State Government Auctions The following is a descriptive listing of state government offices which offer auctions or donations of surplus property. Alabama Alabama Surplus Property, P.O. Box 210487, Montgomery, AL 36121, 205-277-5866. Alabama auctions off a variety of items about three times per year, including office equipment, heavy machinery (such as milling machines and drill presses), and vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, and tractors. Trailers, medical equipment, tires, dossiers, and lathes are also sold. The state advertises upcoming auctions in the classified section of local newspapers. Upon written request made to the above address, you can be put on a mailing list. You will then be notified 2 or 3 weeks in advance of each upcoming auction, but you won't receive a list of items. Lists of items can be picked up at the above office 2 days before the auction. Payment can be by cash, cashier's check, or personal check with a bank letter of credit. Items are available for viewing two days prior to the auction. No bids by mail. Alaska Office of Surplus Property, 2400 Viking Dr., Anchorage, AK 99501, 907-279-0596. The Juno office is 907-465-2172. Call it for general information and mailing list information. Alaska's Division of General Services and Supply sells surplus office equipment, including furniture and typewriters, every Tuesday from 8:30 am to 12:pm, and from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in a garage sale fashion with prices marked for each item. For items costing over $100, cash or cashiers checks are required. Vehicles, at various locations throughout the state, are sold during sealed bid or outcry auctions twice a year, in the spring and fall. Payment is by cashiers check after you have been notified of your winning bid. Arizona Office of Surplus Property, 1537 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, 602-542-5701. About four times per year, Arizona auctions off everything from vehicles to miscellaneous office equipment and computers. Items are sold by lots rather than individually; and prices, especially cars, can be below blue book price, depending upon opening bids. Vehicles range from empty frames to Jaguars. A mailing list is maintained. You can have it sent to you for no charge. Individual cities and county governments in Arizona also hold their own surplus auctions. Arkansas State Marketing and Redistribution Office, 6620 Young Rd., Little Rock, AR 72209, 501-565-8645. Arkansas conducts both bid and retail, fixed price sales of surplus items. On Wednesdays, between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm, buyers may view and purchase items, which include office machines, tables, and tires, valued at under $500. Larger, more valuable items, including vehicles, medical equipment, mobile homes, and machine shop and automotive supplies, are auctioned off. You can have your name placed on the auction mailing list for various categories such as computers, autos and miscellaneous equipment. You must bid three times to keep your name on the mailing list. The state also conducts sealed bids by mail. The bid fee is $1. No personal checks are accepted for sealed bids. All items are sold "as is," with no refunds or guarantees implied or stated. California State of California, Office of Fleet Administration, 1416 10th St., Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-445-7527. California sells surplus office equipment or other supplies only to schools and other non-profit or educational institutions. However, once a month on Saturdays, the General Services Department of the state holds open bid auctions at Sacramento or Los Angeles State Garages of surplus automobiles previously owned by state agencies. Vehicles can be viewed from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. The auction begins at 10:00 am. Vehicles may include sedans, cargo and passenger vans, pick-ups (mostly American-made). You can receive 2 weeks advance notice by getting on the mailing list. Auctions are occasionally advertised in the newspapers. Minimum bid prices are set for exceptionally nice cars. Only state agency vehicles are sold. Payment is by cash, cashiers check, or certified check. Personal checks are also accepted, but items may not be picked up until the check has cleared. Successful bidders have up to one week to pay for and pick up the cars (the following Friday). Out-of-state checks are frowned upon. Prices vary greatly, and some vehicles have required minimum bids. California Highway Patrol, Used Vehicle Sales Office, 2812 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-421-0285. CHP auctions off vehicles such as Olds Sierras, Chevy Capris, Buick Centurys, 4x4's, Mustangs, motorcycles, and many more. Most have air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes. Minimum bids are stated on a recorded telephone message. The auction is by sealed bids which are opened at 3:00 pm daily; winners may be present or notified by telephone. Payment is by cashiers check, certified check, or, money order only -- no personal checks or cash accepted. Bids may be submitted and inspection is available between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. Colorado Department of Correctional Industries, State Surplus Agency, 4200 Garfield Street, Denver, CO 80216, 303-321-2200. Several times a year, Colorado auctions off its surplus property, excepts for motor vehicles, which are not sold to the public. Auctions are pre-announced in newspaper ads, and a mailing list is also maintained. To be put on the mailing list, call the above number. The auctions of state property are held the third Thursday of every month. If you are on the mailing list, you will receive notice the weekend before the auction with a brief description of the items. Non-profit organizations have first choice of state surplus items, which can include typewriters, desks, computers, file cabinets, hospital beds, and much more. Payment may be made by cash, money order or personal checks with two IDs. Connecticut 60 State St. Rear, Old Wethersfield, CT 06109, 203-566-7018, or 203-566-7190. The state holds tag sales on a daily basis between noon and 3:45pm. Items vary from day to day. Vehicles are auctioned separately 8 or 9 times per year, with ads in the 4 largest newspapers and on 2 radio stations giving advance notice. There is no mailing list. These auctions are usually on the second Saturday of the month. Vehicles commonly available include Ford LTD's, Plymouth Horizons, and Chevrolet Chevettes, and may be viewed one hour prior to the auction. Buyers may also purchase a brochure with vehicle descriptions when they pay the $3 registration fee. Delaware Division of Purchasing Surplus Property, P.O. Box 299, Delaware City, DE 19706, 302-834-4550. About two, sometimes three times each year, in May and in September, Delaware publicly auctions off vehicles, office furniture, and other surplus or used property. Vehicles include school buses, paddle boats, vans, pick-up trucks, heavy equipment, and sedans. Prices depend on the condition of the item and how many people are bidding for it. Vehicles may be inspected and started up prior to the auction, but may not be driven. You may get on a mailing list to be