Can the public buy Texas state surplus?

Yes. The Texas Facilities Commission runs a State Surplus Store in Austin and holds online auctions on Public Surplus and GovDeals.

What tax do I pay on an auction car in Texas?

Generally the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax, paid when you title it at the county tax office.

Where are salvage auctions in Texas?

IAA and Copart have multiple yards around Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, plus many smaller cities.

Texas Auctions: Surplus, Cars, Storage & Estate Sales

Texas is the biggest auction market in the South: a state surplus store in Austin, city surplus programs in every major metro, and more IAA and Copart yards than any other state. Distances are long, so pick sources near you and price transport into every bid. Start with the statewide sources below, then open a city page for verified local links.

City guides

Houston
Harris County: 11 verified local sources Dallas
Dallas County and the DFW Metroplex: 10 verified local sources Austin
Travis County: 6 verified local sources

Statewide sources

Government surplus

Texas Facilities Commission: State Surplus Store: Retail surplus store in Austin open to the public, plus online auctions on Public Surplus and GovDeals for vehicles, TxDOT equipment and items outside Austin.
GovDeals: Texas listings: Every Texas agency selling on GovDeals in one search, filterable by city and seller.

Estate sales and local auction houses

AuctionZip: Texas auctions: Statewide calendar of auctioneers' upcoming estate, farm, equipment and consignment sales in Texas.

Smaller cities

San Antonio

San Antonio has its own city surplus portal and an IAA branch, but not enough other verified local sources yet for a standalone page. Local sources:

City of San Antonio: surplus bidding portal: The city's own site for surplus and salvage items. Items are sold as is, with bids due by 9 p.m. on the listed date.
IAA San Antonio South branch: Insurance Auto Auctions yard at 11275 S. Zarzamora St., San Antonio. Salvage and repairable vehicles. Public buyers usually bid through a registered broker.
StorageTreasures: San Antonio storage auctions: Online storage unit auctions from self-storage facilities in and around San Antonio. Save a search to get alerts on new units.
EstateSales.net: San Antonio estate sales: Upcoming estate sales in the San Antonio area, with photos, addresses and the company running each sale.

Texas rules worth knowing

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

Sales tax and reselling. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, and local taxes can add up to 2% more. If you buy to resell regularly, you generally need to register with the Texas Department of Revenue. Permit holders can give qualifying sellers a Texas resale certificate (Form 01-339). 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). Texas charges a 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax, generally paid when you title the vehicle at your county tax assessor-collector's office. 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.

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Frequently asked questions

Can the public buy Texas state surplus?: Yes. The Texas Facilities Commission runs a State Surplus Store in Austin and holds online auctions on Public Surplus and GovDeals.
What tax do I pay on an auction car in Texas?: Generally the 6.25% motor vehicle sales tax, paid when you title it at the county tax office.
Where are salvage auctions in Texas?: IAA and Copart have multiple yards around Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, plus many smaller cities.

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