Foundation Cars to Purchase
There are no cars currently available for sale.
Our next sale is December 9, 2023 at Gaithersburg High School from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Potential inventory for the sale will be posted on this site at the end of November.
The MONTGOMERY COUNTY STUDENTS AUTOMOTIVE TRADES FOUNDATION, INC. is a nonprofit organization established cooperatively by the Montgomery County business and professional community and Montgomery County Public Schools to provide a unique method of training high school students for skilled positions in the automotive field: the Mini Dealership, a licensed used car dealership. Students receive valuable on-the-job training that will prepare them for higher educational opportunities or direct entry into the automotive industry.
All vehicles are Maryland State Inspected prior to delivery and vehicles with less than 90,000 miles come with a 30 day or 1,000 mile powertrain warranty. All vehicles with 90,000 or more miles are discounted and sold in “as is” condition. Tags, title, fees, and sales tax are in addition to the vehicle price. A $100 deposit (checks preferred; cash accepted) is required to hold a vehicle. The balance of the purchase price is due when you receive the vehicle. All deposits are non-refundable one week (5 working days) after sale.
Individuals who choose to test drive sale vehicles must be at least 21 years of age, wear a mask (required), have a current car insurance policy, and have a valid drivers’ license.
Please contact Mike Snyder at Michael_C_Snyder@mcpsmd.org for more information about the cars.
Description of Lottery Drawing for Vehicle Purchase
- From 9-11 a.m., customers may view and test drive cars. Students will work with customers to ensure that the test drives run smoothly and answer any questions about the cars prior to the lottery drawing.
- If a customer wants to purchase a vehicle, they must complete one lottery ticket per household (address). Neatly, complete the information on the lottery ticket. The car will only be titled in the name provided on the ticket. Place the lottery ticket in the lottery box provided.
- The lottery drawing will begin at 11 a.m. Requests for test drives will end by 10:45 a.m. to ensure that all cars and customers are present for the lottery. Customers must be present at the time of the drawing to be eligible to purchase a vehicle. Starting the week after the sale, any remaining inventory is available for sale to the public.
- As each lottery ticket is drawn, the customer is asked which vehicle they would like to purchase. If the customer is interested in a car that has already been chosen, there are three options:
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- Add name to the Back-Up List (in case a deal falls through).
- Choose a different car.
- Visit a future sale.
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- Once the customer has made their selection, they must complete a Customer Information Sheet. The customer may choose to:
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- Place a $100 deposit (cash or check made payable to MCSATF) to hold the vehicle until the balance of the payment (includes purchase price, 6% tax, and tag and title expenses) is made within five (5) business days. Customer MUST arrange an appointment to take delivery of the car during normal operating hours of 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Pay in full and take delivery of the vehicle (if the vehicle is ready to be driven off the lot).
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- Following the customer’s decision, the next lottery ticket is drawn and the process continues until all lottery tickets are drawn.
- All interested customers should stay for the entire drawing to get a lottery number, even if they want to be placed on the Back-Up List. The ATF will use the Back-Up List if a deposit falls through to determine which customer gets the next right of refusal.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
FAQ
How do I test drive a car?
- Find a student salesperson (wearing a lime green/yellow vest).
- Give student license to get copied (first test drive only).
- Identify the cars you are interested in test-driving. Salesperson will submit license copy to tag table before EVERY test drive.
- Salesperson waits near tag table for name to be called.
- Follow route and go on test drive with student.
- Upon return, if interested in test-driving more vehicles, have students return to tag table and resubmit license copy/tag sign out sheet. Repeat process.
I am under 21, but I have my license. Can I test drive the car?
Unfortunately, you must be at least 21 years old to test drive. If you are unable to drive the car, consider having someone over 21 drive the car so you can go for a test drive.
During the test drives, why are the keys to the car I am interested in on the board, but I cannot go for a test drive?
Tags are utilized as needed on any available car. If we do not have hard tags available, we cannot send customers on road tests until they become available. The waitlist for customer test drives is first come, first serve (thus requiring salesperson to resubmit the license copy/tag sign out after every test drive). Customers will be sent out based on place in line, car availability, and tag availability. We have a limited number of license tags for test drives and you may not be able to test drive all the cars that you are interested in purchasing. When you are next in line and your car is available, we will send you out with the next available tag.
During the test drives, why are there hard tags on the table but I cannot test-drive the car?
Tags are utilized as needed on any available car. If there are customers’ ahead of you, there will be a wait for a test drive.
Why is the car that I want to test drive missing from the list and board?
We start advertising early. Sometimes, for whatever reason, a car is not ready for sale and is removed from the list. If a Car # is missing on the day of the sale, it is no long available for test drives and/or sale.
