How government surplus is sold

Governments sell property that they no longer need. Federal agencies, states, counties, cities, schools and police departments all run surplus programs. Items include vehicles, equipment, office furniture and computers. USA.gov is the federal starting point. It explains the difference between surplus property and seized property.

Federal surplus in the US

The General Services Administration (GSA) sells federal surplus personal property through GSA Auctions, an online platform. Registration is free, and you bid online. The terms of each sale set the payment rules.

Some federal programs are not public sales. Donation programs move property to states, which pass it to eligible agencies and nonprofits. GSA's purchase page (checked on 2026-11-04) says that when property cannot be donated to a state or public agency, or to a nonprofit, the general public can buy it.

Federal real property, such as land and buildings, follows its own process. The same page says it can go to public benefit uses, negotiated sales or public sales. Read the notice for each property sale for its bidding rules.

State programs

Every state runs a surplus program, and the programs differ. Examples on this directory (checked on 2026-10-21):

• The New York Office of General Services sells surplus vehicles and highway equipment on the GovDeals marketplace.
• The North Carolina State Surplus Property Agency sells through a warehouse in Raleigh and through online auctions.
• The Texas Facilities Commission runs a retail store in Austin and sells online on Public Surplus and GovDeals.
• The California Department of General Services runs an online auction system for state property and separate public vehicle auctions.
• The Florida Department of Management Services sends surplus vehicles and mobile equipment to public auctions that Tampa Machinery Auction and Public Surplus run.

Marketplaces

Much state and local surplus sells on marketplaces such as GovDeals, Public Surplus and PropertyRoom, which sells police property. The marketplace's own terms apply to each sale.

Outside the US

These facts come from the listings on this directory (checked on 2026-10-21). In Canada, GCSurplus sells surplus federal property in online auctions. In Germany, VEBEG, which the Federal Republic owns, sells surplus federal and state property through online tenders and live auctions.

Sources

• USA.gov, Buying from the U.S. government
• GSA, How to purchase surplus property (checked on 2026-11-04)
• New York OGS, State surplus property program
• North Carolina DOA, State surplus property
• Texas Facilities Commission, State surplus store
• California DGS, State surplus
• Florida DMS, Surplus state vehicles and equipment auctions
• GCSurplus
• VEBEG, Auctions