How to Navigate Your First Auction

1. Decide How Much You Want to Spend – Keep this amount in mind when you visit our lot to preview the vehicles or items on preview days or the morning of the sale. Remember that KPA charges an additional 15% buyer’s premium(unless otherwise stated) which you must pay in addition to your bid price as well as a documentation fee, smog fee, any applicable DMV/Registration fees, and sales tax.

2. Auction Preview – The Ken Porter Auction lot is open to the public for preview Thursday and Friday, 9 AM – 5PM, prior to the auction and 7AM – 9:30AM on the morning of the sale. Remember all vehicles/items are sold “AS IS”. You will be able to start the vehicles and check the mechanical operation of items like air conditioning, power windows, and radios. Be sure to carefully inspect the vehicles you are buying.

3. Registration – You can register to bid on preview days at the auction or prior to the start of the auction on sale day. The fully refundable registration fee is $500 and can be paid in cash, cashiers check, or credit card. You will be asked to fill out a simple registration card and a bidder number will be issued to you. If you do not make a purchase you will receive a refund of your deposit when you are ready to leave.

4. Bid and Buy – When the auction begins every vehicle offered to the public for sale will be driven “across the block” in front of the auctioneer stand one at a time. Listen carefully; raise your card when you accept the amount offered by the auctioneer. Other interested buyers may bid higher. Continue bidding/raising your bidder card until the price exceeds the amount you want to spend or you win the bid and buy the car.

5. Cashier Check Out – After you have won the bid and made a purchase, you will need to visit the cashier window to sign a purchase invoice and put down a 25% non-refundable deposit or pay for the entire balance at that time. Remember all purchased vehicles/items must be paid for in full no later than 5PM of the following business day.

6. Check-Out and Drive Off – When you are ready to check-out and complete your transaction, go to the cashiers window and pay the remainder of your balance. You will be asked to sign all necessary DMV forms. KPA will process all title work for you, and you will be issued a temporary registration card, or you can elect to handle it yourself directly with a State DMV office. When you are ready to go you will be given the keys to your new vehicle and a copy of a “Gate Pass” to present to KPA security staff at the exit gate.