Surplus Car Auctions - How and where to find government car auctions

Surplus Car Auctions - Government Surplus Vehicles for Sale

Buy surplus cars from federal, state, and local governments for great bargains

Government agencies all over the country regularly sell or auction cars, trucks, and SUVs they no longer need, or that have been replaced with newer models. These are called surplus vehicles. In some cases, these cars have been impounded or seized from criminals by police agencies and can't be used by the departments.

Some auction vehicles are older vehicles with high mileage, but in good condition — and good prices. In other cases, you may find almost-new vehicles in perfect condition. Some are police vehicles; others have been used for administrative or official business purposes. Some might be junkers. And others might be high-end luxury cars seized from drug dealers.

Most such vehicle auctions and sales are announced publicly and are open to the public. Some agencies conduct their own auctions. Others use outside auction companies. In many cases, particularly with small counties and towns, the vehicles are sold through auction web sites run by a professional auction company.

Where can I find government surplus auctions?
Finding surplus car auctions takes a little legwork. There is no standard method of listing or announcing government auctions and sales. In some cases, announcements are made in local newspapers, or one local newspaper, on a particular day of the month. In other cases, announcements and schedules are available on the Internet.

It is possible to purchase directories of auctions on the Internet, which reduces a lot of the legwork. But be aware that some of these directories and databases are out of date and incomplete. Makes sure the service offers a money-back guarantee if you decide to try one.

One of the companies providing an auction directory service is Gov-Auctions.org. The web site contains advice and information on how to participate in auctions, as well as a directory database. There is a fee for the service, but they have a money-back guarantee if you decide you don't like it.

Different government agencies - different sales methods
There are different kinds of government auctions at which cars, trucks, and other vehicles are sold. Many are general property auctions where all kinds of equipment, machines, and vehicles are sold. Others, particularly in large cities, might specialize in a certain type of property, such as automobiles.

The largest government agency selling surplus vehicles and equipment is the federal General Services Administration (GSA). A list of auctions, locations, and dates can be found on the FirstGov.gov web site. Online GSA automobile sales can be found at GovSales.gov.

State and local governments also conduct live auctions, sealed-bid auctions, and online auctions at which surplus cars, trucks, SUVs and other types of vehicles are sold. Here is a directory of state and local surplus property sales and auctions, maintained by USA.gov. The directory is not organized especially well and the state web sites are often difficult to navigate. Although it promises to list local county and city surplus auctions, it has very little such data.

You can find many local government surplus cars for sale and auction on the GovDeals.com web site. You can bid online. If the car is located in your area, take the opportunity to visit the auction location and inspect the vehicle.

Tips for buying government surplus cars
Although you won't be able to drive the cars, you can check them over. If you don't have the skills to do your own inspection, bring someone with you, even pay a mechanic to attend with you to give you expert advice.

If you don't take a mechanic with you, here is an excellent ebook, Inspect Before You Buy, on how to perform the services yourself, with checklists and details of exactly what to look for. It's written by an expert ASE certified mechanic.

Auction listings that have a detailed list of vehicles will show you VIN numbers, which is vitally important to learning about a vehicle's history. You should always get a vehicle history report. The best source of such reports is AutoCheck® , which is part Experian Automotive, one of the nation's largest such companies. The report will tell you if the title is good, if the car has ever been wrecked or salvaged, if it has frame damage, if the odometer has been rolled back, if it has been rebuilt, and much more.

Make sure you understand the rules of the auction and conditions of sale before attending. In fact, it's a good idea to actually attend a couple of auctions before you get serious about bidding.

Know the values of the cars you are interested in. Carry a used-car value book with you, such as Kelley Blue Book, or carry an iPhone or wireless-connected laptop computer to check values online at www.kbb.com or www.nadaguides.com.

Since these are auctions, you should be aware that other people will probably be bidding against you. Don't get caught up in the excitement of the moment and pay too much. Have a specific price limit on each vehicle you want and don't exceed that limit.

Also make sure you understand the payment rules of the surplus auction company or agency. Most don't take personal checks or credit cards. Cashiers checks and USPS money orders are usually accepted. In some cases, a deposit or proof-of-payment may be required.

Summary
Government surplus car auctions can be a great way to buy a good used car at a bargain price. You have to know where to find the auctions, how to participate, and how to judge car condition and values.

You may also be interested in a related article on this web site, How to Find Cheap Cars.

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