The topic of police cars can be pretty broad, as various precincts use different vehicles. However, some people may wonder what happens to police cars when they become decommissioned. Do police cars go on sale for the public to buy? If this is the case, how long do police departments use squad cars, and what changes do they need before being listed for sale for civilians for use? Of course, many will be Ford police vehicles such as the Interceptor.

You can find police cars for sale

When in use, police cars sometimes go through the ringer in the pursuit of criminals. However, this doesn’t stop some people from looking for police cars for sale. Luckily for them, this is what typically happens once a precinct decommissions squad cars. For the most part, buyers can find options such as the Ford Police vehicles for sale at various automotive auctions. 

How old a car you may get is a bit of a toss-up as different precincts use their vehicle for various amounts of time. According to The Patch, some may keep cars upwards of 100,000 miles while others may get rid of them around 60,000 miles. People looking for police cars for sale will be happy to know they they get routine maintenance more often than civilian cars to offset the more frequent use.  

Why people buy squad cars?

The idea of buying a vehicle such as the Ford Interceptor may sound odd to some. However, there are a few reasons some people may look for police cars for sale. For starters, they typically have a more powerful engine than their civilian counterparts. Additionally, squad cars often use bulletproof material, such as ballistic glass. Not only that, but police vehicles like the Ford Interceptor have a more unique look. 

People may also look for these types of cars because they can be cheap. As mentioned, these vehicles get used fairly often, so they may not last as long as other used cars. Still, the discounts on police cars for sale can be a massive selling point. Of course, some people just like the shock value that comes from riding around in a decommissioned police car. 

People can buy all sorts of vehicles that would be surprising to others. However, it’s not uncommon to see a former squad car driven by a civilian. In fact, there are even times people may think it’s a current police car, given its distinct exterior. 

Readers should also be aware that smaller police departments sometimes also buy used cars. This is because smaller departments may not always have the budget needed to buy new police cars.