Government auctions in Iowa

Government auctions in Iowa: what the numbers say

Government sellers in Iowa have 688 auctions open right now, mostly cars, trucks and SUVs (193), heavy equipment (124), computers and electronics (51) and heavy trucks (35). The listings are on Purple Wave, GovDeals and Proxibid, and every one on this page links to the listing on the platform that runs the sale.

The biggest sellers at the moment are Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, University of Iowa Surplus, Iowa Department of Transportation and State of Iowa, with 20 other agencies listing as well. Des Moines, Grimes, Iowa City and Dubuque have the most listings, and Polk, Cass and Johnson are the busiest counties. The next sale to close is Lot of Three Bleachers at $1.

Over the past year the UX Search sold archive recorded 898 closed sales in Iowa. The middle hammer price ran $250 for everything else (335 sales), $5,700 for cars, trucks and SUVs (297 sales) and $168 for computers and electronics (92 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 Iowa?

UX Search shows 688 open right now, on Purple Wave, GovDeals and Proxibid, with the most in Des Moines, Grimes and Iowa City. Each listing on this page links to the official sale.

What do things sell for at government auction in Iowa?

In the past year, 898 closed sales: the middle hammer price was $250 for everything else, $5,700 for cars, trucks and SUVs and $168 for computers and electronics, before the buyer's premium and tax.

Who sells at government auction in Iowa?

Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, University of Iowa Surplus, Iowa Department of Transportation and State of Iowa and other agencies, through Purple Wave, GovDeals and Proxibid.

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 2, 2026 at 10:21 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.