City of Long Beach Police Lien Sales/Auto Auction

Nobody ever comes here under good circumstances. I had my car towed due to filming in the DTLB area but I swear that the signs were not visibly posted where I left my car. The Saturday staff was fine, not too grumpy but not too social either. I magine they don’t get too many smiles coming in there.
Yesterday’s experience was just as mediocre. My girlfriend’s car was towed after an accident in which the car was totalled. She is fine but the car is a total loss. We went the same day but they had already closed for the day. The attendant through the intercom advised me that I could retrieve our personal items then and there for $ 80 or come back during normal business hours to get them for free. I thought this was very considerate of him. He didn’t try to swindle us. I appreciated that.
We came the following day and were assisted by the same individual who towed the car two days prior. He was very helpful since we had a lot to get from the car but he loaded it on his little golf cart and we were in and out in a jiffy. Kindness goes a long way and these two employees were very understanding and that deserves to be acknowlkedged. So the 4 stars go to them and not the entire establishment.

This place stole my car and held it for ransom. 10 minutes late to move it out of a temporary no parking, my car had not been hooked up when I arrived to move it. The cop who had just written me a parking ticket, moved to stand next to the driver’s door when he saw me coming, I begged him not to tow my car. «Just a minute, Ma’am» was the response I got. As the tow driver worked fast to get my car hooked up, «Just a minute, Ma’am» was all either one on them would say. Finally, the tow guy gets up and says,“Oh sorry, Ma’am, your car is already hooked up!” What??? It wasn’t hooked up when I got there! Then the cop says they can’t unhook it because it is against company policy. Company policy? Isn’t the company you work for the City of Long Beach??? I told them both that there was no reason to tow my car. I have been standing there with the key, ready to move it, but was told «just a minute». I called them both out saying that this was a ploy to extort money from me.
Turns out I was right. When I couldn’t pay the ridiculous fees, they told me they were going to keep my car another 30 days at $ 50 a day. I was told that at the end of that time they were going to auction it off and if the sale price didn’t cover the fees they were going to come after me for the balance unless… I signed my pink slip over to them. If I gave them my car, we could call it even! Seriously! I am a full time student that has worked with special needs kids for 25 years. It is a rewarding job, but not lucrative. I couldn’t afford the initial fees, much less the additional fees so I had no choice. I had to give them my car. I stood there and cried as I signed my pink slip over to them. How can I work without a car? I cannot believe that this is legal, but this is how the City of Long Beach conducts business.
By the way, whoever buys my car good luck. My car won’t smog. It needs a new exhaust system. In addition to that it needs a new transmission. It was just starting to go out when they towed it. Looking back, the car had so many problems that it was really a blessing in disguise. There is no way I could have sold it in that condition. I just don’t like the way it went down. A city shouldn’t steal from its citizens.

Personally I’ve never had any experience with this company but some of the information posted here is inaccurate. First off, by law the auctioneer has to disclose any valid information that was provided with the car by the dmv, the person can call the dmv’s 800 number for additional information. obviously the cars are sold as is with limited information such as the previous owner (s) history and maintenance records. Secondly the cars could be driven off the lot, it’s true that The CA DMV requires the license plates to be remove prior to releasing the vehicle but once you receive the lien title and paper work from the office, it serves as a temporary pink slip and a temporary permit for 10 days, obviously you are given 10 days by law to register, smog and insure the vehicle.
I use to work at a police impound action and know how things work. The only time we would charge for the key (s) is if the locksmith had to come out and make one. If the vehicle already had keys then we wouldn’t charge for them. Some Auctions are kind off greedy and want to charge for every little thing and at times cherry pick what ever was left in the car by the previous owner (s)
Obviously a lot of the times it’s a hit or miss with these cars. Some people have the best of luck, whiles others aren’t so lucky. Also, certain auctions have better reputation then others…

