Canadian Auction Glossary

The terms you meet buying government surplus in Canada, in plain English. Federal surplus is sold by GCSurplus with no buyer's premium, provinces such as BC and Alberta run their own sites, and municipalities and police services sell through GovDeals and other platforms, so the tax rules and each site's own vocabulary matter most.

Reviewed September 23, 2026

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

The 5% federal sales tax, charged on its own in provinces and territories without HST (such as Alberta and the territories) and alongside provincial sales tax in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. Surplus sites add it to your winning bid.See: GST/HST and buyer's premium guide

HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)

A single combined federal and provincial sales tax in five provinces: 13% in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia (since April 1, 2025) and 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Which province's rate applies depends on the site: GCSurplus uses the province where you take possession, while GovDeals sellers use the location the goods are sold from.

PST and QST (provincial sales tax)

Separate provincial sales taxes charged on top of GST in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan (PST) and Quebec (QST). BC Auction adds GST and PST as applicable. Alberta has no provincial sales tax, which is why Alberta surplus often costs less after tax.See: BC Auction vs Alberta Surplus Sales

Buyer's premium

A fee on top of the winning bid, paid to the auction platform. Canada's government-run sites mostly do not charge one: GCSurplus, BC Auction and Alberta Surplus Sales all say there is no buyer's premium. On GovDeals Canada each seller sets its own premium, shown on the listing.See: GCSurplus vs GovDeals Canada

GCSurplus

The Government of Canada's surplus sales service, run by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). It sells federal vehicles, boats, equipment, electronics, furniture and forfeited goods from federal and provincial law enforcement, online from nine sales centres, with no buyer's premium. It does not sell real estate, e-waste or controlled goods.See: how GCSurplus works

Surplus Crown assets

Federal government property that a department has declared surplus to its needs. Under the Surplus Crown Assets Act, the minister responsible for PSPC may sell, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of it, which is the legal basis for GCSurplus. 'Crown' simply means the government as owner.

Open bidding (GCSurplus)

GCSurplus's default format: you see the current high bid, can set a maximum bid, and bids rise in published increments. A bid in the last minute extends the close by two minutes, repeating while bids keep coming.

Closed bidding (sealed bid)

A format where each bidder submits one confidential best offer before a fixed closing time and cannot see other bids. On GCSurplus a closed bid can be revised but not cancelled, and nothing below the minimum bid is accepted. GovDeals Canada also runs some sealed-bid sales.

Minimum bid

The lowest bid a listing will accept, shown on the lot. It is visible, unlike a hidden reserve price.

Reserve price

A hidden minimum the seller will accept. On BC Auction, if your proxy bid meets a lot's reserve, the current price jumps straight to the reserve.

Authority to Release

The GCSurplus document that lets you collect a paid item. You bring it with government photo ID to your pickup appointment at the sales centre.

Removal deadline

The date by which you must collect a purchase. GCSurplus prints it on the bill of sale and gives no extensions; missing it cancels the sale. BC Auction and Alberta Surplus Sales allow 5 business days; GovDeals sellers set their own, and some charge storage after it.

Safety Standards Certificate (Ontario)

An Ontario inspection certificate showing a vehicle met minimum safety standards on the day it was inspected. You need one to put plates on a used vehicle transferred to you, and it is issued by a licensed inspection station and valid for 36 days. It is not a warranty. Other provinces have their own inspection rules for used or out-of-province vehicles.See: buying surplus vehicles in Canada

ICBC vehicle transfer (British Columbia)

In BC, the buyer takes the signed registration and transfer forms to an Autoplan broker, where the vehicle is registered and insured and fees and taxes are paid. ICBC says a used vehicle must be registered within 10 days of purchase.

Centre d'acquisitions gouvernementales (CAG)

The Quebec government body that sells provincial surplus by tender and public auction. It holds seven public auctions a year, three in Quebec City and four in Montreal, and its listings are in French.

RCMP and police-recovered property

The RCMP is Canada's federal police force. Goods forfeited to federal and provincial law enforcement can be sold through GCSurplus, while municipal police services sell recovered and unclaimed property through platforms such as GovDeals Canada and Police Auctions Canada. Police Auctions Canada says it charges no buyer's premium.See: seized and police property auctions

Probation (GovDeals)

GovDeals puts new accounts on probation with a spending cap, which lifts after a few completed purchases or a deposit. Plan small first purchases if you are new to the site.

As is, where is

The standard condition of government surplus sales: no warranty, sold in its current condition, collected from where it sits. GCSurplus sells on this basis, as do most surplus sites, so inspect where possible and read the description closely.