Why Buy From An Online Auto Auction
You can find decent-quality vehicles at much cheaper prices from online auto auctions. For business owners who need many new vehicles, this can save a lot of money. If you enjoy the thrill of the bidding process and have the time, confidence, and knowledge, buying vehicles from an online auto auction can also be a lot of fun.
Buying A Military Surplus Vehicle: Buyer Beware
The first thing to know when buying surplus of ANY kind is that these are as-is transactions. You may not be able to return these purchases in many cases. In others there may be a very small window of opportunity to do so.
For best results, take a long, careful look at the terms of sales and service when buying surplus. You want to know exactly what the terms and conditions are.
Not all surplus sellers or resellers offer any form of guarantee, but a small number do. These guarantees are not standardized, nor are they necessarily even legally binding depending on the language of the purchase agreement. But if you can get a guarantee of any kind, youre ahead of the game when it comes to buying surplus.
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If you are specifically looking for military surplus, dont forget that there are plenty of other vendors and government agencies selling vehiclesfelony arrests can result in impounded vehicles and equipment.
You have options that include asset forfeiture sales initiated by state or federal law enforcement. But if you are strictly interested in military sources, it will be important to differentiate between asset forfeiture auctions and surplus auctions.
Surplus State Vehicles & Equipment Auctions
The disposal of used and surplus state vehicles and equipment is done primarily through sales at public auctions. The two public auctions used are:
- Tampa Machinery Auction, Inc.
- GovDeals, Inc. www.StateofFL.GovDeals.com
The auctions are open to the public and everyone may bid. There is no bidder, buyer or registration fees charged.
Annually, the State of Florida has approximately 1,300 used vehicles and other items of mobile equipment that are available for purchase by the public and other government agencies. The types of used equipment normally available are:
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Us Government Surplus Vehicles
Surplus vehicles sold by the U.S. Government are considered an original registration.
U.S. Government Surplus Registration Requirements
- Completed Application for Title or Registration .
- Vehicle verification .
- Certificate of Release of Motor Vehicle, U.S. Government, Standard Form 97, and any bills of sale needed to establish a complete chain of ownership to the applicant.
- Odometer mileage disclosure on a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment form , if applicable. See Chapter 5, Odometer Mileage Reporting, for odometer disclosure requirements.
- Report of Sale, Used Vehicle , if sold by a California dealer.
- Weight certificate for a commercial vehicle weighing less than 10,001 pounds unladen. If the vehicle weighs 10,001 pounds or more, or if the vehicle is a trailer in the PTI program, the estimated unladen weight is required and must be shown on a Statement of Facts .
- completed and signed by the owner for a commercial vehicle weighing 6,001 pounds or more unladen .
- Smog certification, if appropriate.
- Collect the fees due.
A Sale of a surplus government vehicle is exempt from use tax if the Standard form 97 shows that the vehicle was sold under Government Code §201C or §481C. Use tax is due if one of these code sections do not appear on the Standard form 97.
How To Register A Salvage Vehicle

Here are the basic requirements for registering a salvage vehicle:
- A completed Application for Title or Registration signed by all current owners.
- Proof of ownership. This can be a Salvage Certificate, the Certificate of Title, or an Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title form.
- A Verification of Vehicle or CHP Certificate of Inspection form.
- Brake and light adjustment certificates for most vehicles.
- Registration fees, which may vary from state to state.
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Terms And Conditions Of Sale
GSA sells used personal property according to the U.S. Government’s Standard Form 114C April 2001, “General Sale Terms and Conditions.” You may ask to review a copy from any of the GSA regional Sales Offices. Please study the terms and conditions in the Invitation for Bid and in any notices provided at auctions and other sales. Be sure you understand any special terms.
Buying Government Vehicles Explained: Part 1
There are 2 types of government vehicles that the public can buy:
Government Fleet Vehicles
These are cars that are leased by the government on a 3-5 year term for use by government employees on the job. At the end of the lease term, the government sells the vehicles at steep discounts to the public through the Internet and auctions. The U.S. General Services Administration , a division of the federal government, is in charge of buying / leasing the cars, managing the fleet , and selling the cars. Cars for sale are listed on the GSA website at . GSA sells about 35,000 vehicles a year ranging from cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. The vehicles are generally of good quality and have been well maintained by the government. The savings could be substantial since after all the government does use our hard-earned tax dollars to acquire the vehicles and is not in the business of making a if any profit from the sales of the vehicles to the public .
