Many people go to auctions to walk away with a deal, but at this auto auction the city also comes out ahead.
The Kansas City Tow Services Division handles the monthly auctions that raise about $5 million annually to cover part of the division's budget.
On the third Tuesday of each month about 500 cars are usually auctioned off. It's a variety of cars you see - some salvage and some marked premium.
The online catalog of cars previews the inventory for nationwide bidding.
"Some vehicles are not damaged, not wrecked. In a good condition. We may have a set of keys with them. May have a lot more value to them. Based on work someone would have to do it they did purchase the vehicle - that's why we highlight those as premium to attract people to the auction," said Nathan Pare, division manager of the tow services division.
For example, a 2015 Dodge Ram truck went for $14,000 at the auction and many salvage pieces had a starting bid of $135 a ton.
One auction goer tells 41 Action News he's been going to them for years. He says you can always find some good stuff and people who have shops might need a part for a car they're working on.
How do cars become possessed by the city?
- Unclaimed vehicles impounded for at least 30 days go up for sale the third Tuesday of every month at the municipal tow lot.
- The owners have been notified but didn't pick them up.
- They could be there for a variety of reasons: arrest, unpaid tickets, abandoned, etc.
------------------------
Belinda Post can be reached at belinda.post@kshb.com.
