Online car auctions are catching on today since they are considered a great option for obtaining the right automobile for your needs, especially if you are looking to buy a vehicle in the United States. As one of the leading online auction platforms, AutoBidMaster can help you find what you are looking for.
To maximize your experience, it’s important to learn the key specifications of lot descriptions and the nuances of bidding. That’s why we’d like to dedicate this article to one of the most confusing auction categories, the “Run and Drive” auction highlight. Keep reading to learn all the details concerning this term.
What Are Auction Highlights
It’s important to remember that AutoBidMaster acts as an official representative of the Copart auto auctions. That means we don’t have the vehicle on a lot, the way some dealerships might. We get the information we list on a vehicle listing page from the actual auction site.
When the auctions receive a vehicle, they catalogue it and write down details about the car. Points like the vehicle’s make and model, its key specifications, color, and the year of manufacture are noted. They may also mark some initial notations about the damage or condition of the vehicle. We provide these notes to our potential buyers in the Auction Highlights section of our site.
We think the Auction Highlights are a good starting point for the research someone should do when they are looking to buy a vehicle online. Because the Auction Highlights aren’t verified, and the notations that contain the Auction Highlights are often done weeks or months before a vehicle is put up for sale, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to do additional research about the vehicle before they bid or buy it. We suggest buyers inspect the vehicle or hire someone to check it. We also suggest, in addition to inspection and other research about the vehicle and its ownership, that potential buyers obtain a ClearVin vehicle history report. It provides details about past damage to vehicles, ownership records, service recalls, and other relevant information.
The Auction Highlights Types
When taking part in online car auctions from AutoBidMaster, you can find the following Auction Highlights:
- “Enhanced Vehicles” means that the automobile seller has given Copart the right and authority to modernize and enhance the presented car, so that vehicle is more likely to have had some repairs. Another possible situation here is when the vehicle is part of a program where Copart can choose to use enhancement services to increase its value. This doesn’t guarantee that any enhancements were made, but it suggests that eligible vehicles might have been improved. So, it’s the participant’s job to check and confirm if enhancement services were used.
- “Run and Drive” refers to the notations made during the pre-sale vehicle inventory by the auto auction.
If you see the “Run and Drive” automobile status in the “Auction Highlights” section, it means that the vehicle has passed the tests from Copart and:
- the vehicle was able to start at the moment of the evaluation;
- a Copart specialist could shift gear during the car’s test;
- it was possible to move forward when driving the automobile under its own power.
Please note that there’s no assurance that the vehicle will start, drive, or move forward independently when picked up at Copart’s facility. It’s the buyer’s responsibility to thoroughly check, research, and inspect the vehicle before bidding. Once the vehicle leaves Copart’s facilities, the buyer accepts it “as is.”
Yet, the information mentioned on the lot pages will be a great starting point in your decision about whether a used vehicle meets your requirements.
What to Keep in Mind When We Speak of the “Run and Drive” Status
Along with that, you need to keep in mind a few important aspects concerning the above-mentioned details. AutoBidMaster doesn’t guarantee that any used vehicle will be able to start, drive forward, or turn on gears at the date of sale. We also can’t assure you that the vehicle is repaired enough to be prepared for driving or whether it’s lawful to operate it on the highways of any US state or in the country of your residence. These details are also mentioned on the auction lot page, so check out all the information carefully.
As the best option, we recommend you contact our customer support team or visit a local AutoBidMaster lounge, and they can explain how to get access to inspect a vehicle, hire an inspector, obtain a ClearVin vehicle report, or do other research you should do to confirm the vehicle you are interested in meets your needs.
Please note that depending on the auction yard, different yards have different requirements for when vehicles can be viewed and inspected, with some yards requiring viewings or inspections be done three days before the expected sale date.
The “Run and Drive” Auction Highlight FAQ
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
1. Run and Drive Meaning?
“Run and Drive” is an auction highlight that indicates that the vehicle starts and can move on its own power, as well as the fact that the vehicle can be driven a short distance.
This is an extremely good sign because the car basically runs and drives. This makes this vehicle one of the most attractive purchases in the salvage yard.
In other words, you will not have to call a tow truck to tow the vehicle away to your location. This way, you will spend very few dollars when it comes to transportation.
2 What does run and drive mean?
Run and drive is a label that a vehicle at auction gets. This means that the vehicle is able to start and move under its own power.
These are very popular purchases because if you live close to the salvage yard, you will not need a tow truck to take your car to your home.
Just start the car and drive it off from the lot. However, in many cases, these cars can have no front fascia or headlights. And this could get you a fine if a cop notices that you drive such a vehicle. So, you should definitely be very careful.
