Police Auto Auctions

Why Police Auto Auctions Occur

One of the most common misconceptions about police auto auctions is that you're only going to be able to purchase worn out police cars. In truth, there are lots of cars that become part of because they were seized in the execution of crimes. Here's how it works.

Many years ago, lawmakers recognized the fact that a policy agency could spend thousands of man hours and literally millions of dollars working on a single case. Infiltrating a major crime ring takes time, planning and money. And at the end of the day, the crooks were walking away with (at best) a jail sentence while the police agencies figured ways to stretch budgets to cover the next major operation. This is where police auto auctions came into being.

Instead of allowing the crooks to retain their money and possessions so that they could simply return to their affluent lifestyles at the end of the jail term, lawmakers granted the power to seize property - specifically property used in the execution of the crime. Police were given three basic choices. They could use the property within the department, destroy it, or sell it. Enter police auto auctions.

Many of the items seized in these crime waves are the toys of the rich criminals. Some police agencies put many of the items to use. You might see a Ferrari, painted to match the other police cars, patrolling the highways in some city. And it may have the words "This car was seized in a drug raid" plastered across the back. This car could have become part of the local police auto auctions, but the department determined to use the car instead.

Other items are often seized as part of a crime. Jewelry, money and firearms are among the most common, though boats, airplanes, houses, land, home furnishings and a myriad of other possessions have been seized over the years. Firearms are typically not returned to the streets and cash goes into the police funds. The other items may be auctioned, possibly at the same time as the police auto auctions.

There is the potential to find a quality vehicle and to get it at a good price at police auto auctions. But be aware that you're typically buying it with no recourse if the car doesn't run properly. Finding a good deal at police auto auctions is entirely possible, but you've still got to use your common sense.