advised of upcoming auctions. A flyer with information and conditions of payment will be sent to you. District of Columbia The District of Columbia Property Division, 202-767-7989. DC holds vehicle auctions every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Vehicles include cars, trucks, buses, ambulances, and boats. Inspection and viewing is available at 8:00 am, one hour prior to the 9:00 am open bid auction. Prices and conditions of vehicles vary greatly. No mailing list is kept. Auctions are posted 45 days in advance in the Washington Times. A $50 cash entry fee must be paid to attend an auction and is refunded if no car is purchased. Cars must be paid for in full at the auction by certified or cashier's check. Twice a year confiscated bikes and property found inside of cars go to auction. District of Columbia Office of Property Control, 202-767-7586. In the past, this office auctioned off items such as clothing, typewriters, cabinets, tools, refrigerators, and more at the DC Police Training Academy facility. Such auctions are becoming increasingly infrequent and may be discontinued altogether in the future. No mailing list is kept, but advance notices are placed in The Washington Post. Viewing of items is allowed the day of the sales. Cash only is accepted. Florida Department of General Services, 813 A Lake Bradford Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32304, 904-488-5272. DGS holds no auctions. A retail store, located at the above address, is open from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm on weekdays for public retail-type sales of various items, excluding vehicles. Items include office supplies, computers, medical equipment, mowers, calculators, typewriters, couches, desks, chairs, tables, air conditioners, black boards, and filing cabinets. Department of General Services, Division of Motor Pool Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 813 B Lake Bradford Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32304, 904-488-2041. Once per month, somewhere in Florida, items are auctioned for the state by First Coast Auctions at 904-772-0110. Descriptive information and viewing schedules are published in newspapers. The above number has recorded auction information. Surplus items, including motorcars, heavy equipment and boats are sold. Automobile auctions take place anywhere from 10 to 40 times per year, with dates set 4 to 6 weeks in advance at various auction locations throughout the state. The auctions are advertised. Industrial equipment is also included, along with various kinds of used and confiscated vans, trucks, cars, and Blazers. Pleasure and fishing boats are also auctioned. Items may be viewed prior to the auction. Georgia State of Georgia, Department of Administrative Services, Purchasing Division, Surplus Property Services, 1050 Murphy Ave, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, 404-756-4800. Georgia auctions vehicles, including sedans, wagons, trucks, vans, buses, and cement mixers; also shop equipment, generators, typewriters, copiers, computers, tape recorders, and other office equipment; as well as audio-visual equipment, cameras, electronic equipment, and air conditioners. They keep a mailing list and also advertise the auctions in local newspapers. Merchandise may be inspected by pre-registered bidders two days before an auction, which are held on the third Wednesday of a month -- but not necessarily every month. Auctions begin at 8:30 am if federal property is to be sold, otherwise at 9-9:30 am. Vehicles may be started up, but not driven. Sealed bids are also used, and deposits are required with these. For auctions, items are payable with cash or check with sufficient I.D. if the amount is under $501.00. For personal or business checks in amounts over $50l.00, property will be held until the check clears. Items must be paid for on the day of sale. A recent Georgia auction offered 40 sedans between 3 and 15 years old, 30 pick-up trucks from 5 to 22 years old, vans dating from 1965 to 1989, tires, tractors, farm equipment, shop equipment, office equipment, and 3 lots of televisions. Hawaii State Government Stock Control Department, 808-735-0348/0349. Hawaii does not conduct surplus sales at the state level. Federal public auctions are held by the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office, 808-476-6872. Idaho Bureau of Supplies, 5565 Kendall St., Boise, ID 83706, 208-327-7468. In 1991 the Idaho state legislature dissolved centralized public auctions. Each state agency now holds its own auction or has a commercial auctioneer handle its surplus. If an agency decides to auction cars through sealed bids, it must advertise in 3 newspapers for 10 days. To find out if, when, and what an agency is disposing of through auction, contact that agency directly. Illinois Central Management Services, Division of Property Control, 3550 Great Northern Ave., Springfield, IL 62707, 217-793-1813. Two or three times per year this office auctions vehicles and property. Auctions are held at the Illinois state fairgrounds on Sangamon Avenue in Springfield. Auctions are always held on Saturdays. Property includes office equipment, desks, chairs, typewriters, restaurant equipment, calculators, cameras, refrigerators, and filing cabinets. Scrap metal and equipment not easily moved are sold by sealed bid. The office maintains a mailing list which costs $20/year to subscribe. Notices of auctions and bids are mailed out 3 weeks prior to the auction. The auctions are also advertised in advance in local newspapers. All the cars auctioned have a minimum mileage of 75,000 miles and were driven by state employees. Minimum bid begins at $300. Prices vary widely, but below-market prices are available. Illinois auctions off vehicles by open bid auctions. (Confiscated cars are sold at federal auctions and may present greater possibility for a bargain.) Indiana State Surplus Property Section, 545 W. McCarty St., Indianapolis, IN 46225-1239, 317-232-0134, warehouse; 317-232-1365, office. Indiana holds auctions as items accumulate through open cry auctions to the highest bidder. Auctioned items are primarily office desks, supplies, scrap metal, and occasionally computer equipment. During the summer months, the state sells surplus from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources. There is no mailing list. Auctions are advertised the first Thursday of every month in the Indianapolis Star and Recorder. Vehicles are sold on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am at 8800 Brookville Road, Indianapolis by public auction. The auction date and selected auctioneer changes every year. The switch is made during July. Call the above office in May to obtain the new schedule. Sealed bids must contain 100% deposit. Payment is by cash, certified check, cashiers check, or money order. No personal checks or letters of credit are accepted. Items purchased must be removed from premises by 8:00 pm the day of the auction. