These government auctions are free to participate in and are open to the general public. About the only requirement to place bids is being 18 years of age and having a valid driver’s license. Working for the government is not a requirement either so just about everyone can attend and bid on surplus items.

So just what is surplus and why does the government auction it off? Surplus is property that the federal, state, and local government agencies no longer needs. In many cases this property is donated to worthy causes or non-profit organizations but even then there is more surplus then can be donated. It is then auctioned to the public.

Every year the government buys billions of dollars worth of supplies and equipment that its agencies and employees need to do their jobs. Once these goods have served their useful life or are replaced with newer items they can be thrown away, stored for future use, or auctioned off where the government can stretch the value of your tax dollar. Just about every agency at every level of government has surplus goods, which means that you can find just anything and everything under the sun.

If that’s a little vague then just what can you find at a government surplus auction? Vehicles of all sort including cars, trucks, vans, buses, boats, and even construction machinery. You will also find office furniture and supplies, which can provide great savings for small businesses. Various types of real estate such as land and buildings are also auctioned off from time to time. There really is no limit to what you can find at discounted prices.

You can learn more about the auction process at one of the many websites that are centered around this industry. Many of them allow you to find auction locations and preview the goods that will be put up on the auction block. In many cases you can even bid on and purchase goods right from your computer. If you are looking to save money then checking out government surplus auctions can be a great place to find discounted bargains.