most auction houses put a list of motors on its website before the auction so you can decide if you want to go or not.

in the windows of most cars will be a sticker with very basic details, but the important bit on that sticker is who has submitted the car for auction. be careful if it says private and sold with the letters A/S

A/S stands for as seen - no comebacks
G/O stands for good order, it means you get your money back if it has a major mechanical problem, but it doesnt give you long to check the car over!

alot of main agents put their stuff through auctions so look at cars which have come from main agents