FlipThe City of Pittsburgh auctions decommissioned fleet vehicles and equipment through GovDeals and its own GovPlanet marketplace. Western Pennsylvania also has two IAA branches and a Copart yard east of the city, and estate liquators handle the region's older housing stock full of tools and antiques.
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 Pittsburgh
Government surplus
- City of Pittsburgh: Fleet Operations: Official page. Retired city vehicles and equipment are auctioned online through GovDeals and GovPlanet.
- City of Pittsburgh auction marketplace (GovPlanet): The city's GovPlanet storefront. Save the search to get email alerts when items are listed.
Related: Government surplus in our directory · How to Buy Government Surplus on GovDeals
Vehicle and salvage auctions
- IAA Pittsburgh branch: Insurance Auto Auctions yard at 57 Woodlawn Rd., Aliquippa. Salvage and repairable vehicles. Public buyers usually bid through a registered broker.
- IAA Pittsburgh North branch: Insurance Auto Auctions yard at 49 Bairdford Rd., Gibsonia. Salvage and repairable vehicles. Public buyers usually bid through a registered broker.
- Copart Pittsburgh (via A Better Bid): Run lists for the Copart yard in east of Pittsburgh. A Better Bid is a Copart broker that lets public buyers bid without a dealer license (broker fees apply).
Related: Vehicle and salvage auctions in our directory · How to Buy Cars at Public and Salvage Auctions
Storage unit auctions
- StorageTreasures: Pittsburgh storage auctions: Online storage unit auctions from self-storage facilities in and around Pittsburgh. 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
- Sydney B. Moore Estate Sales: Pittsburgh estate sale, appraisal and auction company.
- EstateSales.net: Pittsburgh estate sales: Upcoming estate sales in the Pittsburgh 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
Pennsylvania rules worth knowing
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Check with the agency before you rely on it.
- Sales tax and reselling. Pennsylvania's sales tax is 6%, with an extra 1% in Allegheny County and 2% in Philadelphia. If you buy to resell regularly, you generally need to register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Licensed sellers can give qualifying sellers a PA exemption certificate (REV-1220) for items bought for resale. 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 when the vehicle is titled through PennDOT. 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pittsburgh sell old vehicles?
- Online through GovDeals and the city's GovPlanet marketplace.
- Where are the salvage auctions near Pittsburgh?
- IAA has branches in Aliquippa and Gibsonia, and Copart has a Pittsburgh yard.
- What is the sales tax in Pittsburgh?
- 7% in Allegheny County (6% state plus 1% local).