BC Auction vs Alberta Surplus Sales (2026): Provincial Surplus Compared

BC Auction and Alberta Surplus Sales are the two provincial governments' own surplus sales sites, and neither charges a buyer's premium. BC Auction is run by the Province of British Columbia's Asset Investment Recovery branch and sells for BC ministries plus Crown corporations, municipalities, hospitals, schools and police and fire departments; you pay your bid plus GST and PST. Alberta Surplus Sales is the Government of Alberta's outlet, selling through online auctions, Buy It Now stores in Edmonton and Calgary, tenders and public auctions; you pay your bid plus GST, as Alberta has no provincial sales tax. Both want payment within 3 business days and removal within 5. Today we index 90+ live BC Auction lots and 90+ from Alberta Surplus Sales.

For most buyers the choice is simply geography: pickup is in the province that is selling. The differences worth knowing are tax, payment limits, reserves and the sales channels each one offers.

Quick answer

• Fees: a tie. Neither charges a buyer's premium or a registration fee.
• Tax: Alberta is cheaper. GST only (5%) against BC's GST plus PST.
• Channels: Alberta offers more ways to buy (online auction, walk-in Buy It Now stores, tenders, public auctions). BC Auction is online.
• Shipping: both offer shipping options for items that can be shipped; vehicles and large equipment need collecting.

Side by side

From each province's published terms. The listing you bid on can set its own conditions.

Who sells on each

BC Auction sells for the Province of British Columbia, and the province's own page says inventory also comes from federal and broader public-sector bodies: Crown corporations, municipalities, hospitals, schools, and police and fire departments. In our index today BC Auction lots include vehicles, electronics and collectibles alongside general surplus, all located in British Columbia.

Alberta Surplus Sales sells Government of Alberta property: furniture, vehicles, office equipment, and laboratory and medical equipment. Besides online auctions it runs walk-in Buy It Now stores in Edmonton and Calgary, public tenders, and public auctions run for it by private auctioneers. We index its online auctions; in our index today they are mostly office, electronics, medical and lab equipment, with some vehicles.

Fees and taxes

Neither charges a buyer's premium. BC Auction's FAQ says you pay your high bid plus shipping and taxes. Alberta's FAQ says there are no buyer's fees or other charges on top of the bid and applicable tax.

The tax difference is real money. Alberta lots carry 5% GST. BC lots carry GST plus BC's provincial sales tax where it applies. BC's PST is 7% on most goods, so on a $5,000 item the gap is $350 before you move it. Vehicle tax rules in BC differ from general goods, so check the tax on a vehicle with ICBC or an Autoplan broker before you bid. The GST/HST and buyer's premium guide covers how sales tax works at Canadian auctions.

Bidding mechanics

BC Auction uses proxy (automatic) bidding: you enter your maximum and the system bids for you. Some lots have a reserve, and if your maximum meets the reserve the current price jumps straight to the reserve. We could not find an auto-extension rule in BC Auction's published FAQ or terms, so do not assume the closing time will move; place your real maximum in good time.

Alberta Surplus Sales uses a Max Bid system with $1 increments, and ties go to the earlier bid, which rewards bidding early rather than late. Its published FAQ and terms do not describe an auto-extension either. Buy It Now stores and tenders work differently: store items are sold at a fixed price, and tenders are sealed offers.

Payment

Both give you 3 business days to pay. BC Auction takes Visa, Mastercard and Amex online, and requires a bank draft in Canadian funds for payments over $9,999.99. Alberta takes Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Visa Debit online, and requires a certified cheque or bank draft over $9,999.99; card purchases at its stores and tenders are capped at $2,000.

Pickup and shipping

Both expect removal within 5 business days. BC Auction counts from its ready-for-removal notice; a buyer who fails to remove the item is liable for storage and resale costs. Alberta asks for government ID at pickup.

Both can ship smaller items. BC Auction lists three options (pre-arranged shipping, shipping it arranges, or your own courier) and ships within 48 hours of payment. Alberta offers pre-arranged Canada Post Expedited shipping within 2 business days of payment, or arranged shipping.

For vehicles, you register in your own province. In BC, the buyer brings the signed transfer forms to an Autoplan broker and must register the vehicle within 10 days of purchase, paying fees and taxes and buying insurance there. See the surplus vehicle guide.

Who each one suits

• Alberta residents and anyone who can collect in Edmonton or Calgary: Alberta Surplus Sales, for the lower tax and the walk-in stores.
• BC residents, and buyers after BC municipal, hospital or school surplus: BC Auction.
• Buyers who want a fixed price rather than an auction: Alberta's Buy It Now stores.
• Out-of-province buyers: either, for shippable items; both ship within days of payment.

Other Canadian provincial sources

Quebec sells its surplus through the Centre d'acquisitions gouvernementales (CAG), which holds seven public auctions a year, three in Quebec City and four in Montreal. Federal surplus is sold nationwide by GCSurplus; see GCSurplus vs GovDeals Canada. Every source we index, with live counts, is on the Canadian sources page, and you can browse British Columbia and Alberta directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do BC Auction or Alberta Surplus Sales charge a buyer's premium?

No. Neither charges a buyer's premium or a registration fee. You pay the winning bid plus applicable taxes, plus shipping if you use it.

What taxes do I pay at BC Auction and Alberta Surplus Sales?

BC Auction adds GST and PST as applicable. Alberta Surplus Sales adds GST (or HST as applicable); Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so Alberta lots are usually cheaper after tax.

How long do I have to pay and pick up?

Both give 3 business days to pay and 5 business days to remove the item. BC Auction counts the 5 days from its ready-for-removal notice.

Can I buy Alberta government surplus without bidding?

Yes. Alberta runs Buy It Now stores in Edmonton and Calgary with fixed prices, and also sells by public tender, alongside its online auctions.

Do the BC and Alberta surplus sites ship?

Yes, for items that can be shipped. BC Auction ships within 48 hours of payment by pre-arranged or arranged shipping, or you can send your own courier. Alberta uses Canada Post Expedited within 2 business days of payment, or arranged shipping.

Who can buy at BC Auction?

Anyone 19 or older can register for free. Bids are placed online with proxy bidding, and some lots carry a reserve.