Auction Rules & Policies

Auction Policies

General Policies
Arbitration Policy
Registration Policy
Buyers Rules and Regulations (En Español)
Sellers Rules, Regulations and Fees

Sale Every Wednesday Night
Starting at 6:00 P.M.

General Policies and all policies listed in this notice are to promote fair and ethical trading between the buyers and sellers at USL Auto Auction. These policies may change at any time. It is your responsibility as a registered customer to know and understand the rules before bidding or selling. Since the auction is not a party to the contract of the sale, we make no guarantees express or implied with regard to any vehicle. The following should be used by both parties so that all are able to make well informed buying and selling choices. While it would be impossible to address every situation that may occur, most are contained in the following guide. If in the event that a situation not addressed in the following guidelines, the decision of auction management will be final.

General Policies

  1. Children under 12 are not allowed at the auction.
  2. "IF" sales. When a unit is sold subject to verification by the seller, the buyer is obligated to honor the bid until the seller is contacted or until 12:00 noon on the day following the sale. If you would like to preserve your rights to arbitration, please check your unit immediately and before leaving the sale. Arbitration will not be extended into the next day.
  3. "Lot sales", "Outside sales" "Off block sales" any vehicle not sold under the hammer is considered an "Off Block Sale". All vehicles bought and sold on the premises must be processed through the auction office. Failure to do so will result in suspension of trading privileges at the auction. All off block sales are as is and no arbitration (except for frame damage, odometer discrepancy, salvage title, salvage history or flood damage), will apply.
  4. Odometer Not Showing Mileage: If the odometer on a vehicle does not show the mileage, the vehicle must be sold "True Miles Unknown".
  5. Returned Vehicles: If a vehicle has to be returned to the Auction by the buyer because of the title or for any reason to do with the seller not complying with Auction or DMV rules, the seller will be required to buy back the vehicle, regardless of the circumstances, with the reimbursements for expenses as deemed by auction management.
  6. Selling Price: If there is a dispute regarding the final buying or selling price of a vehicle, the Auctioneer’s word is final.
  7. Tampering: Persons found tampering or removing equipment from vehicles will be subject to permanent ejection from the sale. Dealers, Registered bidders are responsible for their actions and the actions of their employees and/or guest.
  8. Year of Manufacture: The auction does not guarantee the year of any miscellaneous vehicle. Buyers should be aware when purchasing a miscellaneous vehicle (i.e. Boats, antiques, custom vehicles, motorcycles or mopeds, reconstructed vehicles, recreation vehicles, street rods, tractors, trailers, trucks larger than one ton, etc…) The auction will not become involved in any dispute on these vehicles concerning year of manufacture.
  9. The Auction policies will not be involved with Flood or Salvage vehicles after Friday noon following the sale.
  10. Buyer is responsible for verifying serial number, model, year, and mileage reading on purchases before leaving the sale.
  11. It is the seller’s responsibility to make sure that correct lights are displayed, the correct announcements are made and the correct year and mileage, is given. It is the seller’s obligation to correct any error made by the auction as to announced "Conditions". It is the buyer’s obligation to watch lights and listen to announced "Conditions".
  12. All police cars, taxi cabs, municipal cars, fire damaged cars, flood cars, clips, salvage cars, reconstructed cars, motorcycles, boats, and trailers must be announced and sold under the red light.
  13. Vehicles not originally manufactured for sale in the United States will not be sold. (GRAY MARKET)
  14. No vehicle will be offered for sale without the vehicle identification plate. Vehicles that have a replacement VIN, by DMV may be sold.
  15. Vehicles must be arbitrated within one hour.
  16. Vehicles sold under the green light, will be subject to arbitration, as described in this policy guide
  17. Salvage, flood, frame damage or reconstructed history must be announced regardless of year model.
  18. Weapons are not allowed on premises.
  19. The auction will not be responsible for lost keys. It is the responsibility of the owner of the unit. Key straps are available for sale in the vehicle registration area.
  20. Dealers: All payments are due and payable the day of the sale. There will be a late payment penalty of fifty dollars per unit beginning and including Friday for any unit remaining unpaid.
  21. Public purchases must be paid for by noon Thursday. Any unit not paid in full by that time, will result in forfeiture of deposit and sale cancellation. Exception: Vehicles that are being inspected.
  22. NC Inspections: All vehicles being registered for sale at USL Auto Auction must have a current inspection pursuant to Pitt County Regulations. If the vehicle does not have a current inspection, it will have to be sold dealer only. Any vehicle that is a 1996 or newer must have an OBDII inspection completed per Pitt County and DMV Regulations. Proof of proper inspection must be in the vehicle at the time of registration.
  23. Dealers Only: Dealers may purchase a post auction Guarantee for certain vehicles. Must meet certain guidelines (see office for details).
  24. The Auction is not bound by information listed in Electronic Date Vehicle Histories (i.e. Carfax, AutoCheck, Carproof, etc.) and vehicles may not be arbitrated solely on that data.

