Government Auctions

Some may have trouble understanding how the government buys more than they need of anything, but many of the items sold at a government surplus auction are necessarily because too many were bought. Cars for example, are sold at a government surplus auction once they have completed their anticipated service life and the money from the sale goes to replace them with new vehicles. With the federal government, the General Services Administration buys a fleet of vehicles and leases them to the many agencies. Once their life span is completed they are sold at public auction. read more..

Typically, there is no charge to participate in a free government auction and as long as all bidders play by the rules of the auction house, the winning bid will be the price they pay for the merchandise. There will be times when there is an unpublished reserve price on merchandise, most often with surplus vehicles being sold by the government, and if the winning bid does not meet this reserve the item will not be sold. Typically, items sold at a free government auction that have been confiscated for convicted felons or seized to pay off tax debts are sold without a reserve price, although some exceptions do exist. read more..

There is virtually no limit to the type of merchandise that can be found at a government seized auction and many times some great bargains can be found. Some buyers may have a problem with the origins of the items up for sale at a government seized auction, but for the most part the available deals overshadow any remorse of knowing from which they came. If a person is able to buy a luxury vehicle for half of its value, they may not care that it was confiscated from a convicted felon and seized by the government and sold to help pay for the legal action during which it was found. read more..

Whether looking for a second car for the family, the first car for a teen in the family or even a luxury car that is otherwise out of the question, visiting a government car auction can provide ownerships opportunities that may otherwise be unavailable. In most instances, potential buyers can at least look over the vehicles being put on the auction block but chances are there are no test drives available of anything offered at a government car auction. read more..

Those looking for a new used car may find some of the best deals available at government auto auctions. Whether the vehicles were used and maintained by the government before replacement or seized during a law enforcement action, in order to help fund future activities in a department, the vehicles are offered for sale at government auto auctions, usually for pennies on the dollar of the vehicles’ value. read more..