Public Works Surplus Auction Process

Purchase some used, but not abused, public works equipment.

Towns, villages and cities hold auctions several times a year to eliminate excess inventory. These auction items can include cars, trucks and a variety of equipment. Each public works department has a different process of selling their items, but all follow the same basic format.

Instructions

1. Call your department of public works to see if they hold auctions. If they do, take note of the date and time, and whether it's an in-person or online auction.

2. Learn the basics of an in-person auction, including how to view the items before they go up for bidding. It's also important to have the appropriate method of payment when you begin bidding, be it cash, personal check, money order, cashier's check, or certified check.

3. Use your computer for an online auction if your public works auction allows it. You may have to set up an account. You can either pay in person when you pick your item up, or pay online using a credit or debit card, before picking up the item upon receipt of payment.

Tips & Warnings

• To search for items for sale across the country, look at the GovDeals website, where you can search by a wide variety of categories, ranging from agriculture equipment/commodities to welding equipment. You can also gain useful information from your own town's public works website with regards to auctions that might be happening in the future.

References

• Washington Township: Department of Public Works Auction
• Naperville: Auctions
• GovDeals: Auction Index