Police auctions for used motorhomes

Police Auctions are great places to get a fantastic price on a used motorhome or RV but you have to know what you are doing or it can quickly turn into a nightmare.

 Here are a few pointers to help you bid with confidence and get the best deal without getting ripped off.

What sort of motorhome are you really looking for?  You need to be very clear about what sort of motorhome and how old it should be before attending any auction. Auctions are not the best place to go perusing. If you really know what you want then you will already have investigated the prices and it will be easier to adjust your bidding so as to not pay over the odds for a vehicle. To help you get clear you might like to borrow or hire a similar motorhome to the one you are considering. Try it out for a few days to see if it really does suit you and your family.  

Get yourself some help  Make sure you have some help on hand when you are going to view a motorhome, especially if it is in an auction. Take a mechanic with you and if possible an experienced RVer who will be able to give an extra point of view and help you to not get lost in the illusion of a new motorhome. Let your mechanic start inspecting the engine and the underside and all things mechanical whilst you inspect everything else in detail.  

Give the motorhome a value  As you are inspecting the motorhome you should be making notes of everything that doesn't work or is broken. Calculate a value for these repairs and then add it to the approximate value of the vehicle according to similar vehicles of a similar age for sale in the motorhome press or at dealerships. Now add the auctioneers fee which varies but can be up to 10%. You should now have a valuation figure, you can use this as your maximum bid knowing that if by any chance the bidding does get carried away that bidding over this amount and you will be paying more than the vehicle is worth. Nine times out of ten however the motorhomes are sold at well below their value.

For a list of Police Auctions and seized auctions in your area see the AmericanMotorhome.net website. You can also download a free Used Motorhome Buyer's Checklist