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Bldg., Des Moines, IA 50319, 515-281-5145. The Department of Natural Resources holds an auction when and if a sufficient number of items have accumulated, on the second Saturday of every May. Items disposed of include boats, fishing rods, tackle boxes, guns, and other fishing and hunting equipment, as well as office equipment. Payment is by cash or check with appropriate identification. There is no mailing list, but auctions are advertised in local newspapers. Vehicle Dispatchers Garage, 301 E. 7th, Des Moines, IA 50319, 515-281-5121. The Department of Transportation holds auctions, if there is sufficient accumulation, three to four times per year at 9:00 am on Saturdays. The state disposes of approximately 500 vehicles yearly through these auctions. They mostly sell patrol cars, pickups and trucks. All have at least 75,000 miles of travel on them, and prices vary widely. A deposit of $200 is required on the day of the sale, with full payment due by the following Thursday. Payment may be made by cash or check with an accompanying letter of credit guaranteeing payment by the issuing institution. Viewing is possible Friday all day and Saturday morning prior to the sale. There is a mailing list. Auctions are advertised in the local papers. Kansas Kansas State Surplus Property, P.O. Box 19226, Topeka, KS 66619-0226, 913-296-2334, FAX: 913-296-7427. The State Surplus Property office sells sedans, snow plows, and everything they have, from staples to bulldozers. Property is first offered to other state agencies at set prices for 30 days. Whatever is left over is opened to public sale at the same prices. Prices tend to be competitive. Items not sold by auction are sold by sealed bids, with a catalog available containing descriptions of items and where they are located. Confiscated vehicles are not sold to the public. They are disposed of by county courthouses, usually to county agencies. To obtain copies of catalogs describing sealed bid items, write to the above address. It will be sent to you for 3 months, after which time your name will be purged unless you re-request it. Kentucky Kentucky Office of Surplus Property, 514 Barrett Ave., Frankfurt, KY 40601, 502-564-4836. Kentucky holds public auctions on Saturdays every two or three months (there were 9 in 1988). Items may include vehicles, desks, chairs, calculators, typewriters, file cabinets, tape recorders, electronic equipment, couches, beds, and lawnmowers, to name a few. Merchandise may be viewed the day before an auction. The office maintains a mailing list and also advertises upcoming auctions in local newspapers. Some items are auctioned by sealed bids. Property is payable by cash, certified check, or money order. Louisiana Division of Administration, Louisiana Property Assistance Agency, 1059 Brickyard Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, 504-342-6849. Public auctions are held on the second Saturday of every month at 9:00 am at 1502 North 17th St. Items may be viewed at the warehouse from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm the week before. Property sold ranges from medical and office equipment, to boats, shop equipment, typewriters, file cabinets, pinball machines, bicycles, televisions, adding machines, and chairs, and vehicles such as Chevy Impalas, Dodge Chargers, Ford Escorts, and pickup trucks. All items are sold "as is" and "where is." Payment is required in full the day of the auctions, but no personal or company checks are accepted. In addition, all merchandise must be removed within five days after the sale. Auctions are conducted by a different auctioneer each year, depending on who wins the bid for the annual contract. Maine Office of Surplus Property, Station 95, Augusta, ME 04333, 207-289-5750. Five or six times per year, Maine publicly auctions off vehicles on the grounds of the Augusta Mental Health Institute. You must register to be able to bid, and then you will automatically be notified of upcoming auctions. Vehicles may include police cruisers, pick-up trucks, Buick Regals, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and heavy equipment, such as large trucks, graders, and backhoes. Inspection is allowed between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm on the Friday before, and 8:00 am and 10:00 am the day of the auctions, which are always held on Saturdays. The impound yard opens at 7:00 am. Vehicles may be started up but not driven. Personal checks, money orders, certified checks, and cash are all accepted. Office equipment and other non-vehicles items are sold by tag sale once per month, and prices are negotiable. Exact date, place, and time of auctions are announced in local newspapers, but there is no mailing list. Payment is due for both vehicles and other items the day of the auction or sale. Maryland Maryland State Department for Surplus Property, 8037 Brock Bridge Rd., Jessup, MD 20794, 301-799-0440. Office furniture and the like are sold or donated to non-profit organizations or state agencies, and vehicles are sold to dealers only. The state maintains a retail store for surplus property at its warehouse at the above address. After a certain length of time, items that do not go to non-profits or state agencies become available to the public at set prices at its retail store. Massachusetts Massachusetts State Purchasing Agency, Department of Procurement and General Services, Surplus Property, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, 617-727-7500. About six times per year, Massachusetts holds public auctions of surplus property. Bidders must register in the morning by filling out a card. The State Purchasing Agency places ads in The Boston Globe on the Sunday and Wednesday prior to each of the auctions, which are normally held on Saturdays. Vehicles are usually auctioned after about 60 or so accumulate. Vehicles sold include sedans, wagons, vans, and pick-ups with an average age of 7 years. The average car has over 100,000 miles. Most of the cars are Chevy Celebritys, Dodge Aries, and Crown Victorias. Conditions range from good to junk. Viewing is available the day before the auction from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Purchases are "as is". No start-ups allowed. The state does not auction other surplus property, in general, but occasionally special auctions are held for boats, parts from the Department of Public Works, and most recently, helicopters. Michigan State of Michigan, Department of Management and Budget, State Surplus Property, 3353 N. Logan, Lansing, MI 48913, 517-335-8444. The state auctions off all kinds of office furniture, household goods, machinery, livestock, and vehicles, such as sedans, buses, trucks, and boats. Auctions are held at different locations for different categories of property. The State Surplus Property Office sends out yearly calendars with auction dates and information. Contact them at the above address to have it sent to you. Double check dates because additions or changes may occur. Auctions are also published in the local newspapers. Payment may be made by cash or check and should include the 4% state sales tax. No refunds are made. Inspections of merchandise are available either the day before from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm or the morning of an auction from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Auctions begin at 10:00 am. Items must be paid in full on the day of sale by cash or check. Buyer has 3 working days to remove the