Police vehicle auctions are available at the city, county and state levels

Police vehicle auctions are run mostly by the local police authority. The vehicles can be impounded cars, abandoned cars, seized cars and even donated cars.

Impounded Cars

If a car is impounded at the time of an arrest (the police have it taken to a car storage facility) the car begins accruing storage charges. If a car is left there too long, the fees can become very expensive and in some cases the owner just can't afford to get the car out.

If the car isn't paid for by the owner, it is put up for public auction as a means to recover the towing and storage costs.

The owner isn't allowed to repurchase their vehicle so what happens is that the car usually auctions off for less than the storage and towing charges that are still owed. At this time the car is sold and the remaining balance instantly comes due from the previous owner.

If the owner can't pay, a collection proceeding is immediately started against them for the balance owed to the towing company and any additional collection fees.

If they can't pay it, the police issue a citation with a stiff fine and eventual license suspension.

Abandoned Cars

If a car is abandoned and the registered owner can't be reached in a reasonable time, the car is sold at a police vehicle auction.

Seized Cars

Cars that are seized during a drug bust are routinely awarded to the police narcotics division. They can then auction the car off.

Donated Cars

There are times when undercover police cars are donated to the police by local car dealerships. After completing the undercover work, these cars are auctioned off to the public at a police vehicle auction.

And, of course, there are other places to look for car auction deals other than with police vehicle auctions.