How to Buy Cars at UAE Auctions - Tips, Risks, and Advice from Experts

Abu Dhabi : A skilled eye may tell by certain visual cues that a car has been in an accident, repaired, and then repainted.

• UAE car auctions often feature damaged or repossessed cars that need close examination.
• Buyers need to plan their finances carefully and avoid unforeseen expenses like admin fees and deposits.
• High-risk purchases like supercars should be avoided. This can lead to costly repairs despite attractive auction prices.

Buying a car at an auction in the UAE can offer a chance to find a good deal on a vehicle that is sold quickly. Many drivers are drawn to auctions for this reason.

Before you start bidding, there are some important points to remember. The main place for car auctions is Emirates Auctions, which sells many cars each week online. Other options include Copart and Abu Dhabi’s Al Wataneya. SellAnyCar.com also works like an auction by setting a minimum price and letting buyers place bids.

Why Are These Cars Being Sold?

Most cars at auctions come from accidents or repossessions. While the auctions happen online, you can often inspect cars in person, except for those repossessed by the courts. This helps you get a close look at the condition, but you need to know what to check.

Signs of Past Damage

Experienced buyers look for signs that a car has undergone an accident and repainting. One way to spot this is by checking paint thickness. Repainted areas tend to have thicker paint because it is tough to match the original finish. You can get a paint thickness tester for a reasonable price to help with this.

Colin Thomas, founder of 'We Will Fix It' and a car fan who has bought from auctions before, says that in the UAE, buyers prefer cars with original paint and pay more for it. He also says that buyers must understand what they are seeing, or they might get caught out. Repairs can hide serious problems even if they look good.

What About Repossessed Cars?

If a car was repossessed or abandoned due to unpaid debts, it might not have been serviced regularly. Thomas warns that sometimes the keys are missing, too, and getting replacements can be tougher than you think.

Advice from the Experts

Check the details carefully. Cars sold “AS IS” come with no guarantees and are sold in their current state with any issues. Emirates Auctions states it is the buyer’s job to check everything before placing a bid.

Set a clear budget and do not go over it, even if you get outbid. Additional costs like admin fees, loading charges, or legal fees might add up to AED 2,500, according to Thomas.

Do not bid in rounded numbers like AED 50,000. A competing bidder could top that bid with AED 50,100. Bidding AED 50,200 instead reduces the risk of being outbid easily.

Omnia Al Desoukie, a Dubai resident, tried Emirates Auctions because of the wide choice of cars, but found the 20 per cent security deposit too much. For example, an AED 50,000 bid limit requires an AED 10,000 deposit.

She said that she liked the cars on Emirates Auctions, but the app was a bit much. She tried a live auction, but prices were high. However, she felt buying from Dubbizle was simpler.

Remember, auctions can extend the bidding time if someone places a last-minute bid. Also, winning a car does not include the number plate.

Supercars at Auctions

If you think you will grab a Lamborghini for a few thousand dirhams, think again. Supercars attract a lot of interest and trigger bidding wars. Dealers often keep supercars as display models to pull in customers. Thomas further warns that mechanical issues can cost a fortune, and spare parts are not cheap.