If you are buying a vehicle at AUCTION, make sure it’s below KBB blue book and leave some wiggle room for possible repairs needed to get it smogged or running correctly.
Again, there are «RISKS» to buying a vehicle from an auction, you don’t know the true history or condition of the vehicle because you can’t test drive or take it to a mechanic for inspection.
The risk is huge. Car Fax or Auto Check is not accurate.
This auction is for those people looking for a cheap vehicle with problems that can be ignored while they save up for a dependable vehicle.
I wouldn’t trust any vehicle here on the freeway… too many unknowns.
I’ve attended a couple more of the auctions here and I must agree, there are deals here if you do the research before hand. Still, plenty of risks. Lots of risk. Don’t overbid… walk away. Know the prices of the vehicles u are bidding on.
High Mileage is always not a good thing if u don’t know the true history of the vehicle.
There are deals to be found here if only you can get it at least a $ 1,000 or more below blue book. That’s the only way it can be a good deal.
There’s a person that has the keys that will go around starting up the vehicles, but you still cannot test drive it to see what the true condition of the vehicle is in. Starting it up is one thing, but driving it is another. There’s the huge risk there. Again, you have to get it for cheap to make it worth the deal.
Here are worst case for buying a vehicle at this auction:
If it has tons of problems, you just bought a «MONEY PIT». That can happen.
If if has few problems, that’s ok as long as you don’t OVER BID on the vehicle and got it $ 1,000 or more below blue book. Engine and Transmission problems are not cheap to repair. That’s why you need to get it for cheap to fix if needed.
I saw dealers here today at the auction, they are not hard to spot out in the crowd.
Someone got a 1995 Honda Motorcycle for $ 250!!! Who knows if it’s running right or not.
Someone else got a 1990 Acura Legend for around $ 600!!! Again… high miles and who knows when it will blow up.
Even a rebuilt transmission on a 2001 Acura MDX is around $ 2100. If you can get it for $ 4800 like someone did today, than it’s still a good price if you had to swap a transmission into it or rebuild the transmission.
Saw a 2001 Honda CR-​V with under 98,000 miles go for $ 3100 today!!! But it too had some mechanical work needed to pass smog and run right.
Blue Book Value in Fair Condition for a Honda CR-​V is at $ 6,474!!! That’s a STEAL as long as the engine and transmission is running right… big if.
There are some vehicles that were in major accidents being auction off here too. Those are «junk» or parts vehicles.
I would recommend this place to anyone looking to get a great deal on a used vehicle that might need work or can be driven the way it is after getting all the paperwork done on the vehicle.
But don’t expect the vehicle to be perfect or not have issues. I’m pretty sure the vehicles here, the majority have issues.
Like I mention the last time, you can’t legally drive it off the lot, you have to get the paperwork done on it at the DMV. I don’t think the DMV is open on Saturdays to get that business taken care of. But that’s the logistics on getting of transferring title over and etc.
SO I DISAGREE WITH VERNON G on that aspect of it, there is no way you are going to AVOID the tow truck «FEE» to get the vehicle out of here by 4PM on that same day, NOT POSSIBLE. Nothing around it, despite the logic behind it.
So ur gonna have to have a tow truck come tow the vehicle you won at auction out of there, can’t drive it out of there because it’s illegal by law.
Still, it’s another way for the tow truck drivers to make some $$$.
Again, buyer beware at this place!!!

I was in a bind years ago and needed a car. Went down to police auction and made the best mistake. I was out bid on a BMW I was looking at and at the end of the car line I knew I needed something. I randomly bid on a car I had not even looked at. One bid… Two bid… and decided that was it I would not bid any more. «SOLD for $ 250 to number…» wait. Did he just call my number? What did I just buy? I just bought a 1985 Chrysler Laser? What is that? That car became known as «the luxury bucket». It ran great, had luxury features that at one time were actually luxury. Enough about the car.
Any person that actually thinks about it will realize if you go to an auction, especially one run by a government agency, there will be fees.
Obviously they will not let you drive a completely unregistered vehicle off their lot. Lol, some cars are there for no registration. They should just let all the idiots who want to drive unregistered do it. Then let the cops sit down the street and re impound the cars.
And they won’t tow your car for you. Trust me, I tried to get them to do it. You have to arrange the tow from a different company that YOU choose. I can’t remember if they had a referral list or not. But YOU choose.
Sadly, the luxury bucket finally got towed for unpaid parking tickets and not moving it for weeks when it finally broke down… Nobody bought it at the next auction and it went to the crusher…

