer gets lumbered with

I've bought a couple of bargains in the past but you'll be up against it now I think

Good luck..

No, there are still very fine bargains to be found on some specialist sites.