GovPlanet FAQ (2026): Buying Heavy Equipment & Military Surplus

GovPlanet (govplanet.com) is the heavy-equipment-focused government surplus auction platform. It operates under the Ritchie Bros brand, part of RB Global - the world's largest industrial auctioneer - and specializes in military vehicles, construction equipment, and trucks. The IronClad Assurance condition program - third-party inspections with detailed reports - sets it apart from other government auction platforms. Here are the questions buyers ask most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GovPlanet?

GovPlanet is an online auction platform for government surplus heavy equipment, military vehicles, and trucks, operated by Ritchie Bros (whose parent company rebranded from Ritchie Bros Auctioneers to RB Global in 2023, after acquiring IAA/Insurance Auto Auctions). Inventory comes primarily from the U.S. Department of Defense (through Defense Logistics Agency contracts) and other federal sources. It's the dominant platform for civilian-accessible military surplus vehicles like Humvees, LMTVs, MTVRs, and 5-ton trucks.

Is GovPlanet legit?

Yes. GovPlanet is run by Ritchie Bros, part of RB Global (NYSE: RBA), one of the largest equipment auction companies in the world, and much of its inventory comes from the U.S. Department of Defense under Defense Logistics Agency contracts. Lots listed with IronClad Assurance come with an inspection report and a refund or repair remedy if the item materially differs from it. Lots without IronClad Assurance are sold as-is, so check for it before you bid, and budget for the buyer's premium and transport.

What does GovPlanet sell?

Demilitarized military vehicles (Humvees, LMTVs, MTVRs, 5-ton and 2.5-ton trucks, deuce-and-a-halfs), military trailers (M105, M1102), generators, construction equipment (loaders, dozers, excavators), trucks (semis, dump trucks, vacuum trucks), industrial equipment, and miscellaneous specialty items like aircraft tugs and fuel tanks.

Are GovPlanet vehicles street-legal?

Some are; many are not without modification. Demilitarized military vehicles are typically sold as off-road or "off-highway" vehicles and require state-specific titling and modifications (lights, signals, mirrors, brake systems) to be street-legal. Each state has different rules, and those rules change - so verify with your own state DMV rather than relying on a list. As a general pattern: emissions-strict states like California are the hardest, some states (Montana is a widely used registration destination because it has no sales tax, no emissions testing, and no safety inspection) are the easiest, and several states have recently passed laws specifically to allow titling of military surplus vehicles (Oklahoma's HB 3179 and Virginia's HB 1323 are examples). Always research your state's current requirements before bidding on a vehicle you intend to drive on public roads.

What is IronClad Assurance?

IronClad Assurance is GovPlanet's third-party inspection program. Items with IronClad Assurance have been inspected by Ritchie Bros technicians and come with detailed condition reports including engine status, transmission status, hydraulics, electrical, body condition, and known defects. It's essentially a "what you see is what you get" guarantee: if a received item materially differs from its inspection report, GovPlanet will refund the purchase price (and, in some cases, transport) or cover the repair - making it the strongest buyer protection in the government auction space.

How do I file an IronClad Assurance claim?

If an IronClad-rated item arrives materially different from its inspection report, the key is to move fast. Report the discrepancy as soon as you receive and inspect the item - the program expects prompt notice (within roughly a business day of noticing the issue), and a formal claim must be filed within a defined window of days after the sale, spelled out on GovPlanet's IronClad Assurance terms page. Document everything immediately: photos, video, hour-meter readings, and a mechanic's assessment if applicable. The claim is only as strong as your evidence that the delivered condition doesn't match what the report described. Miss the window and you lose the protection, so don't sit on a suspected discrepancy.

What is the GovPlanet buyer's premium?

GovPlanet's own pages disagree on this as of October 2026, which is reason enough to check each lot. Its "Questions" help page describes a tiered buyer's fee: 15% on items selling for $10,000 or less, and 10% with a $1,500 minimum above $10,000. Its buyer FAQ says winners pay "a 15% buyers fee for all sales." On a $20,000 winning bid that's the difference between $2,000 and $3,000. Budget at 15% until the listing's payment tab shows you otherwise. On top of the fee, paying by credit card on select items adds a 2.95% iClosing charge, and you also pay any state sales tax plus a bill-of-sale, SF-97 or Montana title fee.

