Locations of California Car Auctions – Used Cars Sold to the Public
California auto auctions can be a solid option if you’re looking for a good deal on a used car or truck. You’ll find a mix of vehicles from all over the state – everything from dealer trade-ins and bank repossessions to the occasional government fleet vehicle.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying every car there is a steal. You’ll want to do your homework before bidding on anything. I always recommend checking the vehicle’s history online and getting a pre-purchase inspection if possible.
And hey, a lot of these auctions are open to the public, but it’s still a good idea to check their hours and make sure they allow public buyers. Some auctions cater exclusively to licensed dealers like myself.
Auction Information & Locations of Wholesale Auto Auctions in Cali
Orland Public Auto Auction
3825 County Road 99W, Orland, CA
(530) 865-3900 · orlandpublicautoauction.com
Orland Auto Auction, just north of Sacramento off I-5, is a bit different. They’ve been doing this online bidding thing with “buy it now” prices, which is a pretty interesting approach. They actually paused their auctions for a bit, but I hear they’re firing them back up in early 2025, just in time for tax season.
Express Auto Auction
8920 Paseo De La Fuente N, San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 661-1918 · expressautoauction.net
If you’re in the Otay Mesa area, you can usually find public car auctions happening on Wednesdays at 9am and every other Saturday at 11am. Keep in mind that the auction schedule can change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check with the auction house before heading over.
South Bay Auto Auction (Dealers Only)
13210 Normandie Ave, Gardena, CA
(310) 719-2000 · southbayautoauction.com
Contra Costa County Public Auto Auction
2691 East Leland Road
Pittsburg, CA 94565
(925) 432-8900 · cccpaa.com
Contra Costa Car Auction runs their public car auctions on Saturdays. I’ve been there myself, and it seems like a decent spot, especially if you’re new to the whole auction thing. Their staff is pretty helpful, and I’ve noticed they tend to get good reviews online, which is always a plus in my book.
Johnny Cash Auto Auction [Johnny’s Auto Auction]
1704 Cactus Road
San Diego, California 92154
(619) 883-4600 · johnnysautoauction.com
[email protected]
Johnny’s Car Auction in California has a bit of that small, independent vibe that I appreciate. Their auctions are on Saturdays at 9am, and they’re open to the public, with online bidding as an option.
They might not have the biggest inventory compared to some of the larger California auctions, but that also means less competition, which can work in your favor.
905 Auto Auction
8205 Saint Andrews Ave
San Diego 92154
(619) 710-0905 · 905autoauction.com
Public car auctions at 905 car auction are on Fridays at 10:30am in San Diego. I recommend arriving early to look over the auction cars for sale. They have Spanish-speaking staff, which is common with car auctions in the Otay Mesa area.
You can click here to view their auction vehicle inventory. As the name implies, they are right off the 905.
Socal Auto Auctions
10993 Central Ave Suite A
Ontario, CA 91762, United States
[email protected]
(909) 930-1887 · https://socalautoauctions.com/
This auction, located just off I-10 east of Los Angeles, runs their sales on Saturdays and Sundays. I checked their website, and while they do list their inventory, I noticed they’ve been slacking on the photos lately.
That’s not ideal, but you can always head over there early and check out the vehicles in person.
Otay Auto Auction
8955 Siempre Viva Rd
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 661-0808 · otayautoauctions.com
There’s another public car auction in the Otay Mesa area that’s worth checking out.
They’ve got a real mix of vehicles – bank repos, surplus, even some donated and seized cars. The staff is known for being friendly and bilingual, which is a plus. Their auctions are on Saturdays at 9am.
Brownfield Auto Auction
San Diego:
6969 Cactus Ct
San Diego, CA 92154
Oakland:
1850 Fairway Drive
San Leandro, CA 94577
(619) 374-1221
brownfieldautoauction.com
Both Brownfield Car Auction locations are open to the public, so you don’t need a special auction license to participate – just a valid ID to place your bids.
Don’t worry if you’re more comfortable speaking Spanish, they’ve got you covered. They used to have a third location up in Stockton, but it looks like that one’s closed down.
California Auto Auctions
6540 University Avenue
San Diego, California 92115
Locations listed as “Dealers-Only” require a dealers auction license to attend and bid on auction vehicles. These are auction sites car dealers use for their own inventory.
You can also check out online wholesale used car auctions — many of which are open to the public for online bidding. You can buy an auction car from another state and use auto transport brokers in California to ship it to you.
Bid on Auction Cars in California at Dealer Auto Auctions and Car Auctions Open to the Public
Most of these car auctions are open to the public with auctions in San Diego, Los Angeles area, Oakland, and more around the state of California. However, be sure to contact the auction first to verify when they allow people to view their inventories.
I notice that auction cars arrive frequently at auctions, so be sure to check back to view the newest arrivals. Be sure to reader my car auction seller’s guide if you are interested in selling your car or truck at a car auction in Cali.
I have many years of experience bidding at these auctions and am offering to share my expert advice with you.
What's the catch? None. I love car auctions because of how fun they are and I know that you will to.
I am a licensed automotive wholesaler and have flipped cars all over the United States from car auctions.
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