UK Government Auction Guides & Buying Tips
Everything you need to know about buying from UK government & surplus auctions - ex-MoD kit, police and council surplus, VAT and buyer's premium.
Best UK Government and Surplus Auction Categories for Beginners (2026): Where to Start
Which UK surplus auction categories suit a first-time buyer: office furniture, catering equipment, tools, IT, vehicles and plant, ranked by risk, based on what the UK auction houses we read actually list, plus the categories to leave until later.
Best UK Government Auction Aggregators and Search Sites (2026): What Each One Covers
UK surplus is sold by many separate auction houses, so the question is where to search across them. What GovAuctions, BidSpotter, i-bidder and the-saleroom (one owner), and easyLive Auction each cover, what they miss, and when to go straight to the auctioneer.
Best UK Government Auction Sites & Auctioneers (2026): Ranked & Compared
The UK has no single government auction website. We compare the auction houses that handle MoD, police and council surplus (Witham, Ramco, Wilsons Auctions, John Pye, Eddisons and force eBay shops), with buyer's premiums, inventory, what each is best for, and which ones GovAuctions lists.
Buying Ex-Police Cars in the UK (2026): Where They Are Sold and What to Check
UK police forces sell decommissioned cars, vans and bikes through vehicle auction houses on a national framework (John Pye, Brightwells, Wilsons, BCA in Scotland). What an ex-police car's history looks like, the legal rules on lights and livery, and a pre-bid checklist.
Ex-Council Vans, Mowers and Machinery Auctions in the UK (2026): Where They Sell and What to Check
UK councils sell retired vans, ride-on mowers, tippers, gritters and refuse lorries through commercial auction houses, not a council website. Where the lots go, what they fetch on our records, and what to check before you bid.
How to Buy Ex-MoD Land Rovers and Military Vehicles in the UK (2026)
Ex-MoD Land Rover Wolfs, Pinzgauers and trucks are sold through Witham, the MoD's sales agent, with MoD stores through Ramco. What they fetch on our records (Wolf median closing bid £3,000 across 197 lots), what to check, VAT, and how to register one with the DVLA.
UK Government Surplus Auctions Explained (2026): How They Work
How UK government and public-sector surplus auctions work - who sells what, the main auction houses, the VAT and buyer's premium you'll pay, and how to find a bargain across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK Police Auctions (2026): How Police Sell Lost, Seized and Ex-Police Property
How UK police auctions work: the one-year rule under the Police (Property) Regulations 1997, who sells for the forces (Wilsons, John Pye, Brightwells, force eBay shops), what you can buy, and how to find police auctions near you.
V5C, Tax, MOT and SORN After Buying a Vehicle at Auction in the UK (2026)
The DVLA steps after you win a car, van or ex-MoD vehicle at a UK auction: the V5C/2 new keeper slip, when your logbook arrives, why tax does not transfer, driving to an MOT, SORN, a missing V5C (V62) and first registration of ex-military vehicles (V55/5).
VAT & Buyer's Premium at UK Auctions Explained (2026)
The two charges that catch out UK auction buyers: buyer's premium and VAT. How 'plus VAT' lots, the VAT margin scheme, and premium-plus-VAT work - with worked examples so you know your true cost before you bid.
Choosing between auction sites? See the head-to-head comparisons, or look up a term in the auction glossary.