Programs and stimulus aid are typically what come to mind when people think about government savings. There are other ways the government may assist citizens in saving, though! Government sales and auctions are one of those ways. Government organizations occasionally use live or online auctions to sell goods to the general public. People can place bids on and purchase government-owned assets during these auctions.

What You Need to Know About Government Auctions

Government auctions are a decent option that can result in considerable savings. These auctions typically offer products like:

• Motor vehicles
• Furniture
• Properties
• Computers
• Trailers
• Boats
• Planes
• Art
• Jewelry
• Lab Equipment

The fact that the items are being sold for various reasons makes these auctions interesting. There are many reasons why the government might decide to sell anything at auction, but a few typical ones are:

• Agencies discard stuff they no longer need.
• The U.S. Treasury Department offers “for sale” items that have been acquired by Treasury law (for instance: not paying income taxes).
• Property that has been seized or forfeited from criminals is sold by law enforcement agencies.

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Auctions

This is a popular auction platform because of how user-friendly its website is. Here’s the best part: in addition to being quite simple to use, there are many listings that offer a wide range of different things. The objects up for auction are government-owned excess property that can be found across the country. The following are a few of the things up for auction:

• Airplanes and heavy machinery
• Mobile homes
• Office Equipment and furniture
• Park models
• Real estate
• Science equipment
• Travel trailers
• Vehicles and vessels

When it comes to the auction’s sales part, you can anticipate it to take place online. Although they take place online, customers can still check out the item in the location where it is stored.

GSA Auto Auctions

There are GSA Auto Auctions in addition to regular auctions. Every year, these auctions sell vehicles the government owns. Because the automobiles here often have low mileage, are in good condition, and are ready to drive, they are popular among auction visitors. The vehicles they sell come with a wide range of options, including buses, cars, trucks, vans, and alternative fuel vehicles.

The availability of both live and online bidding makes these auctions even more popular:

For Live Sales: On the GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales page, enter your zip code and radius. Then the website will show nearby auction locations within the given radius when you enter your zip code. Additionally, you can review your options by checking the sales calendar. This calendar will display several future auctions listed by date and location.

For Online Sales: It’s not always easy for people to get things done in person. As a result, you have the option to search the GSA Fleet Sales website for the vehicle you’re interested in. You can use the search engine to filter the results according to your preferences such as location, model, manufacture, mileage, fuel type, and so on. You still have the choice to go to the auction site to check out the vehicles even though the bidding takes place online.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Vehicle Auctions

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is another federal agency that holds auctions. GTB Vehicle Remarketing has vehicles up for auction. It is different from other auctions that sell vehicles because, in this auction, the vehicles are sold “as is.” In other words, the car you buy might need some repair and maintenance. In fact, they should not be considered safe to drive until they have been thoroughly inspected. Therefore, after they are purchased, they would need to be pulled away from the site. Also, the diversity of vehicle models isn’t as wide. You can expect to find the following vehicles at these auctions:

• Sedans
• Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)
• Light and Medium-Duty Pickups
• Light and Medium-Duty Vans

There are various ways in which these auction sales might happen, including:

• Live Auctions
• Online Auctions
• Proxy Bids

You may anticipate that live auctions will take place all around the country if you decide to attend one. This includes Puerto Rico and all 50 states.

U.S. Treasury Auctions

Property that has been forfeited by its owners as a result of violations of treasury law is what is up for sale in this type of auction. The U.S. Treasury typically holds 300 public auctions annually. The following are some examples of things that will be put up for auction:

• New or Used Cars
• Electronics
• Jewelry and Clothes
• Industrial Equipment
• New or Used Aircrafts
• Real Estate
• New or Used Boats

It is crucial to keep in mind that these options’ sales may vary. Several ways of selling include:

• Online Auctions: Usually, real estate and other types of property are sold through online auctions. However, interested buyers can typically make an appointment to check specific properties in person.
• Mail-In or Live Auctions: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may hold a live or mail-in auction to sell property that has been seized as a result of tax violations.

U.S. Marshals Service Seized Assets Auctions

The U.S. Department of Justice offers this program, however, the U.S. Marshals Service manages it. It is known as “The Asset Forfeiture Program.” This program has the advantage of being able to find stolen properties and, when possible, return them to their rightful owners. Additionally, the program has the ability to compensate victims with sales revenue. Typical things that you might see for sale include:

• Art
• Jewelry
• Antiques and collectibles
• Cars, boats, and planes
• Commercial businesses
• Real estate

These auctions are provided by third-party businesses, which is why the sales process will differ. To learn more about the auctions, you should check their website. You can check out a number of federal agencies to submit a bid for items like real estate. Here are a few of these websites:

• Fannie Mae
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Bottom Line

Government auctions are an excellent way to purchase items at a reduced cost. There are a lot of auctions to consider such as U.S. GSA auctions, Treasury auctions, Customs and Border Protection Vehicle Auctions, and Marshals Service Seized Assets Auctions. These auctions might take place offline, online, or even by mail. The auction you attend will determine how it is done and what options are available!