GovAuctions

About GovAuctions in the UK

GovAuctions lists 10,936 live lots from 6 UK auction sites in one free search. The UK has no single government auction site: public-sector surplus is sold by independent auction houses, which run it alongside commercial and insolvency stock. We read those houses, put their lots in one feed, and link every lot back to the auctioneer, where you register and bid.

The UK auction houses we read

  • Eddisons (eddisons.com): regular online sales of plant, machinery and business assets, including public-sector and insolvency stock.
  • NCM Auctions (ncmauctions.com): industrial sales of plant, workshop equipment and vehicles, with council and liquidation consignments.
  • BPI Auctions (bpiauctions.com): high-volume sales of plant, vehicles, catering and IT, often including government and council surplus.
  • Apex Auctions (apexauctions.co.uk): manufacturing and workshop machinery such as CNC and fabrication equipment, in timed online sales.
  • Ramco (ramco.co.uk): ex-Ministry of Defence stores plus oil and gas and commercial plant.
  • Wilsons Auctions (wilsonsauctions.com): branches across Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales selling for police forces, councils and health trusts alongside dealer and trade stock. Trade lots are marked as private sellers.

Per-source counts, fees and links are on UK sources.

What is for sale right now

The largest UK categories at the last refresh: tools (1,785), furniture (1,233), electronics (950), sporting (580), equipment (449).

How often it updates

Every source is re-read twice a day. New lots appear after the next refresh and lots that have ended drop off. The current bid on this site can lag the auctioneer's: always check the lot on the auctioneer's own page before you bid. The figures on this page are from the refresh on 21 October 2026.

What we do not cover

  • Most police lost, found and seized property. Forces sell it through the auctioneers on the BlueLight Commercial framework (John Pye, Brightwells and Wilsons) and their own eBay shops.
  • Most council sales. Councils choose their own local auctioneers, so a council lot only appears here if it is consigned to one of the houses above.
  • Land and buildings. We do not list UK property auctions.

What UK buyers should know

  • The hammer price is not the price. Every house above adds a buyer's premium, VAT at 20% is charged on that premium, and lots marked "plus VAT" carry VAT on the hammer price as well.
  • Almost everything is collection-only, from the auctioneer's yard or the seller's site, inside a short collection window. Check it before you bid, not after you win.
  • Prices are in pounds sterling as the auctioneer lists them. We never sell or hold a lot ourselves.

Before you bid: VAT and buyer's premium explained, the true-cost calculator and what UK lots actually sold for.

Who runs GovAuctions

GovAuctions is a U.S. company founded by Ben Wallace, published by GovernmentAuctions LLC, and used by more than 1 million people a year. We are not affiliated with the Ministry of Defence, any police force or council, or any of the auction houses above.

Browsing is free with no account. The site is paid for by advertising, an optional Pro subscription, our Data API and bulk data licensing; we take no commission from any auctioneer and have no say in who wins a lot. For the wider story of the site, see the main About page. Questions go through the contact form.