November 13

Exciting Items Sold in Indiana Government Auctions

Last Updated on November 13, 2023

On both the local and state levels, Indiana municipalities serve the community with a variety of vehicles and equipment. This includes everything from emergency vehicles to service vehicles, and snow plows to trailers. Once these items reach a certain threshold of usage or get replaced by something newer, they then become government surplus. From there, local citizens like yourself benefit as the surplus is put up for auction.

Government surplus may sound like a weird thing to buy, but a ton of people have done things like turn ambulances into work trucks or converted fire trucks into paintball props. Whether you want to enrich your hobbies or your business, you should learn all there is about finding exciting items in Indiana government auctions.

Where to find Indiana government auctions?

There are two places to visit once you’re ready to dive into Indiana government auctions. The first is the state’s website where the Indiana Department of Administration lists details about purchasing property, vehicles, and more. Partakers have the option of bidding through online auctions or securing a spot in sealed bid sales.

An alternative to Indiana’s state website is Municibid’s Indiana catalog. This resource is particularly useful if you’re interested in purchasing from neighboring states too. You have the option of filtering items by type or by state, and in addition to viewing what’s currently up for bidding, you can also look over completed auctions to get a sense of what is sold on the platform. 

Who can buy at Indiana government auctions?

One thing to note about government auctions, whether in Indiana or elsewhere, is that most often, bidders are required to provide their own transportation. That applies to items big and small, and includes vehicles too. With this in mind, most people who bid will be residents of the area. However, as long as you are an adult and can provide your own transportation, then these auctions are for you. If the seller does provide delivery, expect an additional fee.

Exciting Items Sold in Indiana Government Auctions

2021 Can-Am Spyder Roadster F3 

Sold Price: $13,600

Municipalities utilize and dispose of a wide range of vehicles, including those used by police. This 2021 Can-Am Spyder Roadster F3 has no known issues and only 97.2 miles logged. Sometimes new vehicles get sold when even newer ones are added to the fleet. In this case, the department purchased the motorcycle without going through the proper channels.

Even better for the bidder, the seller, Martinsville, notes that they have already removed the police decals. That’s a must in order to legally drive the motorcycle on the road, or any other vehicle that was previously used for emergency services. Most often, this responsibility falls onto the bidder but there are exceptions.

2008 Chevy K2500 Silverado (with 9′ snow plow)

Sold Price: $16,000

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Vehicles are a common sight at government auctions, which makes having a government surplus vehicle guide handy! That also explains why a 2008 Chevy K2500 Silverado was put up for sale with a 9 foot snow plow included. The Brownsburg Fire Territory received 56 bids for the truck, which they sold in good condition. Almost 56K miles have been logged. The municipality first acquired it as a means of transporting equipment between firehouses and to move snow as needed. The winning bidder has an option of using the vehicle for this same purpose, or converting it for commuting or tailgating.

2008 Surry Public Education Trailer

Sold Price: $3,100

Brownsburg Fire Territory also sold a 2008 Surry public education trailer. The trailer is 36 feet in length and weighs around 10K pounds. They sold the trailer “as is,” which means that if any repairs were required, the seller would not be covering any. In this case, there are no known problems with the trailer, but a bathroom was not included. Nonetheless, something like this could still be used as a makeshift office space, or living, if you enjoy travel.

1990 H1 Hummer

Sold Price: $11,561

In addition to police vehicles, municipalities auction off military items too. This 1990 H1 Hummer comes courtesy of the US military and was sold by Yorktown. The vehicle is street legal, but does have decals that need removal. Only around 18,000 miles have been logged. Not every vehicle on auction will have high mileage or extensive damage. Sometimes municipalities simply no longer have use for a particular item, and sometimes they acquire something new very quickly, taking away any need for what’s old.

2014 Ford Interceptor

Sold Price: $9,000

Police cars offer certain advantages over their civilian counterparts. In the case of this 2014 Ford Interceptor, the truck has been modified to fit police usage. Aside from a stronger engine, there’s been well-documented upkeep. Police departments often keep great logs of vehicle maintenance, which is a great benefit to future bidders. One very clear drawback, however, is that the center console has been altered in ways unhelpful for civilian driving. The original siren and emergency light are also still equipped, and civilian driving means that these features would have to be changed in order to be legally used. The seller makes note that the truck is not being sold because something is wrong, but that a newer automobile has been added to the fleet.

If you ever buy a former police vehicle, know that they make for fine commuters and work vehicles. Their design could provide useful for a security detail, for example.

1999 International 4700

Sold Price: $25,100

Greendale Utilities sold one 1999 International 4700, now that they no longer have need for the truck. The low mileage vehicle has logged 3,500 hours. The seller notes that “all mechanical components operate as they should,” but later responded to a question about the truck’s bucket, which at times moves uncontrollably. Sometimes sellers leave out or forget to include information. When possible, inspect an item in person before bidding. Even better, bring a professional and trusted mechanic with you. That’s especially helpful when you’re looking into vehicles.

2006 John Deere Gator

Sold Price: $2,350

The Walkerton Parks Department sold a 2006 John Deere Gator. This service vehicle operates, but is only in fair condition which the seller explains. Originally, the gator was used for maintenance at parks and sports fields. The design and previous usage would make it a great condition to a work fleet.

If you are handy with repairs and know how to fix up vehicles and equipment, buying used items that are in bad condition can still turn out to be a great investment. You have the know-how for putting things back together, which means the only other cost to consider, aside from the initial purchase, is parts.

1985 Pierce Dash

Sold Price: $6,500

If municipalities sell police and military vehicles, then a fire truck like a 1985 Pierce Dash is no exception. The truck model is almost four decades old, but the engine was refurbished in 2002, along with a ladder rack and a polymer tank. It was sold with a pump and a water tank. Fire trucks make for excellent fleet vehicles because of their spaciousness for both supplies and personnel. With the proper refurbishing, they can be converted into food trucks, mobile bars, or something else entirely. They prove why versatility is a prized aspect of buying government surplus.

2008 Freightliner B2

Sold Price: $3,800

Out of everything on the list, school buses may sound like a strange thing to buy, but this 2008 Freightliner B2 is going to please the lucky bidder. You can convert a bus for tailgating, or similar to the fire truck, use it for a small business. They are large, have plenty of storage space, and can seat many people. The South Ripley Community School Corporation sold this vehicle and they note that the mileage was almost 131K miles during the last inspection. The date of the last inspection was in 2020.

Suzuki 125

Sold Price: $535

A Suzuki motorcycle was sold by the Southeastern Career Center. It came in “unsure” condition and without a title. A lack of a title doesn’t make the ride off limits, but there’s a certain process to buying such a vehicle. If you are ever in this position, be sure to inspect the vehicle thoroughly, ask questions, inquire about the missing title, and know that you can get a replacement title later.

Conclusion

Whether you’re interested in a school bus or a service vehicle, government surplus is so wide and so varied that there’s something for everyone. Not everything sold will be from the municipality itself either. Sometimes the government auctions items confiscated from the public like lost purses or seized cars. That just proves there’s definitely something of interest for everyone and with the right know-how you can make the most of your government auction experience.Get started today by taking a look at Municibid’s catalog, replete with cars, police vehicles, and more. Or if you want an Indiana specific search, see what’s up for sale now!


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