Is $699 the only extra cost, or are there hidden fees?
For Jonestown drivers tired of comparing sticker prices across three or four dealer lots, there's a different starting point: skip the lot entirely and buy at the price level dealers themselves pay. Budgeting for this service is simple because the math only has two parts: the auction price itself, which moves with the market and the specific vehicle, and the flat $699 service fee Hunt Auto Group charges for finding it, buying it, and getting it to Jonestown. Compare that to a traditional dealer markup, which routinely runs $2,000 to $5,000 over what the dealer paid - the $699 fee is usually a fraction of what a Jonestown buyer would otherwise hand over in markup alone.
Who stands between a Jonestown buyer and a dealer-only auction lane?
Hunt Auto Group runs the whole process on behalf of Jonestown buyers. As an independent vehicle marketing and sales operation working with a licensed dealer partner, Hunt Auto Group doesn't need you to hold a dealer license or an auction account - it uses its partner's standing access to dealer-only auction lanes, including the ones that run through Manheim, to search for and buy the specific vehicle a customer asks for.
What happens after I tell you what car I want?
Step one is simple: say what you're looking for. Jonestown buyers describe the vehicle - year, make, model, feature preferences, and a price ceiling - and Hunt Auto Group schedules a short online consultation to lock in the details. After that, the search runs through dealer-only auctions accessible via Hunt Auto Group's licensed dealer partner. When a matching vehicle shows up, the buyer reviews photos, condition details, and price before giving the go-ahead. Only then does the purchase happen, followed by delivery and paperwork.
Do Jonestown residents need an auction account or dealer certification themselves?
No special credentials needed. Hunt Auto Group isn't a dealer itself - it's an independent vehicle marketing and sales operation working with a licensed dealer partner whose dealer certifications make the dealer-only auction lanes accessible. For Jonestown buyers, that distinction matters because it means the whole process is designed around people who have never bought at auction before.
How much less does an auction vehicle cost than the same car on a dealer lot?
A dealer lot in Jonestown or anywhere nearby has to price in its own acquisition cost from auction (or trade-ins), reconditioning, and the overhead of running a lot, then add a profit margin on top. Buying directly at the auction level through Hunt Auto Group's licensed dealer partner means a Jonestown buyer is closer to that acquisition cost, with the $699 service fee replacing the retail markup instead of stacking on top of it.
Why Jonestown residents don't need to drive to an auction themselves
Jonestown sits at the intersection of I-78 and I-81, making it a crossroads for truckers and commuters heading to Harrisburg, Allentown, or beyond. The town's location near Fort Indiantown Gap also brings military families who need affordable, reliable vehicles on a service member's budget. Military families from Fort Indiantown Gap and I-78 corridor commuters both find us easily. We understand military PCS moves and the financing flexibility service members need. Those two realities are why the auction buying service tends to come up specifically in Jonestown conversations rather than feeling like a generic pitch - it addresses a cost problem that's already visible locally, using a 10 miles drive via I-78 E to PA-72 S (12 min) to Hunt Auto Group as the only travel a Jonestown buyer actually has to do.
Is the service available outside Lebanon, PA?
Yes. Delivery within the Lebanon area is included in the $699 fee, and for areas further out, transport and fuel costs are quoted upfront before you commit to anything.
Can I see the car before you buy it at auction?
You'll see auction listing photos, condition reports, and available vehicle history before anything is purchased, and you approve the specific vehicle and price first. What you can't do is test drive it beforehand - that's simply how dealer-only auctions work, which is also why a post-purchase inspection is worth scheduling once the vehicle arrives.
