Canadian Government Auction Guides & Buying Tips
Everything you need to know about buying from Canadian government surplus auctions — how GCSurplus works, buying surplus vehicles, GST/HST and the best auction sites.
Best Canadian Government Auction Sites (2026): Ranked & Compared
Canada's government surplus is split across federal, provincial, municipal and police channels. We rank and compare the best places to buy — GCSurplus, provincial programmes, municipal sales on GovDeals.ca and Public Surplus, and RCMP/police seized-property auctions.
Canadian Government Surplus Auctions Explained (2026): How They Work
How Canadian government surplus auctions work — GCSurplus (run by Public Services and Procurement Canada), what's sold, provincial and municipal sales, RCMP and police seized property, the nine sale centres, GST/HST and 'as is, where is' collection.
GST/HST & Buyer's Premium at Canadian Auctions Explained (2026)
The real cost of a Canadian government surplus purchase: how GCSurplus adds GST or HST based on your pickup province (5% / 13% / 15%), why it generally charges no buyer's premium unlike commercial auctioneers, and a worked example of total cost.
How GCSurplus Works (2026): A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide
A plain-English, step-by-step guide to buying on GCSurplus, Canada's federal government surplus auction site — registering, browsing by category and region, open bidding, winning, paying, GST/HST, and pickup from the sale centre.
How to Buy Government Surplus Vehicles in Canada (2026)
A practical guide to buying ex-government cars, light trucks, vans and fleet vehicles in Canada through GCSurplus — inspecting, 'as is, where is' with no warranty, provincial registration and safety-inspection differences, transfer, and budgeting for GST/HST.