All across the country you will be able to find police auctions and seized auctions where you can bid on used motorhomes. many of these vehicles are won with a closing bid that is just a small fraction of the true value of the motorhome.

A poplar type of auction is the Repo auction or repossessed auction. These auctions have a wide selection of vehicles on offer which have been repossessed due to foreclosure and need to be sold off as quickly as possible. The starting bids are normally very low indeed. Most of the vehicles are in good condition but occasionally you will find older models that need checking over more thoroughly beforehand.

Another class of auction that is similar to the repossessed auctions is the police auction or seized auction. The vehicles up for auction here have all been confiscated by the authorities mostly due to being deemed as a result of illegal earnings. Most of these vehicles are in very good condition too.

Police auctions and repossessed auctions don’t seem to be publicized very much and are principally attended by members of the trade. They are however open to the public. There are a few websites that contain details of upcoming police auctions and the vehicles which will be on offer. See the link at the end of this article.

Here are some pointers to help you get the best deal possible at auction:

Firstly you need to get very clear on the type of motorhome you will be bidding on before attending the auction. It is no good going to the auction to peruse different styles of RV. The viewing time at the auction should be spent intensively checking over every detail of any candidate vehicles. If you are not sure as to which RV is best for you then borrow or hire one for a few days to see how it goes and you will get a good idea as to the size and class of RV which will be best for you and your family.

You need to spend a great deal of time scrutinizing any vehicle you intent to bid on. Examine the engine, the brakes, the underside, the bodywork , the roof, the heating, the electrics, the seating, the cupboards, the air conditioning and everything else. Don’t forget to enlist the help of your local mechanic friend too. Take notes of anything that needs repairing or replacing.

Next you need to estimate a price. You should be aware of the general price bracket for the type of RV you are looking at and the age. Make sure you have the motorhome press with you and check out other similar vehicles that may be for sale there as a guide. Add to your price estimation the price of the repairs that you noted down before and there you have your value. This should be your absolute maximum bid as bidding higher would mean paying more than the vehicle is worth. In most cases the bidding will end well before reaching your valuation figure.

Source by Barry Bushnell