How to inspect a car before a bailiff auction
At a bailiff auction (licytacja komornicza) you buy the car "as is" — with no warranty for defects and usually no test drive. So the real work happens before bidding: your pre-auction due diligence decides whether you land a bargain or a costly problem. This guide shows how to inspect a car before a Polish bailiff auction: what to check on site, how to read the VIN history and what to ask the bailiff.
Start with the notice
The auction notice (obwieszczenie) is your source of truth. It lists the make, model, year, VIN, mileage and the appraisal sum (suma oszacowania). Before you travel, write down the details and later compare them with the actual car — a VIN or mileage mismatch is the first warning sign. Check too whether the notice gives the inspection date and place.
Viewing at the storage site
The bailiff usually sets an inspection date at the storage location (miejsce przechowywania) — a depot car park, the office yard, or the debtor's property. This is your only chance to see the car in person, so come prepared. Bring a torch, a magnet (to spot thick filler on the body), gloves and a phone with a good camera. If you can, bring someone who knows cars.
What to look at:
- Body and paint — colour mismatches, uneven panel gaps and respray marks point to an accident history.
- Underbody and sills — corrosion, welding marks, dents from grounding.
- Interior — the state of the seats, steering wheel and pedals tells you more about real mileage than the odometer.
- Engine and fluids — if allowed, start the engine cold; listen for knocks, check the colour of the oil and coolant.
- Keys and documents — a missing second key costs a few hundred zloty; a missing registration document slows registration.
Remember: a test drive is usually not possible, and the car has often sat unused for months. Assume it will need at least a service, fluid change and tyres.
VIN history — the key remote step
You can check the VIN from home, and it protects you from the most expensive mistakes. Check:
- Vehicle history on the government site historiapojazdu.gov.pl — inspection dates, mileage readings, damage notes.
- The CEPiK database and foreign registers if the car was imported.
- Registered pledge (zastaw rejestrowy) and leasing — encumbrances can pass with the car, so confirm the legal status.
- Paid VIN reports if the car has an unusual past.
A rolled-back odometer, contradictory inspection dates or "missing" years in the history signal that the saving may be an illusion. We cover the traps in more detail in the article on risks of buying a car at auction.
Questions for the bailiff
The bailiff gives no warranty on condition, but a few things are worth confirming before you pay the deposit:
- Does the car have a full set of documents and keys?
- Are there known legal encumbrances (pledge, co-ownership)?
- What is the exact deadline and method of payment for the balance after the award (przybicie)?
- Is the car drivable, or must it be towed from the collection point?
- Where and when do viewings take place?
Answers can be terse — the bailiff only knows the car from the case file. Treat them as guidance, not a guarantee, and always confirm key points in the notice and directly with the office.
Work out the "all-in" cost
Before you set your bidding limit, add the real cost of making the car roadworthy to the starting price: transport or a tow truck, service and repairs, fluids, tyres, a duplicate key, third-party insurance and registration fees. Only that total shows whether the bargain is really a bargain. We map the whole purchase process — from finding the listing to collection — in the guide on how to buy a car at a bailiff auction.
Summary
Good pre-auction due diligence has three layers: reading the notice, viewing the car in person, and checking the VIN, topped up with questions for the bailiff. The more you know before bidding, the calmer you set your limit. To have time for this, Brykam catches listings earlier — see the pricing and walk into the viewing prepared.