How do I register for GovPlanet?

Registration is free at govplanet.com. Provide your name, address, phone, email, and a valid payment method. Some categories - particularly demilitarized military vehicles - require additional buyer eligibility verification, including agreement to demilitarization conditions.

What surprises most first-timers is how much bidding power comes with a basic account. GovPlanet places a $1 temporary hold on your card to verify it (released within 3-5 business days). Its current buyer FAQ gives newly verified U.S. and Canadian customers a bidding limit of $75,000, and government surplus buyers with a card on file $150,000 of purchase power, with no deposit required. Going above that means submitting bank information. Buyers registering from outside the U.S. and Canada are treated differently: they must file an International Bidders Qualification form and post a $2,000 USD deposit before they can bid at all.

How big is GovPlanet's bidder pool?

Large enough that "less competition than GSA" is not a reason to bid here. GovPlanet has described its marketplace as having over 2.4 million registered buyers worldwide (we could not find a current, dated figure from RB Global). That scale is the trade-off with the platform's condition reporting: you are bidding against a worldwide pool of equipment dealers and exporters, not the thin local field you'd find on a county's Public Surplus listing. Expect competitive pricing on anything photogenic, and hunt instead where the pool thins out (awkward locations, unglamorous categories, bad photos).

What payment methods does GovPlanet accept?

Wire transfer, certified check, cashier's check, and (for smaller amounts) credit card through iClosing, which adds a 2.95% convenience fee. Most heavy-equipment purchases require wire transfer. GovPlanet uses Ritchie Bros financial infrastructure, so the payment process is more polished than smaller platforms.

The deadline is tighter than most government platforms: every item won must be paid in full within three business days, or five business days for tactical vehicles such as Humvees. Late-payment fees begin accruing once payment hasn't landed within five business days of the auction close, so the three-day rule is the deadline and the five-day mark is when it starts costing you daily. Budget for the wire to clear inside that window, not just to be initiated.

What happens if I don't pay on time?

GovPlanet's penalty schedule has real teeth, and it scales with the sale price rather than being a flat slap. Both a one-time default fee and a per-business-day late fee are tiered:

The late fee accrues per item, per business day. On a $30,000 win that means $100 a day while you sort out financing, and walking away entirely costs $4,000 before anyone talks about your account status. This is the single best argument for having funds confirmed before you bid rather than after you win.

Does GovPlanet offer financing?

Yes. Through Ritchie Bros Financial Services (RBFS), GovPlanet buyers can apply for equipment financing. Approval is based on credit and the equipment value. RBFS specializes in industrial equipment financing and can typically close faster than a traditional bank for established commercial buyers. Personal buyers can also apply but should expect more documentation requirements.

How does pickup work on GovPlanet?

Items are picked up from the original government location - typically a military base, demilitarization facility, or government storage yard. For military bases, you'll need to coordinate access (TWIC card, escort, or sponsor depending on the facility). GovPlanet can also arrange transport through its Ritchie Bros logistics network for an additional fee.

The removal window is short: unless the listing says otherwise, you have eight business days from the auction to collect the item before storage fees start accruing. For items that need export or demilitarization clearance, that eight-day clock starts when you receive the Item Release rather than at the close, which is the one case where waiting is not penalized. Anything still sitting after 60 days is treated as abandoned. Eight business days is not much time to book a lowboy for a tracked machine on a base with escort requirements, so line up transport before the auction ends, not after.

Can GovPlanet ship items?

For an additional fee, yes. Ritchie Bros Logistics offers transport quotes through the GovPlanet platform. For long-haul moves you may also use third-party services like uShip, Roadrunner, or Montway. Vehicles can be moved on flatbed trucks or driven (if street-legal). Heavy equipment requires specialized lowboy trailers.

Are GovPlanet items in good condition?

Condition varies - military vehicles often have been sitting outdoors for years before sale and may have weather damage, dry-rotted tires, or fluids that need replacement. The IronClad Assurance program offers the best protection: items with detailed inspection reports are worth a premium because the condition is documented. Items without IronClad Assurance should be treated with extra caution.

