ATV auctions are the best places to find used ATV’s below market value. In addition to ATV’s, these events will have other Powersport autos like dirt bikes and UTV’s. Sometimes theses auctions are combined with RV and marine vehicles or are part of larger government seizure auctions. Below I’ll share where to find ATV auctions, tips and guidance, what to expect, and my experience with the ATV auctions near me.
Map of ATV Auctions Near Me
For “ATV Auctions Near Me”, see below for locations…
How to Find ATV Auctions Near Me
ATV auctions are normally part of larger event involving other vehicles. The kinds of auctions will vary as well from seized government autos to salvage ATV’s. Also since people who own RV’s and boats often own and travel with Powersport vehicles, these auctions are good places to check for used ATV’s as well. The “X” factor on all these events is the quality of four wheeler you will find. First though let me share how I find ATV auctions near me…
Google Search and Yelp Listings
Google and Yelp will show you events in your area normally held at auction houses. Searching for “ATV auctions near me”, you are likely not gonna find events that deal exclusively in ATV’s. These events which will have a variety of Powersport vehicles. What is good about events at auctions houses is that you can read reviews before you go. Here is the way I find smaller ATV and Powersport vehicle auctions.
Pro Tip: One of my best secrets is using Google “Events” to find ATV auctions locally. Most people don’t look for events this way and you can find smaller local auctions that may have ATV’s. This often translates to lower competition and lower bids. While you will find standard auctions in this search, the smaller pop up one time auctions will be listed also.
Try Google Events here: ATV Auctions Near Me This Week
Government Listings
Federal, state, and local governments post auction information online for seized and surplus vehicles. Many of these will be live public auctions, with a few vehicles listed for bidding online. These are the twp sites I use to find ATV’s and other vehicles for auction:
Local Shows, Meet Ups, and Forums
If you live in an area that has ATV and Powersport events, these are places that auctions will advertise. You may even find ads around camp grounds. If you own an ATV already you can try connecting with an ATV MeetUp.com group who also may know about these events. Also check ATV rider forums as there are often discussions about auctions. Here are some forums I like
How Do Live ATV Auctions Near Me Work
ATV auctions are run like most auction events in that they are no reserve and the winner is the highest bidder. There are a variety of these auctions online, but there are still plenty of live public auctions for you to attend. Here we are going to focus on how live auctions work for ATV’s and other Powersport vehicles.
Public Auctions
ATV’s will be featured at a variety of public auctions. That includes repos, consignment, police, salvage and other auction event types. Quality of vehicles will vary at all of these events and that is where you need to be meticulous about inspection. Public auctions offer the opportunity to fully inspect the machine before you bid on it. This is your chance to assess the value and decide how much to bid.
Flow of the Event
Every auction follows the same general flow, here are how the ATV auctions near me operate…
Vehicle Inspection Period
Prior to the start of an auction event, there is a time allowed for vehicle inspection. If it is a consignment auction you can ask questions to the owner. During the inspection period, you want to really dig into the ATV. Listen to it run, sit on it, cut the wheels, etc. This is your time to make your best estimate on the quality and value of the ATV.
Participant Registration
To bid on any of the items at auction, you need to register. This involves proving your identity and signing an agreement. The agreement is a legally binding contract that says if you bid and win, that you will pay.
The Bidding Begins…
When the event starts typically the auctioneer explains the rules. They will describe the first vehicle and then say what value the bidding will begin at. People will bid by shouting or raising their hand. The auctioneer facilitates all of the bidding and calls out what the current value is. Each bid placed incrementally increases the last bid placed.
And the Winner is…
When the auctioneer says “sold” the highest bidder wins. At this point they own the vehicle and need to pay in full. The title will be signed over and a bill of sale is given, when the finances are settled.
Tips for Buying an ATV at Auction
Here are tips for getting an ATV at auction…
- Watch an auction first. Attend one live and get a feel for the flow.
- Get the auction catalog before the vent or print it out online and take notes in it.
- For every ATV you think is worth looking at look them up on Ebay and write down the market value for comparable used ATV’s.
- Go to the auction in person. Do not call in and proxy bid.
- Register for the event early. Lines get long and you may miss the ATV you want to bid on.
- Inspect the ATV’s carefully, look for rust, corrosion, leaks, smoke, mis-matched parts, strange motor sounds, etc…
- Ask the owner with questions (government auctions you can’t do this)
- Set a bid price in your mind and stick to it. If you did your research, you should know a fair market value.
- Bring a truck to transport the ATV…you just might win and have something to take home.
Online Powersport Auctions vs Public Auctions
So many ATV’s are auctioned online these days. Online auctions do have there benefits. For buyers you can bid from home and do some research online. For sellers they can reach a broader audience and get more competitive bids.
Bidding online is fine, but i would much rather attend an auction of any type in person. The inspection period is so important to attend. Getting a look at the vehicles with your own eyes is really important. Pictures, videos, and text descriptions online just can’t compare. You really got to dig in and inspect the ATV. You got to see if there are mis-matched parts and is someone trying to pass off a salvage ATV is an original.
I guess I just have a lock of trust, but if you really want to get a decent ATV, go to a live auction.
How to Get Your ATV Sold in an Auction
Selling an ATV at auction is straight forward. All you need to do is contact an auction house. If you can find one that deals in Powersport vehicles that is ideal. Alternatively try and find a place that does motorcycle or RV auctions.
Selling your ATV at auction is one of the easiest ways to get rid of it without much headache. The auction company will handle everything from marketing, to dealing with phone calls, to collecting payment. The trade off is that they will take a percentage of the final sale price of the vehicle.
If you decide to call they will ask about the make, model, year, condition, and mileage. Too sell it you need to be the owner with your name on the title and it must be free of liens.
ATV Auctions Near Me
ATV auctions are an awesome way to get a used ATV cheap. While you likely won’t find a straight up ATV auction, you can find plenty of these vehiles at related auctions. No matter where you find ATV’s at auction, you need to be ready to do a thorough inspection on it as many of these vehicles are in bad shape. Consignment auctions will have the best quality, police and repos will be in the middle, salvage auctions will have the lowest quality. No matter what kind of auction you are attending though, I would encourage you to attend live. You need to dig in and inspect these vehicles to properly assess how much to bid. No one has ever bought an ATV on Ebay and when they got it said “Wow, this is nicer then they said”. Thats what I have learned from the ATV auctions near me.