To learn more about buying these government-owned fleet vehicles, here are some frequently asked questions from their site:
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What Are Government Surplus Auctions
Property or assets that are not needed by the government or military are referred to as surplus property. And when it comes to the trouble of asset liquidation, GovPlanets technology, proactive engagement, and solutions will accelerate your time to market, improve operational and administrative economies, and boost your ROI for your asset liquidation.
GovPlanet is a unique seller marketplace of Ritchie Bros. as its dedicated to not only government surplus but also military surplus vehicles and equipment. We are proud to partner with the Defense Logistics Agency and Marine Corps to offer you trusted and dependable military equipment for sale. Our weekly auctions of rolling stock and non-rolling stock of military surplus and government surplus with new items added daily to our inventory.
How To Acquire Surplus Federal Personal Property
Eligible state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations can obtain personal property that the federal government no longer needs through the Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program.
Surplus personal property includes all types of property except:
- Land or other real property
- Certain naval vessels and
- Records of the federal government.
There are special procedures and forms for:
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Registering A Restored Vehicle
The registration process for a restored vehicle varies depending on state laws as well as the reason the vehicle registration was suspended. In most cases, youll need to provide proof of insurance, a declaration page for the vehicle being restored, and a copy of the front and back of the certificate of title or bill of sale.
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Sales To The General Public
The State of Alaska DOT/PF State Equipment Fleet is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, and disposal of all State owned vehicles and heavy equipment. The State Equipment Fleet is now selling all surplus equipment through the online auction bidding process. We currently offer all fleet equipment and vehicles through GovDeals for our online auctions. If you would like the opportunity to bid on any items offered for sale by the State Equipment Fleet please follow the link below to register with GovDeals. Once registered you will receive email notifications of all new sales as they become available. Registration is not required to view current items for sale.
Questions about our program may be directed to:
Surplus Equipment Coordinator Email:
The following SEF employees are ineligible to bid on or otherwise purchase, state vehicles or equipment.
If you are requesting a Waiver click the link below:
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Where And How Can You Buy Government Surplus Vehicles
The way you approach government surplus auctions will affect your chances of winning. Always look for a reputable auction company. Read buyer reviews. Check if the site is considered reliable by a reputable institution, such as the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing .
Scanning thousands of cars can be tiresome. Once youve picked the auction site, browse the site beforehand, choose your target vehicle, and research its prices over the last few months. This will help you determine a set price youre willing to pay before the auction starts. Its easy to get carried away with the excitement of the auction and bid more than you planned.
If possible, go for a test drive or get an inspection done.
When it comes to bidding strategies, keep the bidding to yourself to avoid drawing attention to the item, attracting other bidders, and possibly increasing the final sale price. Some savvy buyers often wait until the last minute to bid. Also, since most people bid in even amounts, youre more likely to beat them by bidding in uneven amounts. Rather than bidding $500, bid $501.
Government Surplus Military Vehicle Auctions Guide

Before you think about bidding on a U.S. Government auction, there are many things you need to know. These sections will not only tell you where to go and how to find trucks, trailers, and other vehicles or equipment, they will also arm you with practical advice drawn from the experiences of Olive-Drab.com and our contributors.
Event Id 1331, Lot Number 5, closed 11 February 2005. Described as “1985 CHEVROLET MDL M1009 BLAZER, 3/4 TON, 4 X 4, V-8 DIESEL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ODOMETER INDICATES 81, 891 MILES. BUYER MUST LOAD. THIS VEHICLE STARTS AND RUNS”. For Sale by Government Liquidation.com at Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, PA.
Be sure to take the advice seriously. Just because a truck looks good in a photo, doesn’t mean you can buy it, hop in and drive home. Far from it. Get yourself prepared for the reality of these sales or take advantage of alternatives like dealers who will take on many of the risks for you .
These sections answer all the common questions and will inform you of many things you probably never thought of if this is new to you. Follow up on the links and other sources to go more in depth.
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Us Government Military Surplus Vehicle Auctions
Government surplus military vehicles are just waiting for you to pick up cheap, right? Not quite. The main impression to take away from this section is that the government surplus auctions are a wonderful source of military vehicles, equipment and gear of all types but it is not necessarily cheap or easy to get. As usual, there is no magic, no fabulous secrets, and certainly no free lunch. There are risks and not every vehicle is a prize, like the M-35A2 on the left that was on sale at Ft. Lewis, WA.
The information here is primarily written regarding military vehicles as the target of interest, but everything pretty much applies to other types of goods available as well. If you want to buy sleeping bags or a boat, you can follow the same procedures and pointers as if you were looking to buy a truck.
