Tips & Info: Gov Surplus Car Auctions Online
Our Advice on Buying an Auction Car at Government Car Auctions
These auctions include cars, trucks, SUVs, tractors, boats, and more. Police and sheriff departments will also occasionally auction off their old police cars. Anyone 18 and older can bid on these auction cars at government auctions.
The auctions are free to attend, so ignore any sites that try to get your personal information or ask for payment upfront. Employees of other government agencies can even purchase automobiles from the auctions unless their specific agency prohibits them from doing so.
How to Find Government Car Auctions Online or Near You
The condition of the government vehicles for sale will depend on which type of government auction you attend. GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales, for instance, sells cars that have only had one owner, are well maintained, and have low mileage.
These are cars that government employees have used and are now obsolete. The government auctions lightly used cars that are in decent condition. Based on what we’ve seen, they usually come as basic models without all the extras, so remember that.
Before heading to the auction site, you can visit their website and download their list of cars that are up for sale.
When attending these auctions, potential buyers should have their eye on a few cars and bid on them, as you may not be guaranteed to win the bid.
Each of the auction vehicles will go to the highest bidder, whether they be attending on-site or online. They sell thousands of cars and trucks a year to the general public.
Other Government entities, like the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service, use a contractor called CWS Asset Management & Sales to auction off forfeited motor vehicles.
These cars and trucks have been taken from criminals, abandoned, or seized from individuals who did not pay their income taxes. When a car at these auctions is purchased, it must be towed off the property as it could be unsafe.
A licensed mechanic should check out all vehicles sold at these types of auctions before the buyer begins driving them. Expect these cars to need some mechanical or even some bodywork.
Many police departments around the country auction their own seized vehicles and also their surplus police vehicles at auctions such as NYPD auctions. Use the button below to find the best government car auction sites.
Are Government Car Auctions Good? Are They Legit?
A car or truck from a government auto auction could be an excellent alternative to buying from a used car lot. The prices are much lower, and if you bid in an auction, you can trust that the vehicle is in good condition unless otherwise stated in its description.
Finding a car or truck with only one previous owner and low mileage is sometimes a grueling hunt, but with a government auction, you can almost guarantee this is the case.
If you are a mechanic that likes to buy and fix vehicles, then bidding at the auctions that sell seized cars could be ideal. Though it may not be road-ready, there could be potential for fixing up and reselling.
Government car auctions are free to attend, online or in person, and it could be an excellent way to find your next used vehicle.
They could be worth checking out when given a chance. You need a bit of extra patience at government surplus auctions because they are sometimes not held frequently or may have less cars for sale than typical wholesale car auctions.
East Coast Classics gives the run down on gov car auctions and what you should know before bidding. He has many years of experience at these auctions and shows some of the auction cars available at GSA sales.
Government Seized Cars: Consider the Risks
It is very helpful that someone bidding in government seized auctions understands the rules and process before the seizure auction starts. Also, having automotive expertise and experience will greatly aide your ability to get a good deal and not to overbid in the auction.