property. Minnesota Minnesota Surplus Operations Office, 5420 Highway 8, New Brighton, MN 55112, 612-296-5177 or 297-7340; HOTLINE: 612-296-1056. Minnesota holds about 17 auctions per year at different locations around the state. They sell vehicles such as old patrol cars, passenger cars, trucks, vans, suburbans, and trucks, as well as tractors, boats, snowmobiles and outboard motors. The state also auctions off furniture, office equipment, kitchen equipment, tools, and confiscated items such as vehicles, computers, jewelry, car stereos and radios, and other personal effects. Many of these items are sold under market price. Recently an $80,000 Mercedes-Benz sold for $70,000. You may be put on a mailing list to receive a calendar for the schedule of upcoming auctions for the year. Auctions are advertised in the locale where they occur by radio, TV, and newspaper, and in St. Paul newspapers. Inspection of property is held from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, an hour and a half before the auction begins; and payment is by personal check for in-state residents, cash, or money order. Mississippi Bureau of Surplus Property, P.O. Box 5778, Whitfield Rd., Jackson, MS 39288, 601-939-2050. Up to three times a year, Mississippi auctions such items as machinery, textiles, ammunition boxes, and unrepairable vehicles. Contact the above office to be put on the mailing list. Auctions are advertised in state newspapers. Inspections are allowed during the two days before the auction. Payment may be made by cash, bank draft, or check with bank letter of credit. Department of Public Safety, Support Services, P.O. Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205, 601-987-1453. The state cars that are auctioned are mostly Ford and Chevy patrol cars, and only occasionally vans and other types of vehicles. State cars are usually wrecked or old. Most have at least 100,000 miles on them. Recent average prices have ranged from $1200 to $1500. The state is keeping cars longer, so less are being sold. These agency cars and others from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, military bases, Narcotics Division, and U.S. Marshal's Office -- which includes confiscated cars -- are auctioned the first Tuesday of every month by Mid South Auctions, 6655 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39213, 601-956-2700. Call to be put on the mailing list. Many car dealers as well as the public attend these auctions, so prices are competitive. Bargains are still possible. Recently, a 1991 Cadillac was sold at auction for $25,000. Payment must be in cash or cashiers check -- no personal checks. The balance is due the day of the auction. Missouri State Of Missouri, Surplus Property Office, Materials Management Section, P.O. Drawer 1310, 117 N. Riverside Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65102, 314-751-3415. At various times throughout the year, Missouri holds regular public auctions, as well as sealed bid auctions of merchandise located at various places in the state. The wide range of items include clothing, office equipment and vehicles. No confiscated or seized vehicles or other items are sold. You can be put on a mailing list to receive notices of upcoming auctions, plus they are advertised in local newspapers. For regular auctions, inspection is available the day before or on the day of the auction; and sealed bid items may be viewed two or three days before the deadline. Items may be sold by lot or individually. Payment may be made by cash or personal check. Montana Property and Supply Bureau, 930 Lyndale Ave., Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-4514. Montana holds a vehicle auction once a year, of about 300 state vehicles. Contact the above to get on the mailing list. The auctions are by open cry and sealed bid. All items are from state surplus; nothing is seized or confiscated. These auctions are advertised in local newspapers prior to the auction. In addition, the state offers other property for sale each month on the second Friday of the month. The sales include items such as office supplies, computers, chairs, tables, and vehicles including trucks, vans, sedans, highway patrol cars, and more. Payment can be by cash up to $300. Higher amounts must be paid by certified or business check, or bank check. Nebraska Nebraska Office of Administrative Services, Material Division, Surplus Property, P.O. Box 94901, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402-479-4890. Three or four times a year, Nebraska auctions off office furniture, computers, couches, and more. Separate auctions are held for vehicles and heavy equipment -- also about three or four times per year. Auctions are advertised in newspapers and on radio, and a mailing list is also kept. Sealed bid auctions are held for property such as scrap iron, wrecked vehicles, guard posts, and tires. Items are available for viewing two days prior to the auctions, which are held on Saturdays at 5001 S. 14th St. All items are sold "as is". Payment, which can be made by cash or check, must be in full on the day of the auction. Nevada Nevada State Purchasing Division, Kinkead Bldg., Room 400 Capitol Complex, Carson City, NV 89710, 702-885-4070. The sales and auction are located at the warehouse at 2250 Barnett Way, Reno, NV 89512. About once a year, Nevada holds a sale on the second Saturday in August of such items as calculators, desks, cabinets, tables and chairs. Office equipment is released for sale to the public at a set price. The sale is held to clear the warehouse, and is on a first come, first serve basis, with minimum prices to cover service and handling marked on the property. Very few vehicles are confiscated. Most are surplus turned in by other state agencies for resale. Vehicles and motorcycles are auctioned. Public auctions are not served by mailing lists but are advertised in the newspapers. You can be put on a mailing list to receive notice of sealed bid auctions of 19 categories of merchandise, including heavy equipment, boats, and planes. Once you have requested to place your name on the mailing list, if you do not subsequently bid on two consecutive occasions, it will be removed. Payment is by cash or local check with proper I.D. No out of state checks accepted. For vehicles, you can put down a 5% deposit with 5 days to complete payment. The county, city and University of Nevada also advertise and hold public auctions. New Hampshire Office of Surplus Property 78 Regional Dr., Building 3, Concord, NH 03331, 603-271-2126. New Hampshire holds two auctions per year of vehicles and other equipment, such as office furniture and machines, and refrigerators. Vehicles, which include Omnis, cruisers, pickups, vans, and sometimes confiscated vehicles may be viewed the day before the auction, while other merchandise can be viewed on the same day just before the auction. A mailing list is maintained, and ads are also placed in local newspapers prior to the auctions. Acceptable payment includes cash and certified funds. New Jersey New Jersey Purchase and Property Distribution Center, 1620 Stuyvestant Ave., Trenton, NJ 08625, 609-530-3300. New Jersey auctions used state vehicles such as Chevy Chevettes, Dodge vans, various types of compacts, and