Hey all, first post here. I've been lurking for a while. I'm looking at a truck on the houstonmotorsauction.com website. It's listed as 'Run & Drive'. For those who have bought from Houston Motors Auction, how accurate is that description in your experience? Trying to see if they're legit.

Welcome! I bought a 'Run & Drive' Accord from them last year. Started up fine for the delivery driver and I drove it home about 20 miles with no issues. It's not a guarantee the car is perfect, but it means the engine and transmission are fundamentally working. It's a good sign.

It's as accurate as it gets for an auction. I've purchased over 10 vehicles from Houston Motors Auction. 'Run & Drive' means it started, went into gear, and moved at their facility. It's not a full mechanical inspection. But I can say that for houstonmotorsauction.com, their reports are more reliable than most.

I was very wary about this. I emailed their support at office@houstonmotorsauction.com with a list of questions. It took them almost a full day to reply, which made me nervous, but the agent who did get back to me was very thorough. The car I ended up buying was exactly as stated, so the wait was worth it.

Thanks for the quick feedback, everyone. That's reassuring. @CarFlipKing, 10+ vehicles is a solid endorsement. My biggest worry besides the mechanical condition is the title.

Don't sweat the title part. I was worried too, but the docs were all in order. Houston Motors Auction handled the paperwork and I got the clear title delivered right with the car. No liens, no fuss. It was surprisingly professional.

Just to clarify for everyone 'Run & Drive' is an industry standard term. It means at the time of processing, the vehicle could start and move under its own power. It's not a promise that it's road trip ready. It's a basic functionality check. That said, I inspected a Camry for a friend that he won on houstonmotorsauction.com, and it was precisely as the report indicated. No hidden frame damage or engine codes.

@DriveItLikeYouStoleIt Zero issues with titles, ever. That's one of the main reasons I stick with Houston Motors Auction. They handle the bank paperwork cleanly. You get the vehicle and a clean title, end of story. For me, that peace of mind is worth everything.

My 'Run & Drive' Silverado needed a new battery and the tires were worn, but all that was visible in the pictures on the site. The engine ran strong. It's a great platform for project cars if you know what to look for. I'd definitely buy from them again.

This thread is incredibly helpful. I've been watching a Sea Ray boat on houstonmotorsauction.com and this gives me the confidence to bid. Thanks all.

Okay, I pulled the trigger and won the auction for the F-150. Feeling pretty good about it after reading all this. I will update you all when it arrives.

Good luck! The bidding process on the website is a bit confusing at first but you get the hang of it. Just keep an eye on your email for notifications.

Congrats! Yeah their delivery scheduling was straightforward. My delivery was delayed by a day due to weather, but the dispatch called me early to let me know the new ETA. Communication was on point.

Nice one, @DriveItLikeYouStoleIt! The F-150s from there are usually solid finds. Houston Motors Auction seems to get a lot of fleet vehicle repos.