I purchased another vehicle from here to flip it. It was a 1996 Toyota Camry. Straight title, straight body. I was able to sell it right away for a small profit. I’m amazed at the complaints this place gets. Of course you have to pay fees, pay to get it towed, The vehicles have no license plates on them. How do you expect to drive it home on the day you purchased it? The vehicle is technically not registered under your name at the time of purchase. I guess people don’t follow the laws.
In my opinion you need to come here with a minimum of $ 2000 to buy something decent. There’s a plus car list. These are usually the better vehicles. Try to bid on those.

I have had the pleasure of attending several of the auctions that are given by the city of long beach, and it appears to be no different from going to a crooked used car dealership. If they have the key and the battery has any juice you may be able to hear what sounds the car makes. But, if it doesn’t you will not be able to hear what is going on with the vehicle until you purchase it, and pay a key fee.
Also, if the car was impounded due to registration issue, that issue will be passed on to you. But, of course you have no idea how much that issue will cost you till you get to DMV, because LBPD will not give out that info, as if they don’t have a relationship DMV.
Nevertheless, It appears the really good cars are passed on to dealers that have a much more stable relationship with LBPD (much more than DMV), these dealers come in already knowing whats good and whats not. They will be beat your bid no matter what, and normally leave with a fleet of cars, leaving the worst of worst
A friend of mine bought a car from them, paid $ 20 to bid, paid $ 50 to have it towed, paid $ 600 for the car, paid DMV $ 500, and then paid his mechanic 1500 to fix the blown heads. Eventually, the car got towed backed to the LBPD yard house because he could not get it smogged. But, hey if it works for you. well, your one lucky S.O.B., and you need to be on your way to 7-​eleven to buy a lottery ticket!

I recommend EVERYONE to go to the City of Long Beach Police Auction. This was my first time attending an auction and I had ALOT of questions. Before I purchased my car at the auction, I didnt want to over bid and I wanted to see how the process worked. I would HIGHLY suggest you do the same, if you have never been to an auction. This will allow you to be comfortable and become familiar with the process FIRST. After I was checked in at the front gate by LBPD (Long Beach Police Department), they check your name to ensure you havent previously bidded on a car and never paid for it. So they have a list and check your ID. I was able to go into the auction AT NO cost.
They allow you to view the car prior to bidding starting but please visit there website to ensure you have all the FACTUAL information.
No, they do not allow you to drive the cars off of the lot. First of all, it creates a liability (i.e. accidents, etc) for not only the CITY but the Police Department as well. Not to mention, you are bidding for a car and you dont know what car you will get, so you will not have insurance on the vehicle. There are PLENTY of tow trucks available to tow the vehicle off of the lot, which is something that actually helps out the buyer. Could you imagine buying a car but you are pulled over by police a block away to have the car towed for no insurance and/​or registration.
Yes, you have to pay for a key. As far as, additional information pertaining to fees (i.e. outstanding tickets, etc) please visit the website. They are happy to answer any questions, comments, and/​or concerns you may have. They also respond to your emais pretty quickly.
I plan on returning to purchase another car soon. I really like this hidden gem in Long Beach :).
I bought my mazada for $ 600 bucks over a year ago and I have minimual issues.
Again, this is a auction not a dealership.
Great Job! Long Beach

yeah so I wanted to buy a car here, but its shady.
even if the car works you HAVE to get it towed home… by their people
if theres no key (which most dont have) they «have a guy»…
also alot of bs fees.
its just really shady in my opinion…