Introduction
Buying a car at an auction is a great way to save money, but it requires preparation, knowledge, and a clear strategy. The Euroleasingauto.com team, with years of experience in this field, shares a proven method on how to assess car value, what you must know about auction specifics, and what to pay attention to when choosing a car.
1. How to Assess a Car’s Market Price?
The first and most important step is to objectively assess how much a similar car currently costs in the market. The most commonly used platform for this is mobile.de. When selecting comparable listings, it is important to consider:
• Make and model
• Year of manufacture
• Mileage
• Transmission type (automatic or manual)
• Engine type (diesel, petrol, electric, etc.)
• Configuration and additional features (e.g., navigation, heated seats, leather interior, etc.)
Once the average price of such a car including VAT is determined, it is recalculated without German VAT (usually 19%) and then reduced by about 10% to get an approximate wholesale auction value. This helps set a realistic purchase budget.
Example:
If a desired VW Passat costs around €22,000 on mobile.de, then without VAT this would be around €18,500. Subtracting ~10% gives an estimated wholesale value of €16,500–17,000. That’s usually a reasonable bid for the auction.
2. What to Look for When Choosing a Car at Auction?
Once you know what kind of car you're looking for and what it should cost, it's important to assess the specific car offered at auction:
• Photos: Carefully evaluate all provided images, paying close attention to details like headlights, rims, body lines, and interior.
• Technical condition: Review the service history (if available), list of defects, technical inspections, and other information.
• Mileage: It should be proportionate to the car's age and overall visual condition.
• Fees and transportation: When buying via Euroleasingauto.com, all these costs are transparently calculated and presented. Still, it's recommended for the client to understand what constitutes the final price.
Important: All cars listed on Euroleasingauto.com come from reliable sources—major European leasing companies and fleet managers. There are no private sellers or small unknown dealers, minimizing the risk of buying a car without documents or with unclear origin.
3. Budgeting Importance and Auction Types
Having a clear budget is essential for every buyer. This becomes even more important depending on the auction type. Euroleasingauto.com features two main auction formats:
• Closed Auction (Tender):
In this type, other participants' offers are not visible, and no reference price is provided. The buyer submits a single, serious bid—realistic and in line with market value. If the bid is unreasonably low (e.g., half the market value), the seller will simply reject it.
• Open Auction:
A classic auction format where the highest current bid is visible throughout. The most activity typically occurs in the last few minutes before the auction ends. That’s why it’s crucial to have a predetermined maximum budget and stick to it. If the price exceeds your plan—it's better to skip that car and wait for another opportunity.
Our team's advice – approach each auction with a clear plan, objective price assessment, and strict discipline.
4. Don’t Buy the First Available Option
Auction listings change constantly—one day there may be no suitable cars, and the next day there could be several. Don’t make hasty decisions. It's better to wait, consult with the Euroleasingauto.com team, and choose an option that truly meets your needs and budget.
Conclusion
Buying a car at auction through Euroleasingauto.com is a reliable way to get a quality vehicle at a competitive price. The key is proper preparation, realistic market assessment, understanding auction mechanics, having a clear budget, and trusting an experienced team that will help you make the best decision.
