Government auctions in Illinois

Government auctions in Illinois: what the numbers say

Government sellers in Illinois have 1,536 auctions open right now, mostly real estate (506), cars, trucks and SUVs (380), heavy equipment (152) and heavy trucks (82). The listings are on City of Chicago, GovDeals and Purple Wave, and every one on this page links to the listing on the platform that runs the sale.

The biggest sellers at the moment are City of Chicago (Planning and Development), Southeastern Illinois College, Naperville Park District and Athens Police Department, with 20 other agencies listing as well. Chicago, South Beloit, Carol Stream and Harrisburg have the most listings, and Cook, Winnebago and Dupage are the busiest counties. The next sale to close is 2016 Ford Fusion, LEATHER INTERIOR at $1,700.

Over the past year the UX Search sold archive recorded 1,063 closed sales in Illinois. The middle hammer price ran $8,650 for cars, trucks and SUVs (635 sales), $421 for everything else (221 sales) and $1,500 for heavy equipment (69 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 Illinois?

UX Search shows 1,536 open right now, on City of Chicago, GovDeals and Purple Wave, with the most in Chicago, South Beloit and Carol Stream. Each listing on this page links to the official sale.

What do things sell for at government auction in Illinois?

In the past year, 1,063 closed sales: the middle hammer price was $8,650 for cars, trucks and SUVs, $421 for everything else and $1,500 for heavy equipment, before the buyer's premium and tax.

Who sells at government auction in Illinois?

City of Chicago (Planning and Development), Southeastern Illinois College, Naperville Park District and Athens Police Department and other agencies, through City of Chicago, GovDeals and Purple Wave.

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 November 1, 2026 at 12:05 PM 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.