You Had Questions, We Have Answers.

At Carriage Trade we get similar questions, concerns and complaints from customers. So we have decided to list those questions and answer them. Our goal is to make everyone aware and more knowledgeable about how Carriage Trade operates.

Common Questions

Q: What is Carriage Trade Public Auto Auction?

A: Carriage Trade is an auction house where the public and dealers may buy and sell vehicles. That means that Carriage Trade is not the seller of all the vehicles, so pay attention to the private sellers that are selling the car you are looking to buy.

Q:Who is responsible for inspecting the cars?

A: The buyer is responsible for inspecting the car before the auction. We give buyers a chance to get a look at the cars before the auction where they can lift the hood, look at the interior and exterior, look at the tires, and even start it if the keys are available. Buyers are allowed on the lot at 12:00 p.m. the day of the auction to do these inspections.

Q: What kind of fees are there?

A: The fees vary depending on the amount spent on a vehicle, click here to see Carriage Trades fee schedule. There is also a tag and title fee, which also varies depending on what needs to be done and if you are out of state or not. PA fees for tags and titles range from $163-$199, and out of state fees range from $108-$147.

Q: Are there any condition reports?

A: Condition reports are done on cars only if it is requested by the seller. Buyers may run a Carfax report on their own.

Q: Are there pictures to view of the cars online?

A: Pictures are available for some cars, but not all. This is because cars may come in late or the inventory is so large, that there isn't enough time before the auction.

Q: What do the lights mean at the auction, are they important?

A: The lights at the auction are very important, as they display the selling condition for each car when it comes through the lane. Here is what each color light means:

• GREEN LIGHT: Gives the buyer until 5:00pm the day following the sale to arbitrate a vehicle for any issues with the motor or drive train.
• YELLOW LIGHT: "Listen" used when making announcements or when a change in the brochure is in order. 
• RED LIGHT: Vehicle is sold "As is with all faults"
• BLUE LIGHT: "Title Attached"
• MAROON LIGHT: DEALERS ONLY. 
• NAVY LIGHT: Public Sale. All bidders are welcome. 
• ORANGE LIGHT: Over 100,000 miles or true mileage unknown (TMU). 

Q: What does As-Is mean?

A: As-Is means that the car is sold with any faults and any problems that may occur at any time. Buyers should be sure that the vehicle they are purchasing is the one they want. *You may not want to buy the car, if you didn't inspect it.*

Q: Can I return the car because it wasn't the one i wanted?

A: No. Unfortunately some buyers come to the auction for the first time, and are not prepared for the experience. Make sure you know the car you are bidding on. At Carriage Trade the cars will begin on the block and within seconds move outside and the next car in line will pull up, however the bidding may still be going on for the car that has just pulled away. So pay attention to what the auctioneer says and listen for the announcements when a new car is introduced.

If you have any other questions, please contact us by phone at (610)-825-7085, on our blog or our Facebook page.

For more information visit the links below:
Carriage Trade Public Auto Auction
Carriage Trade Auction Process
Carriage Trade- Buy Now
Carriage Trade- Sell Your Car

Have you been to Carriage Trade before?
If so, we would like to hear about your experience and we encourage you to share that with us on our Facebook page, Blog or write a review.

You can stay connected by "Liking" Carriage Trade on Facebook, follow us on twitter, or visit our website for updates on upcoming  auctions.