Government auctions in Washington

Government auctions in Washington: what the numbers say

Government sellers in Washington have 699 auctions open right now, mostly cars, trucks and SUVs (126), heavy equipment (88), furniture (87) and computers and electronics (59). The listings are on GovDeals, Public Surplus and IronPlanet, and every one on this page links to the listing on the platform that runs the sale.

The biggest sellers at the moment are State of Washington Surplus Operations, King County, Department of Medicine and Surgery and University of Washington Surplus Property, with 20 other agencies listing as well. Tumwater, Seattle, Vancouver and Union Gap have the most listings, and Thurston, King and Pierce are the busiest counties. The next sale to close is Forks at $45.67.

Over the past year the UX Search sold archive recorded 2,755 closed sales in Washington. The middle hammer price ran $11,000 for cars, trucks and SUVs (1,712 sales), $300 for everything else (437 sales) and $79 for computers and electronics (152 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 Washington?

UX Search shows 699 open right now, on GovDeals, Public Surplus and IronPlanet, with the most in Tumwater, Seattle and Vancouver. Each listing on this page links to the official sale.

What do things sell for at government auction in Washington?

In the past year, 2,755 closed sales: the middle hammer price was $11,000 for cars, trucks and SUVs, $300 for everything else and $79 for computers and electronics, before the buyer's premium and tax.

Who sells at government auction in Washington?

State of Washington Surplus Operations, King County, Department of Medicine and Surgery and University of Washington Surplus Property and other agencies, through GovDeals, Public Surplus and IronPlanet.

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 7:49 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.