The Pros and Cons of Buying a Retired Police Car

Greg Berry explores the advantages and potential drawbacks of purchasing a retired police vehicle at auction. Berry breaks down what sets police cars apart from their civilian counterparts and offers insider tips on what to look for when considering bidding on a decommissioned cop car.

Berry also delves into the most iconic police car models throughout the decades, from the classic Dodge Polara of the 1960s to the iconic Ford Crown Victoria that dominated the market until 2011. He shares common issues to watch out for in popular models like the Ford Explorer Interceptor. 

Whether you're drawn to the cost savings, enhanced performance, or the unique experience of owning a piece of law enforcement history, this episode arms you with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision when considering a retired police car.

About the Guest:
Greg Berry, CEO and Founder of Municibid, is an entrepreneur with a passion for the auction industry, particularly in the government surplus sector. He started the company in 2006 after serving on the town council for the Borough of Pottstown in Pennsylvania. Greg noticed the struggles that municipalities faced when selling surplus items and decided to create a more efficient and effective solution. Over the past 17 years, Municibid has grown to serve nearly 6,000 governments across the US and has become a trusted platform for buying and selling government surplus.

Key Takeaways:

• Retired police cars often sell at a significant discount compared to similar civilian vehicles, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
• Police vehicles are built to handle extreme conditions, equipped with high-quality parts, robust suspensions, and powerful engines designed for high-speed pursuits.
• Departments typically adhere to strict maintenance schedules, ensuring these vehicles are well-cared for during their service.
• Common modifications include upgraded power systems, column shifters, and pre-wired lighting systems that can benefit certain business owners.
• Potential downsides include higher fuel costs, expensive replacement parts, and possible cosmetic issues from removed police equipment.

Additional Resources:

• Explore the wild world of government surplus at Municibid
• Problems with the Ford Explorer Through the Years: https://blog.municibid.com/problems-with-the-ford-explorer-through-the-years/ 
• What are the Most Frequent Dodge Charger Problems?: https://blog.municibid.com/what-are-the-most-frequent-dodge-charger-problems/ 
• Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor History: https://blog.municibid.com/the-ford-crown-victoria-police-interceptor-history/ 
• The Best and Worst Chevy Tahoe Model Years: https://blog.municibid.com/the-best-and-worst-chevrolet-tahoe-model-years/ 
• Learn more about Government Surplus Vehicles: https://blog.municibid.com/the-government-surplus-vehicle-guide/
• Looking to sell your government surplus? Learn more about how to sell: https://municibid.com/sell/ 

Got feedback or want to be a guest? Email us at [e-mail]

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
Join us as we dive into the wildworld of government auctions and
take you behind the scenes touncover the cool and unique ways
bidders from across America areutilizing the items they've won
on Municipit, like an ambulancerepurposed into a work truck, to
a city bus converted into an RV,and so much more.
Welcome to the Municipitpodcast.

(00:31):
Hi there folks, Greg Barry hereback at it again with another
episode of the Municipitpodcast.
Thanks for tuning in.
Last week we had a chat withofficer Michael Kirshner about
the nitty gritty of being a copand some wild pursuit stories
that'll surely make your headspin.
This week, I thought we'd diveinto what sets police cars apart
from civilian versions and thegood, the bad, and the ugly of

(00:54):
owning a retired cop car.
So picture this, these carsafter putting in their time,
keeping the street safe, get asecond shot at life as a
civilian ride.
And get this, anyone can snagone, just like any other car at
an auction.
But here's the million dollarquestion, should you buy a
retired police car?
So let's dive in as there's alot to unpack here.

(01:15):
These cars come with some prettysweet modifications, but they've
also got their fair share ofpotential headaches, like higher
maintenance costs.
So if you're on the fence aboutwhether a retired police car is
your dream ride, allow me tobreak it down for you.
First things first, one of thebiggest perks of buying a
retired police car is the pricetag.
These cars are often sold at aserious discount compared to

(01:37):
similar vehicles that haven'tseen a day of police work.
It's like scoring a sweet dealon a car that's built like a
tank, but hold your horses.
These cars are sold as is, soyou better do your homework
before placing your bids.
Another thing to keep in mind isthe type of police car you're
buying.
Police chiefs and detective carsusually don't see as much action

(01:59):
as patrol cars, Which can rackup wear and tear very quickly.
If you're looking at a patrolcar, just know that it might've
seen a decade's worth of use injust a few years, especially if
it was cruising the mean streetsof a big city.
And don't be surprised if thedriver's seat looks like it's
been through the ringer.
Those utility belts can do anumber on the upholstery.
But here's the thing.

