Is GovDeals Legit? GovDeals, GSA Auctions, GovPlanet, Public Surplus and PropertyRoom Checked (2026)

By Ben|Updated October 14, 2026

Who owns each major government auction site, where the items come from, and the real complaints buyers have. Plus how to tell the real sites from copycats and fake 'government auction' pages.

Live auctions across these sites

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JOHN DEERE FRONT END LOADER SKID STEER

$4,3508h 59m

Baton Rouge, LA · 48 bids

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

$1,52513h 59m

Chantilly, VA · 46 bids

Provident Metals Fine Gold 1 Troy Oz Bar

$3,2153d 17h

· 583 bids

The main government auction sites are legitimate. Each one sells for real public agencies, and you can check who runs it. The complaints you will read about them are about as-is sales, fees and pickup, not about fraud. The real risk is copycat sites and fake listings that borrow their names.

The Short Answer for Each Site

Site	Who runs it	Who sells on it	Buyer's premium
GovDeals (govdeals.com)	Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT)	Cities, counties, school districts, transit and police	7.5-12.5%, tiered
GSA Auctions (gsaauctions.gov)	U.S. General Services Administration	Federal agencies	None
GovPlanet (govplanet.com)	Ritchie Bros, part of RB Global (NYSE: RBA)	U.S. Department of Defense and other federal sources	About 10-15%, tiered
Public Surplus (publicsurplus.com)	The Public Group, LLC, a private company in Utah	2,350+ state and local agencies	Set by each seller, often about 10%
PropertyRoom (propertyroom.com)	PropertyRoom.com, founded in 1999 by former police officers	4,400+ police departments and municipalities	None on most items, 10-15% on vehicles and other capital assets

Is GovDeals Legit?

Yes. GovDeals is owned by Liquidity Services, a NASDAQ-listed company, and most sellers are public agencies. Some lots now come from private auction houses that Liquidity Services owns, so check the seller name on each listing.

The common complaints: every lot is sold as-is, GovDeals treats the sale as between you and the selling agency, new accounts start on probation, and support is slow. Our GovDeals FAQ covers the probation rules, buyer's premium and shipping.

Is GSA Auctions Legit?

Yes. GSA Auctions is the federal government's own auction site, run by the General Services Administration on a .gov domain. Every listing comes from a federal agency, and there is no buyer's premium. Items are sold as-is and pickup windows are short. See the GSA Auctions FAQ.

Is GovPlanet Legit?

Yes. GovPlanet is run by Ritchie Bros (RB Global, NYSE: RBA), and much of its inventory comes from the Department of Defense. Lots marked IronClad Assurance come with an inspection report and a refund or repair remedy if the item differs materially from the report. Lots without it are sold as-is. Military items may need an End Use Certificate before release, which can take weeks. See the GovPlanet FAQ.

Is Public Surplus Legit?

Yes. Public Surplus has run since 1999 and is operated by The Public Group, LLC. The sellers are public agencies, and it is not affiliated with GovDeals. Each agency sets its own premium, payment and pickup terms, so read the listing terms before you bid. See the Public Surplus FAQ.

Is PropertyRoom Legit?

Yes. PropertyRoom contracts with police departments and sheriff's offices to sell seized, forfeited and unclaimed property. Watch for "Bid to be Approved" lots: the seller can accept your bid below the reserve up to one business day after the auction closes, and you are then committed. See the PropertyRoom FAQ.

How to Spot a Fake Government Auction Site

Check the domain. The federal site ends in .gov (gsaauctions.gov). GovDeals is govdeals.com. A look-alike domain, or a link from an ad or text message, is a warning sign.
No fee to see listings. Every real government auction site is free to browse and free to register. A site that charges for "access" to government auctions or a list of seized cars is selling public information, or worse.
Payment goes through the platform or the agency. Nobody legitimate asks you to pay by gift card, crypto or a wire to a personal account, or to pay a "shipping agent" to release a car.
Prices that are too good. Retired police cars usually sell for $1,500 to $5,000 (real prices by model). A $500 late-model SUV is bait.

Our guide to government auction scams covers the common patterns in more detail.

Is GovAuctions.app Legit?

GovAuctions.app is a free search site that lists auctions from these platforms in one place and links to the original listing. You bid and pay on the original site, not here. It is not GovAuctions.com, a separate company with its own app. More on who runs GovAuctions.app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GovDeals a government website?

No. GovDeals is a private marketplace owned by Liquidity Services. The sellers are government agencies, which is why it uses "Gov" in its name. The federal government's own auction site is GSA Auctions at gsaauctions.gov.

Is GovDeals open to the public?

Yes. Anyone can register on GovDeals and bid. You do not need a dealer license or a business.

Is GSA Auctions a scam?

No. GSA Auctions is operated by the U.S. General Services Administration on a .gov domain and sells surplus and forfeited property from federal agencies.

Can you get scammed on GovDeals?

The sales on govdeals.com are real, but items are sold as-is with no returns, so you can overpay for a lot that is worse than its photos. Scams come from outside the site: fake look-alike sites, emails or texts with fake invoices, and private sellers who claim to be selling a GovDeals car. Pay only through the method shown on the official listing.

Which government auction site is the safest?

GSA Auctions and GovPlanet's IronClad Assurance lots carry the least risk. GSA is run by the federal government and charges no premium, and IronClad lots come with an inspection report and a remedy if the item does not match it.