Can I inspect items before bidding?

Yes - most items have scheduled inspection days listed on the auction page. For military bases, you'll need to coordinate access in advance. Inspecting heavy equipment in person is strongly recommended; photos rarely capture rust, leaks, or hour-meter discrepancies. If you can't inspect, look for IronClad Assurance items or bid conservatively.

What happens if I win but the item is misrepresented?

This is where IronClad Assurance matters. If an IronClad-rated item is materially different from the inspection report, GovPlanet will work with you on remediation - repair credits or, in extreme cases, return. For non-IronClad items, the default is as-is, no return - but Ritchie Bros' larger size means resolution is sometimes possible for clear misrepresentations. Document everything (photos, video, mechanic reports) immediately after pickup.

Can civilians buy military Humvees on GovPlanet?

Yes - Humvees (HMMWVs) sold on GovPlanet are demilitarized and sold to civilian buyers, though nearly all of them carry a DEMIL Q code and need EUC clearance before release (see the EUC question above). They're typically titled as "off-highway" or "off-road" vehicles and require state-specific modifications to be street-legal. How hard that is depends entirely on where you register: some states make it straightforward, and a handful (Oklahoma and Virginia among them) have passed legislation in recent years to explicitly allow military surplus vehicles to be titled and registered. Emissions-strict states like California are the toughest. Because these rules shift and vary widely, confirm your own state's current DMV requirements before bidding - don't assume a Humvee that's road-legal in one state can be registered in yours.

What is an EUC, and will my purchase need one?

This is the step that catches new military-surplus buyers, because it sits between winning and owning. Items carrying demilitarization codes F and Q require Trade Security Clearance approval before GovPlanet will release them, which involves an End Use Certificate (EUC) confirming what you intend to do with the item. It is not a formality you can skip or hurry.

It matters most for the platform's signature item: every HMMWV on GovPlanet, except private-seller consignments, is issued a DEMIL Q code and therefore needs EUC approval before release. So the sequence for a Humvee is win, pay within five business days (the tactical-vehicle deadline), then wait for clearance, then collect within eight business days of the Item Release. Plan for a gap between paying and possessing, and don't book transport off the auction end date.

What does a GovPlanet win cost all in?

Add four things to the hammer price before you bid: the buyer's fee (budget 15%, see above), the 2.95% iClosing charge if you pay a select item by card, your state's sales tax and the title or bill-of-sale fee, and transport. Worked example on a $12,000 military truck: $1,800 at 15% (or $1,500 on the tiered schedule), $407 if you pay by card, then tax and shipping. You're at roughly $14,200 before tax and before the truck moves. That's why a wire is the usual way to pay, and why the transport quote belongs in your maximum bid, not after it.

Has GovPlanet changed its terms in 2026?

We found no dated announcement of a fee change this year. But the terms in GovPlanet's current buyer FAQ (read October 2026) differ in detail from what many guides repeat: tactical vehicles get five business days to pay rather than three, newly verified buyers get a $75,000 limit while the $150,000 level applies to surplus buyers with a card on file, and the fee is stated as a flat 15%, which the older help page doesn't match. If you last bought on GovPlanet a year or two ago, re-read the terms on the listing rather than going from memory.

How does GovPlanet compare to GSA Auctions for heavy equipment?

GovPlanet is more specialized and has better condition reporting (IronClad Assurance), but charges a 10–15% buyer's fee versus GSA's zero. GSA's heavy-equipment selection is smaller but cheaper net of fees. For high-value purchases ($30,000+) where condition certainty matters, GovPlanet's IronClad Assurance can be worth the premium. For pure price, check GSA first.

How do I find good deals on GovPlanet?

Look for items at less-popular pickup locations (Alaska, Hawaii, Guam - fewer bidders willing to coordinate transport), items ending overnight in the Pacific time zone, equipment with higher hours but well-documented maintenance, and bundled lots where the photographed star item undervalues the bundle. Set up alerts on GovAuctions to catch new listings matching your criteria across multiple platforms.