Iowa Government & State Surplus Auctions (2026)
844 active government auctions in Iowa right now, listed by 136 named IA sellers across 11 official platforms. Most of it sits in Ames and Des Moines (42 IA cities have lots open). The heaviest category is vehicles, at 219 lots.
Government surplus in Iowa carries a median winning bid of $112 (typical range $38–$625), from 4,599 completed sales, per the GovAuctions.app Surplus Price Index.
Search all 844 Iowa auctions
Filter by price, distance, and when the auction ends
2017 Ford F-150
Ames, IA · 20 bids
V6
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Crew Cab Pickup Truck
Johnston, IA · 18 bids
322,884 mi4x4Diesel
Vermeer BC906 Wood Chipper
Clear Lake, IA · 18 bids
2012 Caterpillar 420F Backhoe
Pleasant Hill, IA · 18 bids
2,882 hrsDiesel4x4
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
West Des Moines, IA · 17 bids
V8
2019 RAM 1500 Classic
Ames, IA · 17 bids
V6
2016 RAM 1500
Johnston, IA · 15 bids
V6
2020 RAM 1500 Classic
Ames, IA · 15 bids
V6
2017 Ford F350 Super Duty Flatbed Pickup Truck
Grimes, IA · 15 bids
169,891 mi
2007 Kobelco SK35SR-3 Mini Excavator
Grundy Center, IA · 15 bids
4,726 hrsDiesel
2014 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor SUV
Burlington, IA · 13 bids
133,661 miAWD
2011 Ford F350 Super Duty Pickup Truck
Leon, IA · 13 bids
123,920 mi4x4
Who's Selling in Iowa Right Now
The 844 active Iowa lots come from 136 named sellers - counties, cities, school districts, universities, state agencies and federal sellers. The busiest right now:
- Iowa Department of Transportation, IA - 130 active listings
- University of Iowa Surplus - 62 active listings
- Steel Mart - 52 active listings
- Cedar Rapids Community School District, IA - 45 active listings
- Department of Medicine and Surgery — Department of Medicine and Surgery - 30 active listings
- ALLIANT ENERGY (INTERSTATE POWER & LIGHT) - 30 active listings
- Pocahontas County, IA - 25 active listings
- Ankeny Community School District, IA - 22 active listings
Seller names come from the source platform and change as lots sell, so this list moves week to week.
What Government Surplus Sold For in Iowa
Median winning bids from 4,243 completed government auction sales in Iowa, by category.
| Category | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics | $101 | 1,608 |
| Office furniture | $27 | 854 |
| Vehicles | $4,190 | 849 |
| Medical & lab equipment | $82 | 386 |
| Tools & industrial | $116 | 330 |
| Heavy equipment | $2,209 | 216 |
Based on recent completed government auction sales in Iowa. Click any category for its full price history and recent sold examples.
Source: the GovAuctions Surplus Price Index. Free to cite with attribution.
Iowa Sold Prices by Item
The most-sold items at Iowa government auctions, with the median winning bid for each.
| Item | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer | $1,600 | 78 |
| Desk | $10 | 66 |
| Projector | $32 | 45 |
| Ford Explorer | $4,876 | 44 |
| Monitor | $25 | 44 |
| File cabinet | $10 | 43 |
| iPad | $60 | 41 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $9,338 | 40 |
| John Deere | $5,101 | 40 |
| Freightliner | $5,325 | 37 |
Based on recent completed government auction sales in Iowa. Click any item for its full price history and recent sold examples.
Source: the GovAuctions Surplus Price Index. Free to cite with attribution.
Whether you're searching for Iowa gov auctions, State of Iowa surplus, Iowa state auctions, or government auto auctions in Iowa, this page pulls listings from federal GSA, HUD foreclosures, GovDeals, Public Surplus, and IA state and local agencies into one feed. Every lot is sold directly by the government agency that owns it - you bid on the original platform. Searching outside Iowa? Browse government auctions nationwide.Last updated: 2026-10-19
Iowa Auctions by Category
Or see these categories nationwide: Vehicles, Real Estate, Electronics, Military, Tools, Equipment, Jewelry, Furniture.
Auctions Near You in Iowa
Most surplus is collected in person, so distance usually decides which lots are worth bidding on - an Ames lot and a Reinbeck lot are the same search but not the same drive. This page sorts by how far the pickup location is from you:
Top Cities for Iowa Auctions
Auctions by County in Iowa
Surplus is pickup-only, so the county a lot sits in usually decides whether it is worth bidding on. Each page below shows what that county's agencies have live now and what their past lots actually sold for.
Where Iowa Auctions Come From
Government surplus in Iowa is sold across several official platforms. Here's the current breakdown of active listings:
- GovDeals in Iowa - 466 active listings
- Purple Wave in Iowa - 215 active listings
- J.J. Kane Auctioneers in Iowa - 46 active listings
- Public Surplus in Iowa - 34 active listings
- GSA Auctions in Iowa - 30 active listings
- Fannie Mae HomePath - 19 active listings in Iowa
- CivilView - 18 active listings in Iowa
- HUD HomeStore - 5 active listings in Iowa
- GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales - 4 active listings in Iowa
- GovPlanet - 4 active listings in Iowa
- Freddie Mac HomeSteps - 3 active listings in Iowa
Government Auction Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I find government surplus auctions in Iowa?
- Government surplus auctions in Iowa are listed on GSA Auctions (federal surplus), HUD HomeStore (foreclosed properties), GovDeals, Public Surplus, and the State of Iowa's own surplus platform. Right now the 844 open Iowa lots come from GovDeals (466), Purple Wave (215), J.J. Kane Auctioneers (46), Public Surplus (34), and 7 other official platforms. GovAuctions aggregates them into one free, searchable feed, and you bid on the original platform.
- What can I buy at government auctions in Iowa?
- Government auctions in Iowa offer vehicles, heavy equipment, electronics, office furniture, tools, real estate, and seized property from federal, state, and local agencies in IA. The open Iowa lots break down as vehicles (219), equipment (121), furniture (104), electronics (97), tools (97). Items are sold directly by government agencies with no middleman fees.
- Which cities in Iowa have the most government auctions?
- Surplus is collected in person, so the pickup city usually decides whether a lot is worth bidding on. The busiest Iowa pickup locations right now are Ames (141), Des Moines (113), Iowa City (70), Dubuque (58), Cedar Rapids (51), with lots open in 37 more IA cities. Counts move as lots sell and agencies post new rounds.
- Are government auctions in Iowa legit?
- Yes - every listing on this page links directly to an official government auction platform (GSA, HUD, GovDeals, Public Surplus). There are no bid packs, credits, or "pay to access" schemes. GovAuctions is a free search layer on top of these official platforms; you bid on the original site.
- Are government auctions in Iowa open to the public?
- Yes. Government surplus auctions in Iowa are open to the public. Anyone can register and bid on items through official platforms like GSA Auctions. No special license is required.