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You don't have to be a seasoned buyer or bidder to get your hands on a police impounded car. A lot of people with little or no experience actually come out of the police auction lot with a nice, road-worthy car that set them back for a few hundred dollars. Police impound cars are not necessarily old, rusty heaps. If you look hard enough, you'll find one that may just be what you're looking for.

How to get started

First, find out where the auction will be held and when. Local police agencies advertise their used or impound car auctions through newspapers and websites. You might also try calling your local police department for information.

Arm yourself with enough information. You can't really know what kind of units you'll be faced with until you get there or if you're bidding online, you might not get up close and personal with the impounded cars to judge their value, so better get yourself a price guide for used cars like the Kelley blue book. This way you can check the car's trade-in value so you don't overbid.

Remember that you won't be the only one bidding for the impounded cars. There are others like you, and then there are the pros, who can smell a good buy just by looking at it. These people know that some really great deals can be had with police impounded cars and they are there to take a slice of the pie.

If you know about cars, then you may be confident enough to go at it by your lonesome, but if you don't, best bring someone with you who can help you look under the hood and separate the lemon from the pears, so to speak.

Subscribe to CarFax and bring your laptop or PDA with you so you can check the car's history. This is not a requisite, but it's a good idea to help you verify the impounded car's background.

At the auction

It would be better if you could participate in a live auction yourself because you could actually see and inspect the cars yourself. Since inspection will take time, better arrive early so you'll have time to look at the cars and make your choice. Auction lots usually open early, but bidding starts a few hours after.

After you pay the nominal registration fee, get your bidder number. You can't bid if you don't have one. If you intend to drive the car home in case you win the bid, then bring your driver's license, proof of insurance and get a temporary permit. These permits vary depending on your locality, so best check beforehand.

Find out what the auction rules are. If you're familiar with auction lingo, so much the better. Some police impounded cars can be had for no reserve price, which means you can bid at a very low price.

Don't be shy about inspecting the cars or if someone's available, asking questions. You will not be allowed to start the car, much less test-drive it. It's your money, so you better be sure you get its worth. Look for scratches, dents and evidence of repairs and flooding. Check the lights, mileage, oils, tires, bumpers and windows. You're buying an 'as is, where is' police impounded car and if by any chance you get junk, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Get the impounded car's vehicle identification number (VIN) and run it through CarFax. You'll get some very useful information about its history, including its ownership and any accidents it may have been involved in. This information is a high deciding factor on your part. Sometimes you might be eyeing a nice, seemingly good condition car but a run through CarFax will show that it's been in an accident and that it just got repaired and polished up for auction to look acceptable.

Once bidding starts, be aware of the figures and how much you're actually willing to pay for. Sometimes, in the heat of the bidding exchange, you could get carried away and pay so much more than the car's market value. Remember that the purpose you came to a police impounded car auction is to get a car at dollars less than its market value.

After you win the bid, don't forget about the buyer's premium which can go from 5 to 15% of the bidding price. A police impounded car you won at a $900 bid will cost you $990 on a 10% buyer's premium. Plus, you don't get any warranty on the car.

Police impounded cars could be a great source of good to excellent condition used cars, but only if you go in as an informed buyer. Know the risks involved and get as much information as you can.

The following points should assist you in choosing a good discount insurance for your car and one that has added benefits.

1. You definitely require a lot of help in choosing your discount car insurance coverage options. This article would assist drivers from various walks of life plan the amount of car insurance coverage they should opt for. All you should do would be to answer some basic questions. A good car insurance company or an insurance advisor should be able to guide you thoroughly well in helping you obtain the right type of discount car insurance. Insurance companies use different yardsticks in order to determine what you should pay for your discount car insurance. They should also be able to furnish you with some friendly tips that would assist you in saving money on car insurance for the rest of your life. Most car insurers offer some practical advice on car safety and driving. They cover everything that is to be done if your car is involved in an accident. They would also guide you as to what you should do in case you are proposing to drive in Mexico or Canada. Discount car insurance policy coverages vary. There are the optional and mandatory discount car insurance coverages.

2. Owning a vehicle envisages a big responsibility. Speaking in terms of value, it could be compared with your house. Millions of people consider the maintenance of their car a top priority. Your car must be adequately insured to enable you claim appropriate coverage in the event of an accident, or if it is stolen, or if it is vandalized, or damaged through acts of force majeure. In the event of any of these occurring, a discount car insurance policy repays you the price you had actually purchased the car for. Accidents form the major percentage of discount car insurance claims

3. The insurance premium depends on various factors that are in vogue currently. However, it would be wise to obtain information and quotes pertaining to your cars insurance from various companies, compare them, come to a conclusion and effect the discount car insurance transaction online itself. You would, however, have the option of shopping in person by paying visits to the offices of discount car insurance providers and garner the requisite information from them.

4. Prior to processing your desired quotes, car insurers would have the option of asking for your personal information and your past record of driving. It would be good to note that rash and negligent driving entails that you pay a higher premium. The same applies if your car is a top model or a luxury one.

It seems as though the price of everything is on the rise. The amount a house may have cost in the early 70s is how much you will pay for a new car in the 21st century. Oil companies have used the problems in Southwest Asia as an excuse to send gas prices through the roof. And the cost of peace of mind when driving your vehicle knowing if you or your vehicle is injured in an accident you will be covered has become astronomical. So what can you do to lower your insurance premiums so you dont feel as though you are paying a mortgage note in exchange for a vehicle and a car note in exchange for insurance?

Consider how much coverage you really need to buy and the price each of these coverages will pay. Think about collision and comprehensive coverage, which is how much you will be reimbursed for the loss or destruction of your vehicle. Are you carrying $30,000 worth of collision coverage for a $12,000 vehicle? Is the insurance company really going to give you $30,000 when your vehicle is only worth $12,000, unfortunately not?

If you are leasing or financing your vehicle these coverages may be required however if you are driving an older car that has depreciated significantly you may want to consider saving on your premium by dropping this coverage. Before you drop it make sure you can afford to foot the bill on the entire cost of replacing that vehicle if it is lost.

Think about the cost of insuring that sports car or luxury vehicle before you purchase it. If higher premiums is a small price to pay for going from 0 to 60 in .5 seconds go ahead and purchase that Ferrari, if not consider the sedan.

Generally you cant help where you live but expect that you will pay higher premiums in cities or towns that have high rates of accidents and vandalism as opposed to more rural low crime areas. The X and Y-chromosomes are luck of the draw and everyone ages in the same slow, drawn out amount of time. Oh and of course everyone cant find that special someone and settle down right away but if you had control over any of these things it would help control your premium rates.

Single, young males under the age of 25 get the short end of the stick in this deal so if you fall into this category make up for this price increase by purchasing a more sensible vehicle. Consider delaying the purchase of that cherry red Mustang until after youre 26 and married. Another aspect of higher premiums is your driving record. Drivers who cause accidents will pay for it in their insurance premiums. If youre a high-risk driver the insurance company is going to supplement the money lost on safe drivers by increasing the amount you will have to pay. So slow down, leave earlier, be patient and think about how much money you can save every year by obeying the traffic laws.