Salvage vehicles auctions anyone ??

[osprey]

Does in anyone on this forum have a license to purchase salvage vehicles etc ?? I was wondering how hard it is to get a license to do participate in the salvage auctions ? I was looking online and was amazed at the inventories that some of these sales have. Are there any good publications magazines/newsletters that promotes the industry of salvage vehicles etc ?? I would appreciate any info you might be willing to share.

Thank's very much !!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Hakim]

I am not a salvage dealer, but I did buy a salvage vehicle from a used car dealer once.

"Salvage" can mean various things. In my case, it was a "recovered stolen" vehicle, which the dealer had bought form an insurance agency. The dealer was a local guy who had retired from IBM, and started up a used car business on his driveway. I knew and trusted him, more or less. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Once the insurance company has paid the claim, they have no interest in the vehicle at all and practically give them away.

I paid $1,000 for an Audi that was worth about $10,000 at the time. So, it seemed like a very, very good deal.

However /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ... in New York state where I lived at the time, you have to have any "salvage" vehicle inspected by the State Police, who then certify that it is safe to operate. You need that inspection in order to get the car titled.

When I went to have the car "inspected" I was told that the State Police ONLY do those inspections one day a month. Of course, it had just happened, and I had to wait another 30 days to get the work done. The dealer who sold it to me had not signed the correct paperwork, and had left for vacation.

So, it wound up taking me about six weeks to actually get the car titled and on the road.

Many salvage vehicles are "reconstructed" from parts of cars that have been involved in accidents. One car front end totaled + other car rear end totaled + a good body shop = blow torch it apart and re-weld the two "good" ends into a "new vehicle." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

There are many issues and potential problems in buying cars like this, such as bent frame, lifetime alignment problems, etc etc etc.

It is certainly pays to have a CarFax done on any vehicle, and a salvage vehicle will be identified in this manner (before you buy).

Actually, all said and done, I was pleased with my purchase and drove the car without any problems for several years. But a recovered stolen is not the same thing as a welded-up job from two totaled wrecks.

This is a case of truly "buyer beware." In my case it worked out fine, but I am not sure I would ever buy one like this again. But for 10 cents on the dollar, how wrong can you go... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Also, I should menti0opn that my atuo repair skills are almost nil. So a more mechanical minded person may have less hesitation than I would.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Another thing to watch out for is the thousands of hurricane vehicles that are going through the auctions right now. Water is just terrible on the electrical systems on the newer cars & especially salt water. If it looks too good to be true............it is !!! Let the buyer beware !!!!

 

[osprey]

Thanks,
Hakim for sharing your experience....... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[osprey]

Tom,
I was looking at a listing and a lot of them were victims of Katrina. I seen some nice late model 3/4/one tons etc. if I could get one for a $1000 I would go for it and work on it as time permits and then have a good farm truck.

 

[HGM]

You'd want to have a real good idea of what kind of water it was under though.. If it was salt water or sewer contaminated water, forget about it better run.... If you could know for sure that it was just fresh rain water, not so bad but you'd better have agood idea of how the electronics work.. Just my $.02 .. Good luck, I'm kinda interested in the same topic, the info I have found recomends getting a dealer license for your state then you have access to dealer auctions where you can get some of the good deals.. I'd be leary of the insurance deals myself...

 

[scesnick]

I bought my 01" Dodge diesel From a salvage dealer. He does mostly Dodge diesels. He rebuilds them to show room quality. I am actually trying to get him to find me a salvaged VW Jetta Diesel. I think he is going to finally do it for me. He does great work, is very honest about the vehicle and has great prices. www.balsleyautosales.com I would not hesitate to suggest a "R" title vehicle from him to anyone. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif