What GovDeals Is and Who Sells There
GovDeals is an online auction marketplace where state and local government agencies sell surplus property to the public. It is run by Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT), the same company behind AllSurplus and GovPlanet. Thousands of cities, counties, school districts, transit authorities, police departments, and utilities list through it, which makes it the largest single source of state and local government surplus in the country.
On any given day GovDeals carries 15,000 to 25,000 active lots. Vehicles are the biggest category by volume (police cruisers, dump trucks, fleet sedans, pickups, ambulances), followed by heavy equipment, office furniture, electronics, and miscellaneous municipal items. One federal seller of note runs through GovDeals too: the U.S. Postal Service sells retired mail trucks and sorting equipment there.
Anyone can register and bid. There is no membership fee and no requirement to be a dealer or business. You can search GovDeals listings on BidProwl next to every other source so you are not checking the site by itself.
Does GovDeals Ship, or Is It Pickup Only?
This is the question new buyers ask most, and the answer trips people up. GovDeals is primarily a local pickup marketplace. Almost every lot is sold on a "where-is" basis, meaning you are responsible for collecting it from the location listed in the auction. The seller will not load it onto a truck for you in most cases, and they will not arrange transport.
There are two exceptions worth knowing:
- Small items from some sellers. A minority of sellers offer to ship lightweight items (typically under 50 pounds) for an added fee that you pay on top of the winning bid. When this is available it is stated in the auction's shipping terms. Do not assume it. Read the listing.
- Third-party haulers you hire yourself. For vehicles and equipment you can hire an auto-transport carrier or freight company to pick up on your behalf. You arrange and pay for this directly. See our shipping and removal guide for typical costs (a sedan runs $400 to $800 for a 500-mile haul, heavy equipment runs $1,200 to $5,000 on a lowboy).
The practical takeaway: budget for getting the item home before you bid, and confirm the pickup location and hours up front. A cheap forklift three states away stops being cheap once freight is added.
Fees: The 12.5% Buyer's Premium
GovDeals adds a 12.5% buyer's premium to every winning bid at checkout. A $5,000 hammer price becomes $5,625 before tax and shipping. A $20,000 truck becomes $22,500. The premium is not negotiable and applies to every lot, so factor it into your maximum bid before the auction closes.
On top of that, GovDeals surcharges credit card payments on amounts over $5,000 (roughly 5% more). For larger purchases the cheaper route is paying by ACH bank transfer or wire, which avoids stacking the card fee on the premium.
Some sellers also collect sales tax depending on their state's rules. Tax status is disclosed in the listing. If you buy out of state you may still owe use tax at home regardless of what the seller collects.
If fee avoidance matters to your math, PublicSurplus charges no buyer's premium on comparable municipal surplus. Our GovDeals vs PublicSurplus comparison breaks down when the savings are worth switching platforms.
Payment Methods and Removal Deadlines
Payment is due within 5 business days of winning. GovDeals standardizes the accepted methods across all sellers: credit card (with the 5% surcharge over $5,000), ACH bank transfer, wire transfer, or cashier's check. Late payment triggers an automatic non-payer claim against your account, and three claims gets you banned.
Removal deadlines are set by each seller but typically run 7 to 10 business days from payment confirmation. Miss the deadline and the seller can charge storage fees ($25 to $50 per day is common) or, after a grace period, declare the item abandoned. Liquidity Services enforces these terms more consistently than smaller platforms do, so treat the deadline as firm.
Start arranging pickup the moment you win. Do not wait for payment to clear before booking a carrier, especially for heavy equipment where the right trailer needs lead time.
Is GovDeals Legit and Safe to Use?
Yes. GovDeals is a legitimate, long-running business that has operated since the early 2000s. Its parent, Liquidity Services, is publicly traded on the NASDAQ. The sellers are actual government agencies, and payment runs through the platform rather than directly to an unknown individual.
The real risk on GovDeals is not fraud. It is condition. Every item is sold as-is with no warranty, and listing quality swings from 20 detailed photos to one blurry picture and "sold as is." That is where buyers lose money: bidding on something that turns out worse than the listing suggested.
Protect yourself the same way experienced buyers do. Inspect in person when the seller allows it (our inspection guide covers what to check), read the full auction terms including payment and removal, study every photo, and set a firm maximum bid that already includes the 12.5% premium and your shipping estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GovDeals ship items or is it local pickup only?
GovDeals is primarily local pickup. Almost every lot is sold where-is, so you collect it from the listed location or hire your own carrier. A minority of sellers will ship small items (usually under 50 pounds) for an added fee, but only when the auction's shipping terms say so. For vehicles and equipment you always arrange your own transport.
What is the GovDeals buyer's premium?
GovDeals adds a 12.5% buyer's premium to every winning bid at checkout. A $5,000 winning bid costs $5,625 before tax and shipping. The premium is non-negotiable and applies to all lots, so include it when you set your maximum bid.
How do you pay on GovDeals?
GovDeals accepts credit card, ACH bank transfer, wire transfer, and cashier's check. Credit card payments on amounts over $5,000 carry an extra surcharge of roughly 5%, so paying by ACH or wire is cheaper on larger purchases. Payment is due within 5 business days of winning.
Is GovDeals legit?
Yes. GovDeals has operated since the early 2000s and is owned by Liquidity Services, a NASDAQ-listed company. The sellers are real government agencies and payment runs through the platform. The main risk is condition, not fraud, since everything is sold as-is with no warranty.
How long do you have to pick up an item from GovDeals?
Removal deadlines are set by each seller but typically run 7 to 10 business days from payment confirmation. Past the deadline, sellers can charge daily storage fees of roughly $25 to $50 and may eventually declare the item abandoned. Arrange pickup as soon as you win.
Can I bid on GovDeals from out of state?
Usually yes, but some sellers restrict bidding to in-state residents, most often for vehicles where the state requires it. Any restriction is shown on the listing. Registration is free and open to the public nationwide.
Can BidProwl search GovDeals listings?
Yes. BidProwl aggregates GovDeals alongside GSA Auctions, PublicSurplus, GovPlanet, Municibid, and more than 30 other sources. You can search them all at once, filter by category, state, or source, and set email alerts so you do not have to check each site separately.