(02:19):
Police cars are built to last.
They've got high quality parts,top notch brakes, shocks, fuel
lines, suspensions, the works.
Just keep in mind that when it'stime to replace those parts, you
might need to break open thepiggy bank because they're heavy
duty.
And let's not forget those beefyengines made for high speed
chases.
Plus these cars are rated saferthan a lot of other rides out

(02:42):
there.
So even though you might bespending a little extra at the
pump due to lower fuel economy,you're getting a vehicle that's
built to tackle anything lifethrows its way.
Another great thing about policecars, they're usually very well
maintained.
Departments stick to themanufacturer's maintenance
schedules because they can'tafford to have any hiccups while

(03:02):
they're out there keeping thepeace.
Now, let's talk aboutmodifications.
Some of the mods you'll find onpolice cars are pretty sweet,
like upgraded engines,suspensions, and power systems.
And since the center console isusually taken up by radio and
computer systems, most policecars have a column shift, which
is a feature you can't alwaysfind on the civilian versions.

(03:24):
But some modifications mightcause some issues for you, like
holes in the roof where thelights used to be or scratches
from removed vinyl decals.
Some police vehicles have theback seats removed and replaced
with a cage.
Sometimes the department keepsthe back seats and reinstalls
them.
So you end up with brand newseats.
Other times you might be rollingwithout any backseat at all.

(03:46):
It's all about weighing the prosand cons and figuring out what
you're cool with.
Check what police equipment, ifany, is sticking around with the
vehicle.
Most of the time all the policegear gets stripped out unless
you can prove you work foranother department.
Things like radios and lightbars are usually gone.
However, lights installed insidethe headlights and rear lights
of a vehicle usually stay put.

(04:08):
If you're running a business andneed a work vehicle with
flashing lights, snagging aretired police car can save you
a ton of money in time.
All you'd have to do is swap outthe light bulbs for an Amber
color.
You might be able to use anothercolor, but double check your
local laws.
Just to make sure.
Gene Irvin, fleet supervisor atSpringfield Township,
Pennsylvania told us it can taketwo guys two to three full days

(04:29):
to outfit a new police vehicle.
With all the bells and whistlesbecause they have to take the
car completely apart to set upall the wiring.
One thing to keep in mind isthat police cars are work like
mules.
They often rack up crazy amountof miles and idle hours, which
can do a number on the enginesand other parts.
But depending on where the carwas stationed, it might not have

(04:49):
seen as much hard use.
Highway patrol cars, forexample, don't go through the
same kind of wear and tear ascars used for inner city
driving.
When you're cruising around in aretired police car, people might
drive a little differentlyaround you.
They might think it's anunmarked car and give you a
little more respect on the road.
Before you go all in on aretired police car, there are a

(05:11):
few key questions you'll want toask.
Find out about the idle hours onthe car, whether it comes with
its own keys or a fleet key, andif it includes any police
equipment.
You'll also want to know whenthe car was taken out of
service, if it starts, and whattype of service it was used for.
And if you're not a mechanicyourself, definitely bring one
with you to give the car a onceover before placing a bid.

(05:35):
They'll know exactly what tolook for to make sure that
you're getting a quality ride.
Now let's talk about some of themost popular police car models
over the last few decades.
Starting in the 60s and 70s,you've got the iconic Dodge
Polera, featured in the originalDukes of Hazzard TV show.
Then there's the Ford MustangSSP from the 80s, known as the

(05:55):
Mustang that chases Porsches fora living.
And who could forget the ChevyCaprice of the 80s and 90s.
Lovingly nicknamed Shamu for itswhale like appearance.
The Ford Crown Victoria was theking of the police car market
for ages before riding off intothe sunset in 2011.
And nowadays you're likely tosee a bunch of Ford police

(06:15):
interceptors patrolling thestreets, which is a modified
version of the Ford ExplorerSUV.
Other common models are theChevy Tahoe, Dodge Charger, and
Ford Caprice.
With the Ford Explorer, thewater pump is a common problem
and can be a real pain to get towhen it needs replacing.
So that's a question to ask.
In the show notes, we'll link tosome of the police car models

(06:35):
and their common recalls andissues to watch out for.
So should you buy a retiredpolice car?
Well, that's up to you.
If you like the extraperformance, space, potential
cost savings, and don't mind thepossible drawbacks like higher
fuel costs and maintenance, thenit could be a match made in
heaven.
Just make sure to do yourhomework, ask a ton of

(06:56):
questions, and have a mechanicgive it a once over before
pulling the trigger.
So what do you think?
Are you ready to start huntingfor your very own police car?
If so, head on over to Municipidand see what catches your eye.
With a little bit of researchand some careful consideration,
you might just find the perfectride for your needs and your
budget.
Happy hunting folks.
And don't forget to buckle upand obey the speed limit, even

(07:17):
if you're driving a retiredpolice car.
Thank you for tuning into theMunicipid podcast.
If you'd like to learn moreabout the world of government
surplus, be sure to subscribe tothis podcast, wherever you
listen to your podcasts.
If you'd like to learn moreabout the world of government
surplus, be sure to subscribe