Are police auction cars reliable, and why are they sold?

They can be, if you price in the wear. Police departments retire patrol cars on a replacement schedule set by each department, and the cars are usually maintained on a fleet schedule while in service.

The catch is use. Patrol cars idle for hours on scene, and Ford's rule of thumb is that one idle hour wears an engine about as much as 33 miles of driving, so ask for the engine hours, not just the miles. Expect interior wear and holes from removed equipment. Lights, sirens and markings are removed before sale, and everything is sold as-is.

Over the last 12 months a retired police Chevy Tahoe (PPV) sold for a median of $5,050, a Dodge Charger Pursuit for $4,675 and a Ford Interceptor Utility for $3,965 at U.S. government auctions. Inspect in person if you can, run the VIN for open recalls, and budget for tires, brakes and fluids.