Government auctions are held to dispose of vehicles, surplus/obsolete equipment, surplus land and buildings are also auctioned .

Government auctions are also held for such things as certain licenses ie. spectrum licenses for the telecommunication market.

Government items are generally well maintained under strict maintenance schedules, although, care should still be taken as they may not receive the t.l.c that an owner/operator would give. Government auctions are generally conducted by a third party private auction house and can be on-site at government branch or at the auction centre.

Along with surplus and disposal sales some government auctions are also held for seized, lost or unclaimed goods where those items are sent to auction either at an annual or bi-annual sale or delivered to third party auction rooms for sale in their regular auctions. With a little knowledge, you can save some money with government auctions.

What items are for sale at government auctions?
This can range from ex-government equipment and supply such as vehicles, machinery, houses, land, boats, airplanes, computers, etc right through to local department auctions for seized, lost, unclaimed goods etc..

Where have the items come from?
Usually, the items have been seized by a government agency, surplus to needs, department closure or update.

How are items sold?
Depending on the auction, items may be sold at an internet auction, at a fixed price, or at a conventional auction.

Tips for buying at government auctions
Look carefully at items you wish to bid on or purchase. Items are almost always sold as is, meaning that if it does not work as you expected it to, or other problem, arise, you cannot return the item.

If there is a preview for the auction you plan to attend, take advantage of it. In some cases, the items will not be available for review during the auction, so it is advisable to attend the auction preview to look at items you are interested in.