Can the public buy NYC fleet vehicles?

Yes. DCAS sells retired city vehicles in public online auctions. Registration is free.

Is sales tax charged on NYC auction purchases?

Generally yes, at 8.875%, unless you have a valid resale certificate for inventory.

New York City, NY Auctions: Surplus, Car, Storage & Estate Sales

New York City's Department of Citywide Administrative Services sells retired fleet vehicles and other city surplus online. For salvage vehicles, IAA's Long Island branch is in Medford and Copart has a Long Island yard. NYC is also home to major auction houses like Doyle for estates and collections.

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 New York City

Government surplus

NYC DCAS: surplus sales: Official page for city surplus sales online. Registration is free; city employees cannot bid.

Vehicle and salvage auctions

NYC DCAS: fleet vehicle auctions: Official page for New York City's public online auctions of retired fleet vehicles.
IAA Long Island branch: Insurance Auto Auctions yard at 66 Peconic Ave., Medford. Salvage and repairable vehicles. Public buyers usually bid through a registered broker.
Copart Long Island (via A Better Bid): Run lists for the Copart yard in Brookhaven, Long Island. A Better Bid is a Copart broker that lets public buyers bid without a dealer license (broker fees apply).

Storage unit auctions

StorageTreasures: New York storage auctions: Online storage unit auctions from self-storage facilities in and around New York. Save a search to get alerts on new units.

Estate sales and local auction houses

Doyle: trusts and estates: Manhattan auction house with estate services.
EstateSales.net: New York estate sales: Upcoming estate sales in the New York area, with photos, addresses and the company running each sale.

New York rules worth knowing

General information only, not legal or tax advice. Check with the agency before you rely on it.

Sales tax and reselling. New York's state sales tax is 4%, plus local taxes (8.875% combined in New York City). If you buy to resell regularly, you generally need to register with the New York Department of Revenue. With a Certificate of Authority, you can give qualifying sellers a resale certificate (Form ST-120). 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). Sales tax on vehicles is generally paid to the DMV when you register the vehicle. 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 New York auctions page.

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Frequently asked questions

Can the public buy NYC fleet vehicles?: Yes. DCAS sells retired city vehicles in public online auctions. Registration is free.
Where are salvage auctions near NYC?: IAA's Long Island branch is in Medford and Copart has a Long Island yard in Brookhaven.
Is sales tax charged on NYC auction purchases?: Generally yes, at 8.875%, unless you have a valid resale certificate for inventory.

Other New York cities

Buffalo

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