Purple Wave Auctions: Live Listings Nationwide (2026)

3582 active Purple Wave listings across the U.S. right now.

Purple Wave is a no-reserve online auction marketplace strong in the Midwest and Plains, and a major outlet for government surplus from cities, counties, state DOTs, school districts, and municipal road/fire departments. We list only its government-consigned lots - fleet pickups and vehicles, construction and ag equipment, trailers, and shop tools - filtered out of its broader mix of private contractor and farm consignments. Each lot is a timed auction with pickup at the selling agency. Every listing links back to bid on purplewave.com - GovAuctions doesn't sit between you and the seller.Last updated: 2026-08-31

Search all 3,582 Purple Wave listings

What Purple Wave Categories Sell For at Auction

Median winning bids from 64,744 completed government auction sales in the last year, for the categories Purple Wave carries.

CategoryMedianSales
Vehicles$2,50046,151
Equipment$1,7597,076
Tools$11011,517

Market-wide sold prices across every government auction platform we track, not Purple Wave alone - use them as a valuation benchmark before you bid. The typical range is the middle 50% of sales (25th to 75th percentile).

Source: the GovAuctions Surplus Price Index, built from completed sales on official U.S. government auction platforms. Free to cite with attribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Purple Wave auctions are live right now?
There are 3582 active Purple Wave listings across the U.S. right now, spread across 33 states. The count refreshes with new listings every 30 minutes from purplewave.com.
Is Purple Wave legit?
Yes. Purple Wave (purplewave.com) is the official platform for government fleet, equipment, and vehicle surplus. Purple Wave is a no-reserve online auction marketplace strong in the Midwest and Plains, and a major outlet for government surplus from cities, counties, state DOTs, school districts, and municipal road/fire departments. We list only its government-consigned lots - fleet pickups and vehicles, construction and ag equipment, trailers, and shop tools - filtered out of its broader mix of private contractor and farm consignments. Each lot is a timed auction with pickup at the selling agency. GovAuctions indexes Purple Wave listings into one searchable feed - bidding happens on purplewave.com.
Does Purple Wave charge a buyer's premium?
Capped internet buyer's fee (set per lot). Always confirm the exact premium on the listing itself, since some sellers set their own.
How do I buy from Purple Wave?
Find a listing here or on purplewave.com, register a bidder account on purplewave.com, and place your bid there - GovAuctions never sits between you and the seller. Most items require in-person pickup at the seller's location within 5-10 business days, though a meaningful minority of sellers ship. Check the listing for shipping options, and factor in travel or freight before you bid.