Government auctions in Iowa

Government auctions in Iowa: what the numbers say

Government sellers in Iowa have 634 auctions open right now, mostly cars, trucks and SUVs (203), heavy equipment (104), heavy trucks (40) and trailers and campers (30). 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 University of Iowa Surplus, State of Iowa, Clear Lake Police Department and Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, with 20 other agencies listing as well. Des Moines, Iowa City, Dubuque and Leon have the most listings, and Polk, Johnson and Cass are the busiest counties. The next sale to close is JBL Professional Ceiling Loudspeakers Pallet Lot at $120.

Over the past year the UX Search sold archive recorded 771 closed sales in Iowa. The middle hammer price ran $295 for everything else (278 sales), $5,700 for cars, trucks and SUVs (265 sales) and $197 for computers and electronics (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 Iowa?

UX Search shows 634 open right now, on Purple Wave, GovDeals and Proxibid, with the most in Des Moines, Iowa City and Dubuque. Each listing on this page links to the official sale.

What do things sell for at government auction in Iowa?

In the past year, 771 closed sales: the middle hammer price was $295 for everything else, $5,700 for cars, trucks and SUVs and $197 for computers and electronics, before the buyer's premium and tax.

Who sells at government auction in Iowa?

University of Iowa Surplus, State of Iowa, Clear Lake Police Department and Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority 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 October 28, 2026 at 12:22 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.