I did not get to test drive all of the cars that I was interested in during the sale. Now what?
If you would like to purchase a vehicle (whether you were able to test-drive it or not), you must stay for the lottery process. If you are selected and your car is available, you can place a $100 refundable deposit on the car. The week after the sale, you can schedule an appointment to test drive the car. If you decide that you do not want the car, your deposit is refunded. We do not allow vehicles to be out overnight.
Why do you “close” the test drive list before 11 a.m.?
The test drives begin to wrap up around 10:45 a.m. to ensure that everyone is back for the lottery. We need time to review the tickets to ensure that only one ticket is submitted per household. The lottery drawing starts around 11 a.m. and you must be present to select a vehicle.
Do the cars have warranties?
If a car has less than 90,000 miles, it has a 30 day/1,000 mile DRIVETRAIN ONLY warranty (see warranty for full details). If a car has over 90,000 miles, it is sold “AS IS” and without a warranty.
What is done to the cars?
Every car has the equivalent of a 30,000 mile general maintenance service (which includes routine maintenance like an oil change, tire rotation, and checking fluids/filters). All cars are MD Safety Inspected and work has been done to the cars to ensure that they pass the inspection. Car-specific items are addressed; however, we do not provide any service history other than a CARFAX.
Can I take the car to my mechanic?
Yes! We encourage it (after sale, by appointment, M-F). If you are selected during the lottery and select a car for purchase, you may put the $100 deposit on it and schedule a time (within 5 business days) to take your car to your mechanic. We do not allow vehicles to be out overnight.
Can I negotiate the price?
No, prices are set by our Board of Directors based on market value, Kelly Blue Book, and NADA value. Sales are a result of a learning experience for our students and are priced accordingly.
Can I purchase a car before the sale?
No, cars must be offered and go through the Lottery Process before they are sold. Any remaining inventory after may be sold on a first come, first appointment basis. Remaining inventory will be available until advertising for the next sale begins. Once the inventory is offered for the next sale, they will not be able to be sold until the next sale.
LOTTERY (see “Lottery Process Sheet for detailed information)
How do I participate in the lottery?
Complete a Lottery Card and place it in the Lottery box BEFORE 10:45 a.m.
I am interested in more than one car; can I put a ticket in for each car?
No, it is one ticket per household/address. The car will be titled to whomever is written on the ticket.
I live with a relative and we both want a car. Can we put in two tickets?
No, it is one ticket per household/address.
My mom/dad/sister/brother or anyone that I know had their lottery ticket chosen. They submitted a ticket, but I want the car. Can I put the car in my name?
No, the car will be tagged and titled to the person on the ticket (no exceptions).
I want a car that was on the previous list. Can I put a deposit on it?
No. Sometimes we anticipate a car being included in a sale, but for whatever reason, it does not make it. If it is not on the list the day of the sale or thereafter, it is not available for sale. Please check back at future sales because the car may become available.
If I get selected to purchase a car, can I purchase multiple cars and/or go on the backup list?
If you are selected, you may only select ONE option at time of lottery (buy, back-up list, or leave). At the end of the lottery process, you may add your name to any car as a back-up buyer and/or purchase any cars that have not been selected.
What is a back-up buyer?
During the lottery, if the cars you are interested in are already selected, you may choose to go on the back-up list for a specific car. If the car becomes available, we will contact interested customers by the order of their lottery draws. If the initial sale falls through, then we will contact the back up buyers.
How do I know which cars are available during the lottery?
Check the white board. A student will cross off cars as they are selected. If the car that you want is unavailable, you can become a backup buyer for the car.
How can I pay for the car?
Cash, check, or financing through Educational Systems (no credit/debit/electronic payments).
What does “deposit” mean?
If you are not ready to take delivery of the car and/or the car is not available for delivery, you can put a $100 deposit on the vehicle that will give you first right of refusal when the vehicle is ready to go. If you would like to take your car to the mechanic, you must put a deposit down and schedule a time within the next week to take it. We do not allow vehicles to be out overnight and appointments must be scheduled during the school day. Deposits are refundable up to five business days after the sale.
I left a deposit; now what?
You have 5 (five) business days to make arrangements with Mike Snyder (Michael_C_Snyder@mcpsmd.org) to take your car to your mechanic and/or take delivery of the car.
What does “take delivery,” mean?
You pay the full price of the vehicle plus tax, tags, and fees. The car is yours.
What happens to the cars that were not selected?
After the sale, they are available on a first come, first serve basis, by appointment only.
Is there a grace period where I can return the car if I don’t like it?
No, all sales are final.
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