Auto auction

Auto auctions are a method of selling new, and most often, used vehicles based on auction system. Auto auctions can be found in most nations, but are often unused by most people, since in most nations such as the United States, auto auctions are exclusive to used car dealers. In a few countries, such as Japan, auto auctions are well known and used, sometimes indirectly, by most residents.

Auto auctions are the most popular method to sell used vehicles in Japan. Most customers are Japanese seeking a cheap vehicle to start with or replace their older vehicle. There are many also trying to sell their vehicles. Individuals though cannot directly use auto auctions, but must go through those holding auction membership. In Japanese law, only dealerships may become members to auto auctions. The way the system is set up allows people to have access to information, but keep the auctions orderly with only professionals actually able to bid.

A small percentage of the dealers that are members of Japanese auto auctions are also used vehicle exporters that most often use the auto auctions as their primary source of used vehicles. Other than these exporters, most members are used vehicle dealership that sell in Japan and are used by Japanese people to find a car they want.

In Japan there are over 30 well known auto auction groups and over 200 auto auction locations throughout Japan. Additionally, there are more smaller auctions held for specialized items. Furthermore, large amounts of cars in Japan are auctioned online, using various types of auction software. Auction inspection sheets allow buyers and inspectors to evaluate the worth of a car over such systems.

In the United States, auto auctions are relatively unknown to the public at large, but play a major role as a wholesale market for second-hand vehicles. Most states only allow closed auctions, meaning only dealers can use them. There are also auctions that are open to the public in a few states like New Hampshire. These auctions are a primary outlet for financial services firms to dispose of their large volume of off-lease returns, for rental and other companies to sell off their aging fleets and for car dealerships to dump trade-ins or other unwanted inventory. Some auctions in the United States are used by banks, the IRS, and other government agencies to sell vehicles that were repossessed for failure to make monthly payments or pay taxes, or were seized by the FBI, DEA, or the police. Also, there are some that sell US Government vehicles. Finally, there are those catering to the salvage market where insurance companies sell totaled vehicles.

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Wikipedia