This month, we connected up with our all-time favorite California car charity, Blok Charity Auto Clearance located in Gardena. We asked them questions about their cars, the buying process and why people buy from charities over dealerships. It seems that if you are in the market for an inexpensive car, it’s hard to beat a charity. But not all charities are created equal – you must find one that does it right.

Blok has been in the business for over ten years with sales to over 80,000 people. It is no wonder so many people flock to their lot. The following is what we learned in speaking with them:

Blok has roughly 450 vehicles on their lot. Although other charities in other parts of the country or even here in California will all operate differently, it is always a great idea to work with a charity that has many, many vehicles to select from. Make sure they turn their inventory regularly. Auctions are a great way to get an excellent deal on a car. So, ask if they hold regular auctions.

A charity is not a dealership. All of their vehicles are purchased “as-is” and there typically are not any warranties. Any charity you work with, however, should offer some basic protections. For example, Blok offers a two day/200 mile cancellation contract for $200. This allows you to bring back the vehicle within that time frame and get your money back. Don’t expect to get financing from a charity. Test drives are also hard for charities to offer because of stringent insurance policies due to the number of cars on their lot.

Be sure to ask if all of the vehicles are inspected by a competent mechanic. Blok never sells cars they know have major mechanical problems (i.e. bad transmissions, blown head gaskets, bad engines, etc.). If the cars do have major issues, they should repair them. Also, be sure that it is a part of their standard procedure to top off all fluids when the vehicle is brought in.

Good charities will have the vehicle inspected and provide you with a safety inspection report and smog certificate. Although a charity cannot license your vehicle in-house, they can provide you everything you will need to license it with the DMV. Make sure you get a bill of sale and all of the appropriate paperwork. Blok usually sends out the title within two to four weeks after the purchase because this needs to be arranged through the previous owner. If the title is not received within a designated time frame, be sure any paperwork you sign indicates that the money will be refunded to you.

Car dealerships have some great benefits – like warranties, on-the-spot licensing, financing and attentive salespeople. But you always pay a premium for these services. If you are in the market for an extremely cheap vehicle, a charity’s prices are typically drastically lower than what you would find at a dealership. Good charities also provide additional protections to you that you cannot get from an individual seller. We cannot speak for all charities, but we know that Blok Charity Auto Clearance has spent years perfecting their business and offers excellent cars at excellent prices.

Find out more about Blok Charity Auto Clearance. See Blok’s car inventory.