occasionally buses and heavy equipment. Frequency of auctions depends on availability which currently averages once per month. Vehicles may be inspected and started up the day before the auction from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Payment is by cash, money order, or certified check. No personal checks. A 10% deposit is required to hold a vehicle, and then the successful bidder has 7 calendar days to complete payment and remove the vehicle by Friday. If an item is left after that, even if paid in full, a $20 per day storage fee is charged. To be advised of auctions, put your name on the mailing list by writing the address above. Phone calls to be put on the mailing list are not accepted. A recent vehicle auction in New Jersey offered a variety of Dodge and Chevy vehicles, ages ranging from three to thirteen years, with mileages from 50,000 to 130,000. Other surplus items are not put up for public auction; rather they are offered to other state agencies. New Mexico New Mexico Highway and Transportation Department, SB-2, 7315 Cerrillos Road, P.O. Box 1149, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1149, 505-827-5580. About once a year, on the last Saturday of September, New Mexico auctions off vehicles, including sedans, loaders, backhoes, snow removal equipment, pick-ups, vans, four-wheel drives, and tractors. They have some office equipment as well. The items come from state agencies. You may place your name on a mailing list to receive the exact date of the auction and descriptions of merchandise up for bidding. A public entity auction is held first. The published list of items to be publicly auctioned consists of what is left over. Everything is open auction; there are no sealed bids. Items may be inspected the day before the auction. Payment is by cash, checks with proper I.D., money orders, or cashier's checks. No credit cards. Department of Public Safety, State Police Division, Attn: Major W.D. Morrow, P.O. Box 1628, Santa Fe, NM 87504. The above holds a public auction on the second Saturday in July at 4491 Cerrillos Road. Call the above to be put on the mailing list. It is also advertised in local newspapers. Items sold include everything from calculators to cars. They come from seizures and surplus from other agencies. The vehicles may be viewed and started up the Friday before the auction. Payment may be by cash, money order, cashier's check or personal check with bank letter of guarantee. New York State of New York Office of General Service, Bureau of Surplus Property, Building #18, W.A. Harriman State Office Building Campus, Albany, NY 12226, 518-457-6335. The Office of General Services holds auctions continuously in locations around the state. The items are so numerous that the state finds it necessary to sell them by category. You can designate which categories you are interested in on the mailing list application. Items are sold as they become available. Sales are advertised one week in advance in local newspapers. These items include surplus and used office equipment, scrap material, agricultural items (even unborn cows). Most categories such as medical, photographic, institutional and maintenance equipment are sold through sealed bids, usually in lots of varying size. To participate in a sealed bid, you place your name on a mailing list for items in seven different categories, then make your bid by mail. The highest bidder wins and is notified by mail. Mailings give as much information as possible about the items being auctioned; but state officials stress that merchandise is sold "as is" and "where is". They advise viewing property in person before making a bid. A ten percent deposit is required with each sealed bid. Vehicles are sold by public auction and may include cars, trucks, buses, tractors, bulldozers, mowers, compressors, plows, sanders, and other highway maintenance and construction equipment. Large items are sold individually, and smaller equipment, such as chain saws, is more likely to be sold in lots. These auctions take place about 55 times per year. It is always possible that enough surplus may not accumulate to warrant an auction. The state warns that just because an auction is scheduled is no guarantee that it will occur. Payment may be made by certified check or cash. A ten percent deposit will hold a vehicle until the end of the day. North Carolina State Surplus Property, P.O. Box 33900, Raleigh, NC 27636-3900, 919-733-3889. North Carolina sells through sealed bids surplus merchandise located across the state, including vehicles and office equipment, by sealed bid. Office equipment includes furniture, typewriters, desks, and chairs; and vehicles include Reliances, Crown Victorias, Mustangs, and vans. For a fee of $15 you can be placed on a mailing list to receive weekly advisories of what is for auction, with a description of the item and its condition. Otherwise, if you visit the warehouse in person, you can pick up free samples of bid listings and look at lists of prices that items sold for in previous auctions. The warehouse is located on Highway 54 - Old Chapel Hill Road. Payment is by money order or certified check, and you have 10 days to pay for your merchandise and 30 days to pick it up. Items may be inspected two weeks before an auction from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. On Tuesdays, the warehouse is closed between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm when the bids are opened and the public is then invited to attend. The state may reject bids that are too low. North Dakota Surplus Property Office, P.O. Box 7293, Bismarck, ND 58502, 701-224-2273. Once a year, usually in September, the Office of Surplus Property auctions through open bidding surplus office furniture and equipment, as well as vehicles and scrap materials. The auction is advertised the two days before and merchandise may be viewed the morning of the auction. The auction is held at Igo Industrial Park. Cash, cashiers checks, or money orders are acceptable forms of payment. Personal or business checks are accepted only with a bank letter of credit. Ohio Office of State and Federal Surplus Property, 226 N. Fifth St., Columbus, OH 43215, 614-466-5052. Ohio holds public auctions and sealed bid sales on a wide range of office machines and equipment, furniture, and vehicles. The sealed bid sales are held at various locations around the state for inoperable vehicles. These may be inspected any time after you receive your bid invitation in the mail. No mailing list is maintained. Call or write for the information. When you attend an auction, you can fill out a label that will be used to notify you of the next auction. Other vehicle auctions are held three to four times a year, depending on the amount accumulated. Inspections are available the day before. Vehicles may include sedans, trucks, vans, 4x4s, boats, mowers, tractors, and chain saws. No seized or confiscated items are sold. At the time of the auction, a 25% downpayment is required, with the balance due by the following Monday (auctions are held on Saturdays). For the sealed bid auctions, payment must be by money order or certified check. Oklahoma Central Purchasing, State Capitol, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, 