Several times a year the authorities hold auctions to sell off all of the seized property that has been confiscated as a result of court rulings. At these auctions you can obtain a used camper or motorhome for a fraction of the price that it is worth. There is another type of auction similar to this called the seized auctions or 'Repo' auctions. The vehicles for sale at these have mostly been repossessed by the finance companies due to foreclosure.

How often are these auctions held? The auctions are held all over the country and in some areas they occur twice a week, in other areas three or four times a year. You can normally find one close to you at any time of year.

How can I find out the location of the auctions? The auctions are hardly ever advertised and are mostly attended by vehicle dealers and people in the trade. Having said that they are open to the public. There are a couple of websites that hold information on where each auction is held and when (see the link at the bottom of this article).

What is the arrangement with viewing the vehicles? You are allowed to view any vehicle you are interested in bidding on during the morning of the auction for a few hours before the bidding starts. some auctions set aside a whole day for this.

Are test drives allowed? Not you are not permitted to test drive any of the vehicles. You are allowed to start up the engine and perform and other test you wish. because of this we strongly suggest that you befriend a mechanic and tale them along with you to inspect the vehicle thoroughly.

Are there any hidden fees? There is the auctioneers fee which between 5% and 10% and is paid by the buyer.

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