Government auctions in California

Government auctions in California: what the numbers say

Government sellers in California have 3,535 auctions open right now, mostly cars, trucks and SUVs (899), seized property, jewelry and coins (336), heavy equipment (219) and computers and electronics (209). The listings are on GovDeals, J.J. Kane and Public Surplus, and every one on this page links to the listing on the platform that runs the sale.

The biggest sellers at the moment are San Ramon Valley Unified School District, State of California, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and Berkeley Unified School District, with 20 other agencies listing as well. Jurupa Valley, Tustin, Escondido and Dixon have the most listings, and Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego are the busiest counties. The next sale to close is THREE FILE CABINETS at $5.

Over the past year the UX Search sold archive recorded 5,058 closed sales in California. The middle hammer price ran $10,950 for cars, trucks and SUVs (3,214 sales), $220 for everything else (1,060 sales) and $75 for seized property, jewelry and coins (215 sales). The buyer's premium, sales tax and pickup are on top of the hammer price, and each sale on this page links to the listing it came from.

A government sells what it is done with: vehicles replaced on a schedule, equipment from a department that closed or consolidated, and property seized or abandoned and sold by the county. The seller's name is on every listing, the photos show the condition, and most sales are pickup only at the location listed, within a window of a week or two after the close. Read the terms on the sale before you bid; the premium and the pickup rules differ by platform and by seller.

Questions people ask

Where are the government auctions in California?

UX Search shows 3,535 open right now, on GovDeals, J.J. Kane and Public Surplus, with the most in Jurupa Valley, Tustin and Escondido. Each listing on this page links to the official sale.

What do things sell for at government auction in California?

In the past year, 5,058 closed sales: the middle hammer price was $10,950 for cars, trucks and SUVs, $220 for everything else and $75 for seized property, jewelry and coins, before the buyer's premium and tax.

Who sells at government auction in California?

San Ramon Valley Unified School District, State of California, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and Berkeley Unified School District and other agencies, through GovDeals, J.J. Kane and Public Surplus.

Can anyone bid?

Yes. Government surplus auctions are open to the public. You register on the platform that runs the sale, usually for free; some sales ask for a card on file or a deposit. Pickup is usually in person at the seller's location.

Last updated October 29, 2026 at 12:19 AM ET. Live counts come from the UX Search index, which reads the government auction platforms every 15 minutes; sold prices are real hammer prices from the UX sold archive over the past year. UX Search is independent and never takes a bid; bidding, payment and pickup happen on the platform that runs each sale.