405-521-3046; general information only for public auctions, 405-521-3835; for information on sealed bids, 405-521-2126. To get your name on a sealed bid mailing list, call 405-521-4951. The charge is $10 for which you will receive all the information and descriptions. Oklahoma auctions vehicles as they accumulate. The state advertises upcoming auctions in local newspapers. The state tells their condition. Vehicles often have from 80,000 to 120,000 miles on them and it is rare for a car to be rated as fair -- which means it is in running condition. They are usually bought by wholesalers. State agency cars such as Celebrities and Dodge Aires are commonly sold, but occasionally seized or confiscated cars are sold. Agencies most likely to have auctions are: Department of Human Services (occasionally vehicles and other items, but they usually take their cars to public auctions); Wildlife Department (vehicles); Department of Public Safety (vehicles); and the Department of Transportation (vehicles). The Department of Transportation has four auctions per year. The cars and trucks can have 120,000 miles on them. They are usually not in good condition. The state advises that you contact each agency separately for details. Sealed bid auctions of all kinds of merchandise are also held. You may request your name to be placed on a mailing list, but if you do not bid three times, it will be removed. Otherwise, visit the office to view a catalog of listings. Oregon Department of General Services, Surplus Property, 1655 Salem Industrial Dr. N.E., Salem, OR 97310, 503-378-4714 (Salem area). Oregon auctions both vehicles and other equipment, such as office furniture. Merchandise may include snow plows, horse trailers, a lot of computer equipment, desks, chairs, tires (which are good deals) or shop equipment. Although some is "junk," other items are in excellent condition, and bargains may be found. Items come from state agency surplus and confiscations. On rare occasions exotic items such as a Porsche and hot tub have been sold. Public sales are held every Friday at set prices. Auctions are held on the first Saturday of every month. Occasionally, two or three times per year, sealed bid auctions are held separately from the 7 to 10 open auctions held each year. The frequency of auctions depends on the amount of items to be disposed. The numbers of vehicles for sale is increasing. Cars are sold every week at set prices. In one week, 100 cars were sold. Brochures are created for all sales. To receive it, have your name placed on the mailing list. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the address listed above or call the 24 hour information line that is always kept current, 503-373-1392. Ads are also placed on radio and in local newspapers in the areas where the auction will be held, giving the date and location of the auction. The procedure is to register and obtain a bidder number, which you hold up when you are making a bid. The forms may be obtained from the brochure or at the auction site. At the same time as you register, you must show some form of identification. The conditions and terms of sale change with the circumstances, but are always listed in the brochure. Personal checks are accepted, but no title of ownership is sent until the check clears the bank. At the public sales held every first Saturday, if you pay by Mastercard or Visa, title is immediately released. You can also pay 10% down at the auction site and pay the balance at the office with Mastercard or Visa. The vehicle and general merchandise auctions are usually held on the same day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Pennsylvania General Services Department, Bureau of Vehicle Management 2221 Forster St., Harrisburg, PA 17105, 717-783-3132. About 10 times per year, depending on the number of cars accumulated, the DGS auctions off all kinds of vehicles, especially Aires, Chevettes, Cavaliers, Omnis, Cherokees, and Ford LTDs. Many have mileages under 100,000, and ages commonly range from 1979 to 1986. There are about 200 cars at each auction. They are mostly used state agency cars that have been replaced, but up to 3 seized cars are also sold each year. An inspection period begins two weeks before an auction on Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the storage facility located at 22nd & Forster Sts. in Harrisburg. Inspection period ends 2 days before the auctions. Each car has a form detailing its condition. It will state if the car must be towed. All cars are sold "as is". Cars are started up the day of the auction, which is open cry. If you request an application, you may have your name put on a mailing list for advance advisories of auctions for a period of one year. A $100 deposit is required (cash or annual surety bonds only) if you win a bid, with full payment due within five working days by cashier's check, certified check, or postal money order. No personal or company checks accepted. Bureau of Supplies and Surplus, Department of General Services, 2221 Forster St., Harrisburg, PA 17105, 717-787-4083. Contact the above for a brochure explaining auction procedures. The Bureau of Supplies and Surplus of the General Services Department sells such items as mainframe computers and off-loading equipment, office furniture and machines, including typewriters, desks, chairs, sectional furniture, filing cabinets, copy machines, dictaphones, and calculators. This merchandise is first offered to other state agencies, then municipalities, and is then put up for public sale after five days. There is no mailing list for notification of upcoming auctions, but ads are placed in the local newspapers in the area where an auction will be held. However, you can be put on a mailing list for some specific items such as heavy equipment that is sold by sealed bid. State which categories of bidder's lists you are interested in. The notice you receive will give date, times and places to inspect and submit a bid. A $100 security deposit must accompany the bid. Property is sold at set prices. You may call to find out what items are currently for sale, or visit the warehouse which sells mostly office equipment such as computers, desks, chairs and file cabinets, between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. Rhode Island Department of Administration, Division of Purchase, 1 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908, 401-277-2375. Rhode Island's Division of Purchase auctions off its surplus vehicles and office equipment, as well as other items through sealed bid to a list of buyers who are usually in the business. Most of the cars sold have no plates and must be towed. They are sold primarily to wholesalers. Office equipment and supplies are primarily sold to suppliers. If the state ever does hold a public auction, it advertises two or three times in the local papers. South Carolina Surplus Property Office, Division of General Services, 1441 Boston Ave., West Columbia, SC 29170, 803-822-5490. South Carolina sells items ranging from vehicles, to office and heavy equipment. Property is collected in monthly cycles and offered first to state agencies before being put up for sale to the public. No mailing list is kept for it, but you can visit the warehouse on 1441 