Arbitration Policy

Subject to arbitration- Unless Announced- Buyer must complete arbitration within 1 hour of purchase.

  1. "If bids" must be arbitrated before you leave the auction on Wednesday night. Arbitration will not be extended.
  2. Current year models with paint or body work. Current year is determined by calendar year, beginning January 1 and continuing through December 31.
  3. Frame Damage (including rust) or frame repairs must be announced, rotted out floor sections, and rotted truck cab supports are considered the same as frame damage and must be announced and sold as is. The auction will not be involved with a frame damaged vehicle after Friday NOON from the date of sale at the auction.
  4. Motor, Transmission, Clutch, Rear End, Steering Rack and Pinion.
  5. Front ends on front wheel drive and 4 wheel drive vehicles.
  6. Any air conditioning system on vehicles 5 years old or newer not functions normally.
  7. Non standard engines or transmissions, altered or missing emission equipment, or major exceptions to original or advertised production specifications must be announced.
  8. Broken, replaced or altered odometers must be announced as "True Miles Unknown" if applicable.
  9. Twenty-five percent (25%) damage disclosure statement: if applicable.
  10. After any accepted adjustment, the unit automatically becomes an "as is" with no further arbitration for any defects.
  11. "Airbag" restraint system, their presence, absence or workability will be an arbitration consideration. (Auction offers no warranty to buyer dealing with this type of equipment.
  12. Visible defects are not arbitrational. (Ex: Blow by, oil leaks, smoking…)
  13. Differential Rear End: No rejection for wear, noise or vibration in driveline, universal joints, C.V. joints, or differential (rear end) including front wheel drive backlash, noise in transaxle or vibration if vehicle has over 70,000 miles.

THE DECISION OF AUCTION MANAGEMENT SHALL BE FINAL IN ALL DISPUTES.


Public Registration

  1. Individuals (public) must be 18 years of age and have a US Drivers License. A $500.00 cash deposit must be paid to enter the auction this will get the bidder and one guest in.
  2. All vehicles must be paid by cash or certified bank check by 12:00 noon, the following day. Exception: Vehicle that are being inspected.
  3. Individuals must purchase a membership to attend the auction. Memberships are good for one year and are renewable.

Lighting System

Green Light - "O.K."/ "Ride and Drive"

Yellow Light – Announced Conditions

Red Light – AS IS

Blue Light -"Title Attached" aka Title Delay

White Light- Mileage Announcement(s)


Odometers

Seller must announce if odometer is inoperable, tampered, replaced or in excess of 100,000 miles or if the true miles are unknown. Auction must be notified by Friday Noon following the sale. The seller of a vehicle which has an odometer problem will be required to buy back the vehicle, regardless of the circumstances, with reimbursement for transportation and reasonable expenses as deemed by auction management.

Buyers

Please examine all cars before bidding and be familiar with all announced conditions of the unit. Vehicles should not be road tested until the buyer has the proper sales receipts for release and mileage reading before leaving the sale. Pay for each car with a separate check. Prospective bidders may not drive vehicles before they have gone across the auction block and may not drive vehicles that they do not own, without the permission of the rightful owner.

Sellers

Please have your units on the premises on sale day morning to avoid last minute rush. Registration ends sharply at 6:30pm. Vehicles which are not safe to operate will not be run through the auction lanes. Please represent your vehicles fairly and accurately. Please be sure that each vehicle has enough gas to be test driven. Vehicles sold under the green light will be subject to Arbitration.

USL Bidder Badges

Buyers and sellers must always use their Bidder Badges: Your badge contains your computer number. Dealer’s who fail to use their badge, delay the processing of their deals. Please help us to serve you better by wearing your badge.

USL Auto Auction Registration Policy

Attention All Sellers

All units registered for sale are subject to inspection by any governing authority including the National Auto Theft Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, NC State Police, DMV Enforcement, Local Police and Auction Inspection.