Miscellaneous Equipment For Sale
Addition of: Advance notice for the potential sale of the Ascom 35t boat lift for further use.
Addition of: MOD surplus inventory for sale.
Addition of: Notice of the potential sale of the former HMS Bristol for recycling only.
Addition of: Notice of the potential sale of the former RFA Austin and RFA Rosalie for recycling only.
Added the Notice of the potential sale of the former HMS Walney page.
Added the Notice of the potential sale of the Former RFA Diligence.
Added the notice of the potential sale of the Former HMS Atherstone.
Removed the sale of Terra Nova advert as the closing date has now passed.
Added details for potential sale of Terra Nova.
Added the sale of the former HMS Gleaner page.
Added Notice of potential sale: former RFA Diligence a forward repair ship.
Added Potential sale of the former HMS Walney.
Added a link to the advance notice for the potential sale of former RFA ships Gold Rover A271 and Black Rover A273.
Added information about Submarine Dismantling Project market engagement day.
Removed: Notice of sale: car ferry, MV Strangford and passenger ferry, Rachlyn Advert of sale: former forward repair ship RFA Diligence
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Insuring A Restored Vehicle
When a vehicle is considered restored, this usually means it was previously labeled as salvage, but then was repaired or restored to full working condition. In many cases, its possible to get full coverage on a restored vehicle, but only with some car insurance companies. In most states, to get a restored title back on the road, the car owner must go through the process of a mandatory state inspection.
What Kind Of Military Surplus Vehicles Can You Buy
Dont think that military surplus is limited to passenger vehicles the list below reveals several surprises including fire trucks, forestry gear, and more.
- Aircraft Parts, Tires and Ground Handling Equipment
- Boats, Ships and Marine Equipment
- Agriculture and Forestry Construction Equipment and Supplies
- Wheeled Goods
- Fire Trucks and Fire Fighting Equipment
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Guide To Online Auctions
Auctions let you avoid dealer markups or overly ambitious owners. You may also come across rare vehicles that are not easily found anywhere else at incredible prices. To ensure your auctioning experience is enjoyable, make sure youre well prepared.
- Know the auction site. Since every site has different rules, do your homework: understand how the auction works as well as the terms and conditions.
- Know the seller. Identify who the seller is. Check their feedback rating.
- Know the vehicle youre bidding on and its relative value. Determine whether the vehicle comes with a warranty and how to get follow-up service if you need it.
- Only bid on the vehicle you intend to buy. Establish your top price and stick with it. If youve won an auction, if possible, pay with a credit card as they offer more buyer protection.
If you run into a problem during your transaction, try to work it out directly with the seller or with the auction site.
Tips For Participating In Government Auctions
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The general rule for auctions is that the highest bidder wins, and cancellation is not possible. Check with the auction site ahead of time to find out if you can cancel a bid.
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Each auction website operates differently. In some cases, the government agency itself runs the auctions. In other cases, the agency operates the shopping site, but a third-party company handles the auction itself.
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Find out what forms of payment auctions accept. There is no uniform payment policy across all the different auctions. Some auctions accept credit card payments or personal checks. Others, such as the Internal Revenue Service , don’t accept either of these. Most auctions accept cashier’s checks.
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For real estate auctions, you may need to work with a broker or real estate agent to bid or make the purchase. Also, for real estate auctions, find out if financing is permitted. Many times it is not and the full purchase price is due when you win the bid.
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Next Steps For Request Surplus Property Available To The General Public
Public, On-Site Vehicle and Related Equipment Auctions
A complete vehicle list with sale terms and conditions is made available at the auction location. Most auctions are held on a Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Public viewing is scheduled for the day before the auction, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and on the day of the auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Auction information also is available on the OSD Auction Hotline at 617-720-3199. Additionally, auctions are advertised in The Boston Globes classified section under Auctions in the Sunday and Thursday editions preceding the auction date. All ads specify auction location, date, time, and general list of the items being sold.
Overseen and managed by OSD, all public auctions of surplus property are conducted by a professional auctioneer licensed by the Commonwealths Division of Standards.
Offerings are sold as-is, where-is
Payment must be made by cash, bank check, money order, or credit card.
Two means of identification are required, one of which must be a valid drivers license
Full payment must be made by the end of the auction
Auctions are scheduled several times throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Due to possible inclement weather conditions, auctions are not conducted during the winter months.
Online Auctions
On occasion, vehicles and other surplus property, such as medical, computer, and office equipment may be listed for sale on public auction sites.