Boston Ave. in West Columbia, which is open between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Prices are tagged; there is no auction. Every 6 to 8 weeks, the General Services Division holds public auctions of items by lot for State, Federal, and Wildlife Department property. A mailing list is kept for advance advisories and property descriptions. There is a $15 fee, payable by check or money order, to receive the mailings annually. Items can be inspected two days prior to the sale. You are advised to make notes of the numbers of property you are interested in, then to check back to inquire if it is still available, since state agencies have first choice. South Carolina Public Transportation Department, 1500 Shop Road, P.O. Box 191, Columbia SC 29202, 803-737-6635, for general information; 803)737-1488, for mailing list. About every five weeks, the South Carolina Department of Public Transportation holds auctions of its used and surplus vehicles, which include everything from patrol cars, trucks, and passenger cars, to highway equipment. To have your name put on a mailing list of upcoming auctions, call the number above. Payment is by cash, check or money order. Banking information will be requested for personal checks. Vehicles may be viewed from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on the Monday and Tuesday before the auctions, which are always held on a Wednesdays at 10 am. You may start up the cars. It is open bidding. Usually about 100 cars are sold at each auction. South Dakota Bureau of Administration, State Property Management, 701 East Sioux Ave., Pierre, SD 57501, 605-773-4935. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Department of Transportation holds on its premises public auctions for office equipment and vehicles, including Chevy Citations and pick-ups. Most vehicles have over 85,000 miles on them and sell for well under market price. The cars usually sell for under $5000. Most are surplus or have been replaced at state agencies. A few are from seizures or confiscation. You may visually inspect the vehicles prior to the auction, but you may not enter them. However, during the auction, the vehicles are started and demonstrated. Auctions and special sales are located wherever the most property has accumulated in the state. Call or write the above office to have your name put on the mailing list. There is no charge. Terms are up to the auctioneer. Title is released only after checks clear, or immediately if accompanied by a bank letter. Tennessee Department of General Services Property Utilization, 6500 Centennial Blvd., Nashville, TN 37243-0543, 615-741-1711. Tennessee auctions surplus vehicles, and machinery of various kinds -- milling machines, lathes, welders, and metal working equipment. Desk and office supplies are sold only to public organizations such as schools. The vehicles are of all types, including dump trucks, pick-ups, sedans, and station wagons. Auctions are held twelve times a year in Jackson, Dandridge, Nashville, and Chattanooga. A mailing list is kept, and auctions are advertised in local newspapers. Items are available for inspection the day before the auction. Keys are in the car, and start ups are allowed. Register at no charge the morning of the auction. Payment can be in cash, cashier's checks, or certified check. Texas Texas State Purchasing and General Services Commission, 1711 San Jacinto, P.O. Box 13047, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711-3047, 512-463-3445. Every two months, Texas auctions off vehicles, office furniture and machines, and highway equipment. You must apply to be put on the mailing list, which will give you a brief description of items available at the next auction (call 512-463-3416). It will also tell you the location of the auction, which changes often. You may call the agency selling the property to arrange to inspect it; however, merchandise that is on site is available for inspection two hours before the auction. Items are mostly used state property, although some is confiscated as well. You must register to bid beforehand. Most registrations take place the day of the auction, beginning at 7:00 am. Payment on a winning bid is due at the end of the auction. Cash, cashiers check, certified check, money order, bank draft with Letter of Credit, or personal or company check with Letter of Credit are acceptable forms of payment. Items sold on site must be removed the day of the sale. For off-site items, 30 days are usually allowed for removal. Texas also holds sealed bid auctions, where you make a bid by mail. First, you indicate what category of property you are interested in, and they will send you bid forms and descriptions of items in that category. Sealed bid participants are notified by letter if winning bids and the exact amount due. Deposits for non-winners are returned. Also, each of the Texas state agencies hold local sales, for which each has its own mailing list and advertises in the local papers. Utah Utah State Surplus Office, 522 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, 801-533-5885. Four or five times a year, Utah auctions of vehicles off and office furniture, as well as heavy equipment, whenever property accumulates. Most items are sold by public auction, although sealed bid auctions are sometimes held as well. Mail-in bids are accepted if you can't attend in person. A 10% deposit is required. It is refunded unless you win the bid. Most of the public auctions are held in Salt Lake City at the address above, although some are occasionally held in other parts of the state. You may request your name be put on a mailing list to receive advance notice of auctions and a description of the items. Auctions are always held on Saturdays. Property may be viewed the Friday prior to an auction. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, cashier's check, and personal checks up to $100 with two forms of I.D. No business checks are accepted. Items must be removed and payments must be made in full on the day of the auction. Vermont Vermont Central Surplus Property Agency, RD #2, Box 520, Montpelier, VT 05602, 802-828-3394. Vermont sells low-priced surplus office furniture and machines on retail basis between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm daily at the Central Garage on Barre Montpelier Rd. Items include desks, chairs, file cabinets, and book shelves. Twice a year, vehicles, which may include police cruisers, dump trucks, and pick-ups, are sold by public auction, on a Saturday in late May and September. A mailing list is kept to advise you in advance of upcoming auctions. To have you name placed on it, contact the auctioneer. Local newspapers also advertise them. Vehicles may be inspected the Friday before an auction. The auctions are open bid, "as is", and "where is". There are no hold backs. The highest bid, even if it is far below market value, will take the item. A 25% deposit is due the day of the sale. The balance is due in 2 days, by the following Tuesday by 3:00 pm. Payment is up to the auctioneer, who is a private contractor. Usually, checks must be bank-certified, and a deposit is required to hold any vehicle not paid for in full the day of the auction. Virginia State Surplus Property, P.O. Box 