Most auto auctions will let you open a vehicle up, get inside, turn the car on and they may even let you change the gears, but most will not let you drive the car.  There seems to be a problem with liability damages or insurance issues that reffrain them from letting you drive the car around.  You can see the car being driven when the handler drives the car up to the auction front.  At some car dealer auctions they have certain limited warranties, like a two or three day warranty, in which you can return the car if you are not happy with it.