Overall, these cars are a great way to determine whether or not a vehicle is mechanically good since you are able to start the car and move forward or backward on the lot.
3. Enhanced Vehicle Meaning?
Enhanced vehicle is another label that is given by the auction to a certain car. Enhanced vehicles meaning that the vehicle was modified by the previous owner.
Enhanced vehicles are cars that have been heavily upgraded by their previous owners. By this, we mean performance upgrades. For example, a tuned engine, turbocharger, supercharger, coilover suspension, etc.
These are the most popular upgrades that owners add to their cars.
4. What does enhanced vehicle mean?
This is a label that is given to a vehicle in a salvage yard auction. The word enhanced refers to the fact that this car was modified by its previous owner.
This modification was done in order for the owner to get a performance gain. For example, a more powerful engine was installed, or a larger turbo, coilover suspension, etc.
All these factors make a vehicle enhanced because it performs far better compared to a stock version of that specific model.
These vehicles are also a potential risk. Especially if the engine was upgraded. These upgrades can seriously damage the internals of the engine and make it last a lot less compared to a stock engine. That’s why we advise that you be careful with these enhanced cars.
5. Does Copart enhanced vehicles run and drive?
Yes, there are cars that are on the lot, which are enhanced and run and drive. However, the vast number of vehicles on the lot are stock.
But if you know how to look, you can easily find one that is enhanced. Usually, the enhanced vehicles are popular models.
For example, a Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, BMW 335i, Infiniti G35, etc.
These cars are a very popular choice for modifications. And if you look for some of these models, you will easily find at least a few that have been “enhanced” by their respectful owners.
However, you should be aware that these performance upgrades can affect the reliability of these cars.
6. How is “Run and Drive” status determined?
This status is determined by the auction yard staff who performs the basic tests. This test includes starting the vehicle and trying to move forward or backward. However, this test does not include a comprehensive mechanical inspection.
In other words, the car can have a lot of problems with the engine even though it is able to start. This is why you should not rely a lot on these status codes because there can be some serious issues with the engine.
7. Does “Run and Drive” mean the vehicle is roadworthy?
No, “Run and Drive” only means the vehicle can start and move. This doesn’t mean that a car is safe for the road.
This vehicle has to undergo some serious inspections in order for it to be deemed road-worthly. This is why we recommend that you don’t jump too quickly to conclusions and drive the car off the lot.
“Run and drive” is only a good hint that there is nothing seriously wrong with the car, that’s all.
8. What should I inspect in a “Run and Drive” vehicle?
There are more than a few things that you need to check on a “Run and Drive” vehicle. These are the following:
Engine and Transmission: Start the engine and make sure that the car goes into drive. Make sure that there are no missing pieces in the engine compartment, no unusual noises, or leaks. Also, make sure that the fluids are topped off.
Brakes and Suspension: Make sure that you check the brakes and there is enough brake fluid. In addition to this, check the suspension and make sure that there are no signs of damage.
Electrical System: Make sure that you check the headlights and all of the different buttons inside of the car. Especially the AC and windows.
Body and Frame: In addition to the other things that we noted. You should also inspect the frame for signs of rust, damage, or poor repairs done to it. This way, you will potentially avoid hidden damage.
9. Can I test drive a “Run and Drive” vehicle before bidding?
You cannot test-drive a vehicle with this designation. But you can start it up and put it into drive, make sure that it moves forward or backward and also test the brakes. Usually, these are the tests that you can do on the lot.
10. What are the benefits of buying a “Run and Drive” vehicle?
There are plenty of potential benefits of buying a “Run and Drive” vehicle. The biggest benefit is definitely cost savings. With this type of vehicle, you will potentially save plenty of cash since these cars are sold for a fraction of their retail value.
On top of that, you have basic functionality, which means that the car runs and drives, you don’t need to perform some heavy repairs to it. This understandably means lower risk for you as a future owner of this vehicle.
Wrap Up
Online vehicle auctions may seem quite complicated from the start. Along with that, they present a great opportunity for an educated buyer to get a great value on a vehicle. Read our rules and policies, check the current blog articles and follow our social media, understand the limitations on the services we provide, inspect and research the vehicle prior to bidding, and then you’ll be more confident in your decisions.
On the AutoBidMaster online car auction platform, you can choose from more than 300,000 vehicles to bid on. All you need to do before it is to register on our online auction platform, upload a copy of your government-issued ID or passport, and place a security deposit. If you face any concern or issue and have questions concerning online car auctions, our customer support team is always at your disposal to help you. Contact us online or call us at: +1 (503) 298-4300 (4:00 AM–4:00 PM PST, weekdays).
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