1199, Richmond, VA 23209, 804-786-3876. Virginia auctions everything but land. It sells vehicles, office equipment and furniture, computers, tractors, bulldozers, dump trucks, pick-ups, and vans. Some of the cars are in good condition. Scrap metal, tires, and batteries are sold separately. Auctions may be held on any day of the week except Sunday. Sales are by both public auction and sealed bid. Agencies have the discretion to decide which way their surplus is sold. There are sealed bid offerings every week, and as many as two auctions per week. Twice a year there are auctions for cars only. The rest are mixed. Items are occasionally seized, such as jewelry. Auction sites are at various locations around the state. You may write to place your name on a mailing list for both public auctions and sealed bid auctions; phone call requests are not honored. For sealed bid, there are usually 100 to 200 items available. Inspections are encouraged. They are allowed the day before the auction and again for a couple of hours on the day of the auction. For sealed bid items, you may call for more details on the items offered for sale or to make an appointment to inspect the items. Washington Office of Commodity Redistribution, 2805 C St. S.W., Building 5, Door 49, Auburn, WA 98001, 206-931-3931. Every Friday the public can visit the store at the central warehouse. It is open from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm and purchases are for cash only. Washington holds auctions of used state vehicles, conducts "silent bids" (auctions where the bids are written rather than spoken), and also sells surplus materials by sealed bid (bids are placed through the mail) via catalogs. The vehicles are auctioned about every three months and include all kinds of used state conveyances, from patrol cars, to trucks and passenger cars, most having over 100,000 miles. There are few new luxury or confiscated type vehicles. The "silent bids" are held once a month, and include large quantities of office furniture sold by the pallet, with the exception of typewriters, which are sold individually. You may visit the warehouse to inspect the items beforehand. Payment may be made by cashiers check, money order, or cash, but no personal checks. For the sealed bids, you may request a catalog of merchandise, which includes everything from vehicles, to scrap material, office equipment, computers, clothes, cleaning fluids, tools, and pumps. For any of these sales, you may request to be put on the mailing list at the address above. West Virginia West Virginia State Agency Surplus Property, 2700 Charles Ave., Dunbar, WV 25064, 304-768-7303. Contact the above to be put on the mailing list. Statewide sealed bids have a separate mailing list you must specifically request. For sealed bids, prospective buyers can inspect only by going to the site. Each month, West Virginia auctions such items as chairs, desks, telephones, computers, typewriters, office equipment and furniture, and other miscellaneous property, as well as vehicles. They are all auctioned at the same auction. The vehicles range from police cruisers to Cavaliers, Mustangs, some Crown Victorias, and an occasional Mercedes, in varying conditions. The auctions are always held on a Saturday. Inspection is available the week before the auction from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. On auction day, the gate opens at 9:00 am. Miscellaneous property is sold until 12:00 noon. Then all the cars are sold. If time allows, any remaining miscellaneous property is auctioned. Payment may be by personal check, business check, or certified check, but no cash. Payment is due in full the same day. For sealed bids, payment is due within one week after a bid has won. Deposits, usually 20% of a bid, are returned to unsuccessful bidders, or in the case of winning bids, applied to the purchase price. Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Hill Farm Building, 4802 Sheboygan Ave., Madison, WI 53705, 608-266-3965. Call 608-267-3620 to inquire whether a specific item is for sale. The Department of Transportation continuously sells a variety of merchandise from its warehouse in Madison. These items vary greatly from week to week, but may include work tables, desks, files, calculators and other office equipment and furniture, as well as vehicles. Call ahead before visiting the facility to view the property, which is sold at set prices. The few surplus items the state has are used up by other organizations or sold informally as parties express an interest. A small room stores all the items. Computers, however, and occasionally road finds accumulate. These are sold by sealed bid and you can call to get on the bid list. Wisconsin Department of Administration, P.O. Box 7880, Madison, WI 53708, 608-266-8024. The Department of Administration holds vehicle auctions approximately every month -- usually with around 100 vehicles, including passenger vehicles, vans, trucks, and station wagons, all of different makes and models, such as Renault Alliances, Plymouth Horizons, Ford Escorts, and Chevys. Most are in running condition. Cars that need towing are rare and clearly designated. The vehicles are usually at least four years old, or have at least 70,000 miles on them. The auctions begin on Saturday at 10:00 am. Cars may be inspected the Friday before from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The public may also inspect and start up the cars from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on the morning of the auction. You may have your name placed on a mailing list for advance notice of auctions; however, the auctions are also advertised in local newspapers. There are no sealed bids. Payment is by cash, personal check, cashiers check, or money order. No credit cards. The full amount is due the day of the auction. Occasionally, if the auctioneer is consulted at pre-registration, a small delay for bank loan arrangements are pre-approved so that the prospective buyer can bid. Wyoming State Motor Pool, 723 West 19th, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-7247. Although it first donates most of its surplus property to other state agencies, Wyoming does auction its remaining surplus vehicles, which may include pick-ups, vans, sedans, and jeeps, and also tires. Although most have high mileage -- from 80,000 to 100,000 miles, the majority are dependable vehicles. You can have your name placed on a mailing list to receive advance notices of auctions, which are held when items accumulate. On the average, one or two auctions are held each year. The state also advertises in local newspapers. Inspection of the vehicles is available between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm the Friday before the auction, which is usually held on Saturdays and begins at 10:00 am. No start ups are allowed. Anything known to be wrong with the car will be on the list handed out at the auction, or sent if you are on the mailing list. Payment depends on the auctioneer who is a private contractor. Usually, cash or check with proper I.D. are acceptable. Some cars go for well below market value, but others may bid up in price, depending on the mood of the crowd. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253