GSA auctions are consistently providing citizens with an opportunity to purchase high-quality, affordable cars at local auctions. If you are in Orange County, then you have a particularly beneficial opportunity. This is because Orange County often has larger listings and more auctions than many other parts of the country. The key to having a successful auction experience is understanding what type of vehicles you can expect to find and how to lock in the best deals.
GSA Auctions in Orange County Can Be Your Best Option
Before you decide to take advantage of GSA auctions, it is important to understand why they offer you a unique opportunity. This will not only better prepare you for the auction experience, but also help remove the common doubts about the process.
GSA auctions are unique for a number of reasons. One of the primary benefits is that GSA auctions include vehicles which were used by a variety of different government agencies. This ensures that the overall selection includes a wide variety of vehicles. Normally, most government agencies will by one or two different types of cars every year. If you attended an auction held by a single agency, then your options will be limited. By using the GSA, you will often see nearly every American-made make and model for auction.
Another aspect that makes GSA auctions in Orange County unique is all of the vehicles tend to be well maintained. All government agencies set up their own internal maintenance schedule which is applied to every vehicle. Compared to many other types of auctions, GSA auctions are often considered to have the highest average quality of vehicle.
What Will You Find at GSA Auctions in Orange County?
Now you have a better understanding of the benefits of GSA auctions, you may be wondering about what types of vehicles you will actually find. While there are a range of vehicles available, many of them fall into three categories.
The first category is older cars with high mileage. In general, these will be the least expensive cars at the auction because most bidders will focus on the next two categories. While these cars may need some minor repairs, they do offer an excellent overall value. You will be able to pay only a few thousand dollars or less and bring home a car which can be driven immediately. You may need to invest some money in repairs and maintenance to ensure a longer lifespan, however this isn’t a necessary step.
The second category of cars consists of vehicles which are older, but have surprisingly low mileage. In most cases, these cars were purchased new and were meant to be placed in the carpool rotation. For one reason or another, this either didn’t happen until several years later or it was designated to a specific employee who did not need to drive long distances on a regular basis. At the auction in July 2012 there were numerous examples of this. Some of them which stood out include a 2004 Dodge Stratus with 17,099 miles, a 2006 Chevy Malibu with 29,205 miles, and a Chevy Impala with 13,483 miles.
The final category of vehicles is much newer, but has some miles on them. While they won’t have more than 100,000 miles, they will have 50,000 to 80,000 miles in most cases. Any time that you find newer cars with high mileage at a GSA auction in Orange County, there is a high likelihood that a majority of the mileage is interstate or Highway miles. This means that while the mileage may be high, the car probably didn’t have to deal with the wear and tear associated with regular breaking like many city driven cars do. Some recent examples include a 2010 Dodge Avenger with 82,602 miles, eight 2010 Dodge Charger with 51,730 miles, a 2009 Chevy Impala with 40,619 miles, and a 2009 Ford focus with 37,788 miles.
How to Get the Best Deals at GSA Auctions in Orange County
As with any auction setting, it is imperative that you utilize a strategy which gives you the best chances of taking advantage of a great deal when it appears. One of the biggest mistakes people make is going directly to the GSA auction website. Recently, the GSA redesigned their auction websites so that you can bid online before the auction begins. While this may sound like a great idea, the problem is that the opening bid price is no bargain. In many cases, it is only a few thousand dollars less than the market value of the vehicle. By waiting until the live GSA auction, you will see opening bid prices which are substantially lower.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of any auction websites. There are actually some great online auto auctions websites which will help you place bids at the live GSA car auction so that you don’t have to attend in person. Since these websites are still giving you access to the live GSA auction, they can be an excellent solution. The key is simply avoiding the GSA operated online auction website.
There is no doubt you should consider GSA auto auctions in Orange County for cheap cars. Not only do you get an excellent opportunity to pay rock-bottom prices on well-maintained used cars, but you also get a huge selection to choose from. This ensures you will find the exact type of car you are looking for, while still staying within your budget.
