If you are trying to find your dream car at Bay Area auto auctions it may seem like the possibilities are endless. The entire bay area covers a significant amount of area which can make it difficult to decide which auctions merit a bulk of your attention. Since every auction house is a little different in what they traditionally offer on their listings, the easier approach is by looking at the different regions to determine which one best suits your needs. The easiest way to split up the Bay Area into sub regions leaves you with six areas to target – Easy Bay, North Bay, Peninsula, San Francisco, and San Jose/Silicon Valley, and Santa Cruz/San Benito.
East Bay Area Auto Auctions
The East Bay is typically associated with the Alameda and Contra counties. The inner East Bay is essentially the shoreline which includes Oakland, Berkeley, Freemont, and Richmond as well as a growing number of suburbs. The outer East Bay includes all of the inland valley area which is separated from the shoreline by a series of mountains. Some of the cities in the outer East Bay include Lafayette, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Oakley, Livermore, and San Ramon.
There have been a growing number of great deals which makes it easier than ever to find your dream car at Bay Area auto auctions. Some of the highlights from recent auctions include:
- 2006 Porsche 911
This beautiful car features a 3.8L V-6 engine and had just over 89,000 miles. The estimated value of it was $36,000 while the winning bidder only paid $19,500. If you are in the market for a hot sports car, then this auction would have been a great opportunity to save some money.
- 2008 Mercedes Benz E350
The Mercedes Benz E350 was a deep black and featured a 3.5L V-6 engine. It had only 62,000 miles which is surprising considering it was four years old. At the time of the auction, its value was estimated at $28,711 and the winning bidder paid $9,600. There were several scratches in the paint, which needed an estimated $565 to fully repair.
North Bay Area Auto Auctions
The North Bay Area is considered to be the region north of the Golden Gate Bridge. This includes the popular Napa and Sonoma counties among others. It is considered to be a very affluent area and is home to Marin County – the richest county in the entire state of California.
The North Bay constantly has excellent opportunities at their auto auctions because it is the only section of the Bay Area which does not have a commuter rail service. As a result, most residents require their own vehicle. Some recent highlights include
- 2011 Jaguar XJ
The silver 2011 Jaguar XJ recently sold at auction featured a 5.0L V-8 engine. It was extremely low-mileage with only 7,713 miles of wear and tear. There was some minor front end damage which required $2,566 to be repaired. It was valued at $82,277 and the winning bidder was happy to walk away paying only $45,500.
- 2010 Mitsubishi Galant FE
Another great find at recent North Bay area auto auctions was a silver 2010 Mitsubishi Galant FE with only 53,501 miles. It had only minor dents and scratches which needed an estimated $1,356 to repair. The winning bidder paid only $6,000 for a vehicle worth an estimated $14,099.
The Peninsula
If you are in the Peninsula section of the Bay Area looking for auto auctions then you could be in Pacifica or Half Moon Bay. You could also be in South San Francisco, Redwood City, Los Altos, or Brisbane. Highlights from recent auctions include
- 2003 Ford Mustang Coupe
The 2003 Ford Mustang had surprisingly low miles (17,006) and featured a 4.6L V-8 engine. The estimated value was nearly $20,000 but the winning bid was only $4,550.
- 2010 Toyota Camry SE/L
This deep red 2010 Toyota Camry had a 2.5L four cylinder engine and 54,868 miles. The winning bid was a meager $5,100 even though the Camry was worth an estimated $17,953.
San Francisco
If you are trying to find your dream car at bay area auto auctions, then San Francisco is probably the first place you started looking. While it is less than 50 square miles, it manages to house more than 800,000 people. It shouldn’t be surprising that there are a ton of auto auctions to choose from. Recent highlights include
- 2004 Porsche 911
This maroon 2004 Porsche 911 stole the show at a recent bay area auto auction. Even though it had only 41,953 miles and an estimated value of $54,531 the winning bid was a mere $13,550.
- 2010 Dodge Charger
The silver 2010 Dodge Charger found a new home for only $3,500. It had only 27,287 miles and an estimated value of $19,800. It had a 3.5L V-6 engine and was a 4 door sedan.
San Jose/Silicon Valley
The San Jose and Silicon Valley section of the Bay area is another great spot for auto auctions. Since it is now well-known as being the premier technology hub in the country, many people assume the auto auctions are full of high end vehicles. While a large number of those opportunities exist, this perception actually makes this section of the Bay Area idea for people who are looking for affordable cars at the auto auctions because they will face very little completion. Recent auction results have provided a number of great deals for car buyers looking for functional, reliable family vehicles.
- 2003 Nissan Sentra SE
This dark blue 4 door sedan provided an excellent value to a local auction buyer. While it did have 114,224 miles, the new owner only paid $700 for a car valued at closer to $8,500.
- 2010 Toyota Corolla S
Another great family car found at bay area auto auctions was a four door, beige Toyota Corolla with only 7,482 miles. Even though it had a value of $17,600 the winning bid was only $4,550.
Santa Cruz/San Benito
The final sub-area to find bay area auto auctions is Santa Cruz/San Benito. Some people don’t consider the Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to be part of the Bay Area; however that doesn’t mean the fantastic deals found at their auto auctions are any less sweet.
- 2008 Infiniti G37
The black Infinity G37 coupe had only 65,845 miles and was valued at $24,155. The winning bidder paid only $9,300.
- 2005 Chrysler 300C
This beautiful 2005 Chrysler 300C was previously a fleet car, which easily explains the 129,139 miles. It had a 5.7L V-8 engine and estimated value of $13,980. The winning bidder paid only $1,900.
With so many places to look, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to find your dream car at Bay Area auto auctions. The key is deciding which area most likely feature they type of car you will desire and then putting yourself in the position to place the winning bid.