My Advice on Used Car Auctions in Pennsylvania
Hello there, I am Greg Smokes, owner of the Car Auction Network blog, and I find Pennsylvania auction cars are a decent way to buy a used car or truck while saving money. I often see car auctions in Pennsylvania have used cars and trucks with decent prices and will often include newer models up into the $20k+ price range so there is a car, truck, SUV, or van for everyone at an auto auction.
You do not need to pay for any membership or upfront fees at free public auto auctions. There is usually a auction buyer’s fee on top of what you bid on a car, but that is not unless you decide to bid on something in the auction.
I always feel it is best to arrive at the auction early so that you may view the auction cars for sale before the auction bidding starts. Obviously, having some knowledge of auto mechanical and body work can help a lot when buying a used car.
Websites for Public Auto Auctions in Pennsylvania (Auction Dates & Contact Info)
These sites are open to the public and offer some form of internet bidding. At Car Auction Network, we highly recommend these auctions below in Penn because they are more user friendly than police auctions or tow auctions.
I like to remind all first-time bidders that they should not hesitate to ask as many questions as they have about the auction process. In my experience, auction staff are almost always very helpful.
Mason Dixon Auto Auction – Greencastle, PA – 717-597-3121 – 12876 Molly Pitcher Hwy, Greencastle, PA 17225 – My Take: They are open to the public and I always dig the laid back atmosphere. Their auction inventory is not as large as the others, but you will appreciate the service.
422 Public Auto Auction – All sorts of used vehicles for sale at this public auction in Pennsylvania, including used School Buses. This one stands out to me because of the large selection of vehicle types. You will see for yourself that they offer much more than just used trucks and cars.
Philadelphia Public Auto Auction – My Advice: One of the largest public car auctions in the country is in Philly with weekly wholesale vehicle auctions. I always loved the large auction inventory here and their website is so easy a caveman could do it so do not worry. They welcome first-timers and I suggest that you ask as many questions as you need.
Lehigh Valley Auto Auction – Whitehall, PA – 610-435-5554 – They have two auctions weekly, a Dealer Only Sale every Wednesday at 5:00pm and a sale open to the public auction every Saturday at 10:30am. 3880 Lehigh St, Hokendauqua, PA 18052
Northeast Pennsylvania Auto Auction – Scranton, PA – Four lane wholesale auto auctions are on Tuesdays at 10am.
Capital Auto Auction – Philadelphia, PA – Open to the public, no auction license required. They also have locations in Maryland, New Hampshire, and DC.
I can recommend this auction to first-timers, for sure. All the inventory is online with photos so you can be prepared before you arrive. Or you can bid entirely online and have the vehicle transported to your home.
Aspite Auto Auction – Public online only auto auctions with bank repos, government surplus vehicles (from the Philadelphia Parking Authority – impounds and abandoned cars and trucks), and you may also sell your vehicle at auction. They also offer heavy equipment.
The cool thing about Aspite car auction in Philly is that they also include impounded and surplus vehicles from the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Pardon my cliche, but it’s one of those auctions where you really never know what you might find.
There are also several options for online car auctions in Pennsylvania. Online bidding is much more popular now at Pennsylvania public auto auctions and offers a way to buy a car from an auction without the hassle of traveling to the auction.
Be sure to always verify what days and hours they allow public bidders or car dealer bidders to view the cars for sale.
Also, make sure to verify their accepted form of payment. Most auctions prefer cash, but will also accept other forms of payment depending on the location.
There are several different types of car auctions in Pennsylvania:
- Bank Repo Auctions– These are repossessed cars from banks and other finance institutions.
- Car Dealer Trade-Ins – Cars that were traded in at local car dealers which are then brought to an auction and sold for low prices.
- Police Seizures– Drug seizures and impound cars auctioned to the public in Pennsylvania.
- Tow Lot Impounds – Abandoned vehicles sold at auction to the public.
- Government Fleet Surplus Vehicles – These are cars, trucks, and vans from local municipalities and state governments.
- Private For Sale by Owner Cars – Cars sold at auction from private individual sellers
- Salvage Car Auctions – These are wrecked vehicles sold by insurance companies at auctions and will come with salvaged titles.
Tow and Police Auctions in Pennsylvania – Links & Info
Police auctions in Pennsylvania at Police Auctions USA Directory feature auction cars from police seizures, drug seizures, impounds, abandoned vehicles, and occasionally surplus police cruiser auctions / police car auctions. Police Auctions USA is a free site that does not require any membership signup.
Government Surplus Auctions – Plum, PA (Surplus and confiscated items auctioned to the public online) – You may bid on their items at the GovDeals webiste.
Online Auction – Montgomery County, PA – They use the public GovDeals website to auction their surplus vehicles, tools, and equipment. – Norristown, PA 19404
Surplus Auction – Berks County – You can bid on the Public Surplus website. If there are no items currently listed, check back later as they do not list frequently, in our experience.
Auto Auction – McGann and Chester Towing (Online public auto auction the last Wednesday of every month, regardless of the weather. Registration begins at 9 am & bidding starts at 10 am.)
Auctions – The Philadelphia Parking Authority (Vehicles will be open for bidding beginning at 8:00AM the day of the auction. Vehicles may be viewed on-line daily, and vehicles will be posted at least 2 days prior to the auction date. There will be no live preview. There will be a description of each vehicle accompanied by several pictures. No keys are available. Locksmiths are not permitted on the auction lot.) Conducted via Aspite Auto Auction – View Inventory
Lebanon Auto Auction – 1915 State Rt 72 North, Lebanon PA 17046 – 717-865-0700 – Open to the public with auctions every other Thursday evening at 6:30PM
Links for Dealer Auto Auctions in Pennsylvania
Dealer auctions in PA require a dealer’s license in order to bid on cars. If you’re a public buyer, your best bet is to try and find a vehicle broker that could help you out.
Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania Auto Auction – Grantville, PA (Dealers-Only)
Bloomsburg Auto Auction (Dealers-Only)
Garden Spot Auto Auction – Ephrata, Pennsylvania (Dealers-Only)
Central Pennsylvania Auto Auction (Dealers-Only)
America’s Auto Auction Harrisburg
Do not miss out on the fun and excitement of an auto auction in PA! If you prefer bidding in-person locally or in online car auctions, you can save money the next time you buy a vehicle. Trust me when I say to be patient at an auction and do not rush into buying one specific car.
It is very helpful to have a few picked out to bid on so that you can hopefully get the best price on it. Some people make the mistake of focusing on a single car in the auction and end up paying a lot more for it than they should have. Just make a short list of vehicles you are interested in buying and work off of that for the best deal you can get.
Last updated on December 31st, 2024 at 02:23 pm
