FAQs
LA County Public Administrator Estate Auctions
LA County Estate Auctions
Below are common questions and answers about buying at CWSAMS Los Angeles County estate live an online auctions. If you have additional questions, please visit the specific auction page you are interested in, or contact us at service@cwsmarketing.com, phone at 888-343-1313
Yes, The auctions are open to the public. The only exception is for the Dealers Only Firearms Auctions.
Auctions are conducted monthly, with in-person auction previews scheduled for participants to view the items in person prior to the close of the auction.
Auctions are conducted online at cwsmarketing.com. Property is stored at and removed from the Los Angeles County Public Administrator warehouse, 16610 East Chestnut Street, City of Industry, CA 91748. Go to directions from various Southern California areas.
An in-person inspection is scheduled for each LA County auction. The date and time for each preview will be posted on the auction information page for that particular sale. Photos and descriptions of all auction lots are available online approximately seven days prior to the auction. Previews are held at the Los Angeles County Public Administrator warehouse, 16610 East Chestnut Street, City of Industry, CA 91748.
Auction registration is completed online at cwsmarketing.com for each sale. An auction account is required to be established prior to bidding in your first auction.
Acceptable forms of payment are credit cards (Visa, Master Charge, Discover, American Express), bank wire, and cashier’s checks made payable to CWS Marketing Group, Inc. Personal or business checks are not accepted. Cashier’s checks made payable to the remitter are not accepted. Any special payment requirements will be noted in the Terms of Sale.
Typically, auction purchases must be paid for within 48 hours of the close of the auction. See the auctions Terms of Sale for exceptions to this requirement.
Within four business days following the close of the auction. There is no removal on the day of the sale. Any exceptions/extensions to removal are at the determination of CWS and The County of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Treasury and Tax Collector / Public Administrator has designated CWS Asset Management & Sales as the prime contractor for their personal property estate auctions. All property offered for sale if done so by Los Angeles County and comes from estates the County serves as Public Administrator or Public Guardian. CWSAMS conducts auctions throughout the United States representing various government agencies including The Departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security (DHS), US Customs, IRS-Criminal, US Marshals Service, and ATF.
Just about anything you might find in a home or office! Remember, these items all came from various estates. Items including cars, boats, aircraft, antiques, collectibles, art, jewelry, coins, stamps, special collections, household furniture, appliances, electronics, computer equipment, tools, and clothing. Items may be new or used and are sold in lots ranging from single items to wholesale quantities.
These auctions can produce some very good bargains. Good rules to follow are: (1) Preview the property prior to bidding, and (2) Set a maximum for what you are willing to pay for it. The more knowledgeable you are regarding items you are going to bid on, the more satisfied you will be with your purchase! “A knowledgeable buyer is a happy buyer!”
Generally, there are no minimums or set starting bids. The Seller, The LA County Public Administrator, will always reserve the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
Yes, unless you present a valid resale card. Check the City of Industry, CA for the current sales tax rate.
No, you pay sales tax when you register the car.
The auction can be a great place to buy a car! Remember, all the vehicles come from estates and vary in quality and condition. All paperwork required to register the vehicle will be provided to you when a purchase is made. Vehicles are sold with clear titles unless otherwise stated. Some basic things to consider prior to bidding are the following:
- Set a price limit prior to placing a bid;
- Be aware of any past CA DMV registration fees due. These, as well as any other fees associated with the purchase, will be listed on the auction pages.
- Preview the vehicle thoroughly during the scheduled preview time;
- Ask questions at registration@cwsams.com or at 949-375-9724.
Some of the vehicles sold at the County auction have expired license tags. If that is the case, the buyer would be responsible for any past fees due. Past DMV fees can be figured out by going to the California DMV website.
The buyer is responsible to perform the necessary smog check at the buyer’s expense. There is no guarantee that a vehicle will pass smog, and any repairs needed to pass will be the responsibility of the buyer.
There is a 15% Buyer’s Premium charged to the total of your purchases. This fee, paid for by the buyer, goes to offset the costs of conducting the auction. Following is an example:
- Bid Price $100
- Buyer’s Premium $15
- Sales Tax (9.5% – may vary) $10.93
- Total Purchase Price $125.93
In addition, for vehicles and other conveyances, any past and current registration fees, as well as smog check fees, are the responsibility of the buyer.
In-house shipping is offered for smaller items, at the cost, risk and liability of the buyer. Large, heavy, or fragile items, as determined by the CWS, must either be picked up in-person by the buyer or buyer’s agent, or shipping coordinated by the buyer.
Property is offered in numbered lots, which consist of individual or groups of items. Online auction lots will begin to close on a determined date, beginning with the lowest numbered lots.
Ask questions at registration@cwsams.com or at 949-375-9724.
