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Buying a car from salvage auction

Posted on 8/22/19 at 11:28 pm
Posted by Jack Ruby
Member since Apr 2014
22846 posts
Posted on 8/22/19 at 11:28 pm
Anybody got any tips? Or is it even worth it to begin with??

Some deals seem very good, but sometimes the listed "repair costs" for decent looking cars on the vin report come back as total losses or in the tens of thousands, yet a vehicle may look to only need a couple thousand or so in repairs.
Is all this shite just one big scam or are there actual diamonds in the rough to be had.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98314 posts
Posted on 8/22/19 at 11:33 pm to
I'm sure there are finds to be had. The problem is you're bidding against guys who know a lot more about it than you.
Posted by FightingTigers138
In your thoughts
Member since Dec 2016
5746 posts
Posted on 8/22/19 at 11:42 pm to
Im not a mechanic so I woundnt risk it. But that's just me.
Posted by supatigah
CEO of the Keith Hernandez Fan Club
Member since Mar 2004
87509 posts
Posted on 8/22/19 at 11:49 pm to
Buddy of mine does it
He is partners with a guy that owns a body shop
They buy damaged cars for cash and fix them
They learned a lot of lessons the hard way
He swears they have never lost money on a car
Posted by Rebel
Graceland
Member since Jan 2005
131455 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 12:00 am to
Watch some Samcrac videos on YouTube.

He has found some amazing deals on cars that were totaled because of minor frame damage.

He has a lot of tips for buying.
Posted by puse01
Member since Sep 2011
3742 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 12:03 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 11/16/21 at 8:40 am
Posted by Possumslayer
Pascagoula
Member since Jan 2018
6213 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 2:34 am to
Consider it a disposable, you won’t be able to get any money out of it when it’s time to sell or trade.
Posted by MiDixon Yermouth
Member since Sep 2018
295 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 4:48 am to
Your biggest loss will come with resale. The car will forever carry a salvage title. Few will be buyers, those interested will expect it at a fraction of current value.
Posted by eScott
Member since Oct 2008
11376 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 6:44 am to
If you can make $500 on a car then it's worth it. Your insurance for a dealers license is about 2k per year. You have to have commercial property and a sign displayed with your business name. Do you own a body shop? Mechanic shop?
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65857 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 6:56 am to
Call Moon’s Wrecker Service in Jefferson, LA for a price on this rebuildable wreck and they’ll throw in some Mardi Gras beads....



PS: I would tread very cautiously in the world of rebuilding Salvage Autos.

Because of the implication...
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28308 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 6:59 am to
A total loss is a total loss.

Can you halfass repair a car and sell it for more than what you have in it? Yes, there's a butt for every seat.

Will it be structurally sound and as good as new? No, of course not.

Now, you can make a great track car out of some of those.
Posted by Pvt Hudson
Member since Jan 2013
3584 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 7:08 am to
I would think finding insurance for a car with a salvage title would be difficult.
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21570 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 7:22 am to
Only decent idea if you are very mechanically inclined and can perform most of the repairs yourself, or you have a connection with someone who can and will give you a big discount. One other possibility is if you're looking for parts and the price is right.
Posted by deltaland
Member since Mar 2011
90841 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 7:27 am to
If it’s a newer car I wouldn’t fool with it. I’d think finding some classic cars with say flood damage would get some nice ones, as they don’t have much in electronics. Just have to clean it out good and break the engine down make sure it’s not full of water. Even if it is you can clean it out and run it as long as it isn’t seized up.

Personally I think totaled boats from hurricanes is a better bet. Many just have a hole in the hull that can be repaired or water got in the cabin. You can get a damn small yacht for under 20k and strip the interior out and redo it, service the engine, and good to go. 250k plus boat that might require 25k total in investments
Posted by TheCaterpillar
Member since Jan 2004
76774 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 7:37 am to
Know a guy that got an early 90s bronco at one and fixed it up as a camp vehicle and it’s pretty badass
Posted by VolsOut4Harambe
Atlanta, GA
Member since Sep 2017
12856 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 8:07 am to
Not worth it. Nobody on the used marked will buy a salvage titled car.
Posted by supatigah
CEO of the Keith Hernandez Fan Club
Member since Mar 2004
87509 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 8:42 am to
Good luck
This post was edited on 8/23/19 at 8:43 am
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
69184 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 8:59 am to
Really depends on the car. Generally a truck is always worth it.
Ladder frames can be repaired easier than unibody.
Sports cars and collectibles can be worth it too.
Posted by wildtigercat93
Member since Jul 2011
112363 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 10:15 am to
Knew a guy who flipped these cars as a living. Life long guy in the car business at multiple levels. He was best friends with the auctioneer and always had inside info on what cars were bunk and which ones were undervalued before even showing up to the auction.

You’d get eaten alive in that situation if you come in green thinking you’ll make a quick buck.
Posted by OLDBEACHCOMBER
Member since Jan 2004
7196 posts
Posted on 8/23/19 at 12:48 pm to
I bought one with a "salvage title" Only after I had the car shipped to me it came without the title. After big hassle they sent me a "for destruction only" title. The was coparts auction. They lied and said I misread but I had several screen shots of the online auction.
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