FlipThe City of San Diego sells surplus on Public Surplus, and IAA's San Diego branch sits near the border in Otay Mesa. North County estate companies run online estate auctions from Oceanside to Rancho Santa Fe, and the Navy presence means frequent moving sales.
Every link below was checked in October 2026. FlipTheBid is not affiliated with these agencies or companies. Listings change, so confirm terms on each site.
Where to buy at auction in San Diego
Government surplus
- Public Surplus: City of San Diego: The City of San Diego's Public Surplus storefront.
Related: Government surplus in our directory · How to Buy Government Surplus on GovDeals
Vehicle and salvage auctions
- IAA San Diego branch: Insurance Auto Auctions yard at 2380 Britannia Blvd., San Diego. Salvage and repairable vehicles. Public buyers usually bid through a registered broker.
Related: Vehicle and salvage auctions in our directory · How to Buy Cars at Public and Salvage Auctions
Storage unit auctions
- StorageTreasures: San Diego storage auctions: Online storage unit auctions from self-storage facilities in and around San Diego. Save a search to get alerts on new units.
Related: Storage unit auctions in our directory · How Storage Unit Auctions Work
Estate sales and local auction houses
- San Diego Estate Sales & Auction Company: San Diego estate sale company with on-site and online estate auctions.
- Savacool and Sons: Online estate sale and auction company serving Carlsbad, Oceanside and North County.
- EstateSales.net: San Diego estate sales: Upcoming estate sales in the San Diego area, with photos, addresses and the company running each sale.
Related: Estate sales and local auction houses in our directory · How to Price and Resell on eBay
California rules worth knowing
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Check with the agency before you rely on it.
- Sales tax and reselling. California's statewide base sales tax rate is 7.25%, and district taxes push most areas higher. If you buy to resell regularly, you generally need to register with the California Department of Revenue. With a seller's permit from CDTFA, you can give qualifying sellers a California resale certificate. Government auctions may still charge tax unless you provide the paperwork they ask for.
- Vehicles: titles and taxes. Make sure you get a properly assigned title (or the documents the auction specifies). If you buy a vehicle from a private party or non-dealer, use tax is generally paid to the DMV when you register it. Smog certification rules also apply to many vehicles. Title and register through the state motor vehicle agency. Salvage-branded vehicles need extra steps before they can be driven on the road again.
- Storage auctions. Facilities must follow the state's notice and advertising rules before a lien sale, and tenants can often pay and pull a unit right up to the sale.
- Buying across state lines. The selling state's tax and pickup rules usually apply at the time of sale.
More statewide sources are on our California auctions page.
Haul it, store it, ship it
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- Pirate Ship: Free shipping-label software with discounted USPS and UPS rates. No subscription.
- uShip: Marketplace for shipping furniture, equipment and vehicles.
- Montway Auto Transport: Door-to-door car shipping quotes.
- Neighbor: Rent garages and spare space from locals, often cheaper than a storage unit. You can also list your own space.
- SpareFoot: Compare and reserve self-storage units near you.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does the City of San Diego sell surplus?
- On Public Surplus.
- Is there a salvage auction in San Diego?
- Yes. IAA's San Diego branch is on Britannia Blvd. in Otay Mesa.
- Are online estate auctions common in San Diego?
- Yes. Several local companies run online estate auctions with scheduled pickup.