Military Surplus Auctions in Australia (2026): How Ex-ADF Vehicles and Equipment Are Sold

Australia's Department of Defence sells its surplus land, sea and air equipment through one contractor, Australian Frontline Machinery (AFM), based at Thurgoona near Albury in NSW. AFM sells through online unreserved auctions on Pickles, and has sold roughly 480 ex-ADF vehicles a year since 2013 plus thousands of pallets of equipment, according to a 2024 ABC report. Everything is demilitarised before sale, vehicles come without service history or a roadworthy certificate, and many ex-military vehicles do not meet the Australian Design Rules, so registering one can be difficult or impossible. On 23 September 2026 we had 313 live AFM lots in our Australian feed, 263 of them at Thurgoona.

This guide explains how ex-ADF disposals work, what turns up, and the registration questions to answer before you bid.

Who sells ex-ADF surplus

Australian Frontline Machinery. AFM describes itself as the exclusive global seller of ex-Australian Defence Force land, sea and air equipment under contract with the Commonwealth. It holds a NSW motor dealer licence, and its headquarters and main yard are at 23 Hoffman Road, Thurgoona. Proceeds go back to the Commonwealth.

Pickles. AFM's sales run on Pickles as online "Ex-Military Vehicles" and equipment auctions. Most are unreserved, meaning the lot sells to the highest bid whatever it is. AFM also consigns lots to Pickles yards around the country; on the day we counted, AFM lots were also sitting at Spring Farm (NSW), Winnellie (NT), Altona North (Vic), Bohle and Eagle Farm (Qld), Bibra Lake (WA), Launceston (Tas) and Pennington (SA).

Older routes. Older articles describe AFM sales on Grays. Current AFM sales are on Pickles.

Defence fleet cars are different. Everyday Defence staff cars and vans (sedans, Sprinter vans, dual-cab utes) are leased fleet vehicles, not military equipment, and are sold through the normal fleet channels. In our 2026 records these show up with "Ex-Defence" in the title, for example a 2022 Ford Ranger XL dual cab and 2016 to 2017 Mercedes Sprinter transfer vans.

What gets sold

The mix changes from sale to sale. Over time AFM has sold:

• Land vehicles: Land Rover Perentie 4x4s and 6x6s and Mercedes Unimogs (the ABC reported these as the most popular), trucks, trailers and motorcycles.
• Engineering plant: graders, loaders, telehandlers, forklifts and generators.
• Sea and air equipment: boats, outboards and other naval and air force surplus.
• Stores: storage cases (Pelican and Hardigg), food storage containers, workshop benches, tools, test equipment, office furniture, and pallets of mixed stores.

On 23 September 2026 the live AFM set in our feed was mostly plant and stores: John Deere 850J and 672D machines, Hitachi LX120 loaders, JCB and Manitou telehandlers, kayaks, fire-fighting knapsacks, Pelican cases, workshop equipment and office furniture. No Perenties or Unimogs were listed that day. Whether the ADF's G-Wagons will be sold has not been confirmed: in 2024 AFM's general manager said he did not know.

Demilitarisation: what is removed

All ex-ADF items are demilitarised before sale. Weapons mounts, communications equipment and specialist military systems are removed, and controlled items are not sold to the public. Expect vehicles to arrive with empty radio trays, blanked panels and missing specialist fittings. Buyers do not get the vehicle's service history.

Registering an ex-military vehicle

This is the part to settle before you bid.

Why it is hard. ADF vehicles ran under military registration exemptions. Many were built to military rather than civilian standards and may lack items the Australian Design Rules require, such as compliant ignition, exhaust, door locks or seatbelts. AFM vehicles are sold without a roadworthy certificate, and AFM tells buyers to check with their own state registry.

New South Wales. Transport for NSW says an ex-ADF vehicle without identification plates or an entry on the Register of Approved Vehicles cannot be registered unless it passes an AUVIS or HVAIS inspection or qualifies for conditional (club) registration.

Queensland. The Department of Transport and Main Roads says ex-ADF vehicles must meet the relevant Australian Design Rules, including dimensions, lighting and security. Some ex-military trailers are simply too wide to register; TMR gives the 2.8 metre Haulmark 4STL-55 low-loader as an example.

Northern Territory. The NT publishes an information sheet (V86) on vehicle standards for ex-ADF vehicles.

Driving it home. Plan on a transporter. If you drive under a permit, you need a permit for every state you pass through.

Conditional or club registration. Some owners register ex-military vehicles under their state's conditional or club registration scheme, which limits how the vehicle can be used. Check your state's scheme rules before buying with that plan.

What ex-military lots fetch

AFM auctions are unreserved, so prices swing widely with the number of bidders on the day. We do not yet hold enough completed ex-ADF vehicle sales to publish a reliable median, and we will not quote one until we do. For Defence fleet cars sold through normal fleet sales, our 2026 records include a 2022 Ford Ranger XL dual cab at $14,000 and 2016 to 2017 Mercedes Sprinter transfer vans between $20,200 and $25,000 (final bids, excluding premium and GST).

Costs to budget

• Buyer's premium charged by Pickles on top of the hammer price, and GST. See our GST and buyer's premium guide.
• Transport from Thurgoona or whichever yard holds the lot. Heavy plant needs a float.
• Compliance work to meet the ADRs if you plan to register a vehicle, and the inspection fees.
• Stamp duty on registration.

The true cost calculator adds the auction-side costs up for you.

Where to find ex-military lots

• Pickles: search for Australian Frontline Machinery or ex-military sales.
• Our feed: the military surplus hub shows AFM lots and other military-category items from the sources we index, and the NSW hub shows the Thurgoona yard. For collection planning, see government auctions by state.
• Registration steps after you buy: PPSR, rego and roadworthy after an auction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who sells ex-ADF military vehicles in Australia?

Australian Frontline Machinery (AFM), based at Thurgoona near Albury in NSW, is the Commonwealth's exclusive contractor for selling ex-ADF land, sea and air equipment. It sells through online unreserved auctions on Pickles, and the proceeds go back to the Commonwealth.

Can I register an ex-army Land Rover or Unimog?

Sometimes, but not automatically. ADF vehicles ran under military registration exemptions and may not meet the Australian Design Rules. They are sold without a roadworthy. In NSW, a vehicle without identification plates or a Register of Approved Vehicles entry must pass an AUVIS or HVAIS inspection or qualify for conditional registration. Queensland requires ADR compliance, and the NT publishes a separate information sheet (V86). Check with your state registry before you bid.

Are military surplus auctions in Australia reserve-free?

Most AFM sales on Pickles are run as unreserved online auctions, so each lot sells to the highest bidder regardless of price. Always read the individual sale terms, which set the buyer's premium, payment deadline and collection window.

Is ex-ADF equipment demilitarised?

Yes. All items are demilitarised before sale: weapons, specialist equipment and controlled items are removed. Vehicles often arrive with empty equipment trays and blanked panels, and buyers do not receive service histories.

Are ADF G-Wagons being sold to the public?

Not confirmed. In 2024 AFM's general manager said he did not know whether G-Wagons would be auctioned, and we have not seen a confirmed public G-Wagon sale. Perenties and Unimogs have been the popular ex-ADF vehicle buys.

Does GovAuctions list military surplus auctions?

Yes. We index Pickles, so AFM's ex-ADF lots appear in our Australian feed with the vendor shown. On 23 September 2026 we had 313 live AFM lots, mostly plant and stores at Thurgoona. Bidding happens on Pickles.