Government Auction Guides

How government surplus auctions actually run, written from buyer notes. Which site to pick, what shipping really costs, how to inspect a lot before you bid.

How Government Auctions Work in 2026 (No License Needed)

Anyone can bid on government surplus. The full process from registration to pickup: real fees (0% to 16.5% premiums), 3-5 day payment deadlines, and the 5 mistakes that cost beginners money.

10 Best Government Auction Sites, Ranked by Fees (2026)

GovDeals, GSA Auctions, GovPlanet and 7 more compared: buyer's premiums from 0% to 16.5%, what each site actually sells, which pay off for flippers, and which to skip.

Government Vehicle Auctions: $2k-$20k (2026)

Real price bands by type: fleet sedans $2k-8k, SUVs $5k-18k, pickups $4k-20k, police cruisers a $2,050 median. Plus the federal and local fleets that sell most.

How to Inspect Before You Bid at Auction (2026)

What to check on vehicles (rust, mileage, brakes), heavy equipment (hours, leaks), and electronics before bidding. Plus when third-party inspectors pay off.

$400-$3,500 Auction Shipping Costs (2026)

Vehicles ship $400 to $3,500 from federal lots. Per-platform removal deadlines (GSA 15 days), storage fees, and the 20% no-pickup penalty.

GovDeals vs PublicSurplus: Which Should You Use?

Honest side-by-side comparison of GovDeals and PublicSurplus. Inventory, fees, payment, removal, and which platform fits your buying style.

GovDeals FAQ: Does GovDeals Ship? Fees, Pickup (2026)

Straight answers to the questions buyers ask before their first GovDeals bid. Whether GovDeals ships, the 12.5% buyer's premium, accepted payment methods, removal deadlines, and whether the site is legit.

GSA Auctions FAQ: Shipping, Fees, Pickup (2026)

What first-time buyers need to know before bidding on GSA Auctions. Whether GSA ships, why there is no buyer's premium, accepted payment methods, the strict 15-day removal rule, and how to register.

Public Surplus FAQ: Premium, Registration, Pickup (2026)

What to know before your first Public Surplus bid. The roughly 10-12% buyer's premium and why it varies by seller, free registration, seller-set payment terms, and the short pickup windows that catch new buyers off guard.

GovPlanet FAQ: Humvee Titles, Fees, Pickup (2026)

Answers before you bid on GovPlanet military surplus. Why most Humvees sell off-road only, how the SF97 and End User Certificate work, the 10% buyer's premium, IronClad inspection reports, and depot pickup rules.

PropertyRoom FAQ: $1 Starts, Shipping, Jewelry, Fees (2026)

How PropertyRoom's police auction site really works. The $1 no-reserve starts, the shipping-only model, how seized jewelry is authenticated, the 16.5% buyer's premium, and what is worth bidding on.

HUD Home Store FAQ: Owner-Occupant, Agents, 203(k) (2026)

How buying a HUD home actually works. The 30-day owner-occupant priority window, why you need a HUD-registered agent to bid, the $500-$1,000 earnest money rules, strict as-is sales, and financing repairs with an FHA 203(k).

How to Flip Government Auction Finds: The 3x Rule (2026)

A working flipper's playbook for government surplus. The 3x rule, how a 12.5% premium plus tax plus transport eats margin, what real items close for ($62 Dell desktops, $2,125 trailers), and where to resell each category.

7 GovDeals Alternatives, and When Each One Is Better (2026)

Honest rundown of the sites to check besides GovDeals: Public Surplus, GSA Auctions, Municibid, GovPlanet, PropertyRoom, HiBid, and sheriff sales. Fee differences from 0% to 16.5% and which inventory each one actually wins on.

Subastas del Gobierno en Puerto Rico: Guía 2026

Dónde encontrar subastas federales y municipales en Puerto Rico: GSA Auctions sin prima de comprador, vehículos de flota federal, y cómo comprar en Florida y enviar a la isla por barco desde Jacksonville.

Best Police Auction Sites: 6 Ranked by Price (2026)

Which site to use for retired patrol cars, and which for seized goods. Median prices from 1,522 police vehicle sales, buyer's premiums from 0% to 16.5%.