The Police Department are in charge of enforcing the laws of the country. This activity includes impounding cars, which are confiscated for a number of different reasons. Storing and managing these cars are a headache so the police does not impound them permanently. Quite the opposite – they get sold at car auctions.
This is an opportunity for consumers and speculators to buy good vehicles at a very good price. To truly make a success of police impound car auctions, you need to be familiar with the events that lead up to the actual auction. So what are the circumstances that lead to vehicles getting impounded? These rules are different from state to state, but generally include the following:
1. The registration of the vehicle is no longer valid (usually for a time period more than 6 months).
2. The owner/driver of the car has been involved at criminal events.
3. There are outstanding unpaid parking tickets or the car has been parked without a relevant permit.
The laws are different from one place to the next, so the above reasons are not the same in all states. It is however a general guideline as to why vehicles get seized and impounded.
The police department will normally notify both the lien holder and owner of the vehicle once it’s been impounded. The vehicle will remain at the policepolice department’s impound for thirty days. From time to time the registered lien holder may wish to repossess the vehicle while still in impound. This is depending on the state’s individual laws regulating these issues as well as the individual finance agreement of the financing house.
The police department will lodge an application at the relevant courts to sell the cars if after 30 days there have been no response by the lien- or registered owner. This whole process takes quite a few days – normally between 40 and fifty days. The court approval sets the wheels in motion for the department to sell the car at a police impound car auction.
The police departments utilise a variety of means to communicate to prospective auction attendees. These are normal newspapers, online press releases as well as other miscellaneous means. There will normally be a catalogue released to display all the available items on the day of the auction.
One thing bidders need to be weary for is the potential for outstanding liens on the car. The process till the auction doesn’t leave a lot of room for the police department to check for outstanding legal claims on the car. Therefore ensure to check this.
With a good auction strategy in place, you will be left speechless at the great deals available on these impounded vehicles at police auctions.
Mail this post










