Looking for a good deal on a used car? I always tell folks to check out public auto auctions. They’re all over California, so you’re likely to find a few near you.
You’ll find a bunch of cars at these auctions, including bank repossessions and police impounds. The tow lots usually want to move these impounded cars quickly to free up space, so they often price them to sell.
Keep in mind, though, that buying cars at auction can be a bit of a gamble. You’ll need to know what to look for and how to assess the condition of a vehicle. If you’re not a car expert, it might be a good idea to bring a knowledgeable friend along.
Below are the locations and contact information for police and tow auctions in California that we can suggest to you. These are all open to the public and most do not require any membership, so it is free to attend the auction and look at the inventory.
Tow company auctions are riskier than typical wholesale auto auctions in California. We suggest that you have some experience with cars and understand how to estimate body damage repair costs.
Directions & Auction Info: Police Car Auctions and Tow Impound Auctions in California
All Towing & Storage Public Auction
17770 Valley Blvd.
Bloomington, CA 92316
USA – (909) 671-2634
MEX – +52-663-408-0025
[email protected]
Public tow impound car auctions are on Wednesdays, Saturdays, & Sundays. I recommend watching their live auction streams on their Facebook page.
City of Long Beach Police Lien Sales/Auto Auction
3111 E Willow St
Long Beach, CA 90806
(562) 570-2828
Their impound auctions are now open to the public every other Thursday. There is no upfront cost to view the auction vehicles for sale, or to spectate the auction. The bidding will usually start around 9:50am. A $34 bidder fee is added to the bid price of a vehicle, if you win the bid.
Los Angeles Official Police Garages – Auctions
Want to see what kind of cars the LAPD has impounded? Their auctions are open to the public, and they happen every week. You’ll find these impounds at various tow yards across Los Angeles.
One thing to remember is that you can’t check out the cars until the day of the auction. So, you’ve got to be ready to make some quick decisions
I recommend browsing the auction listings online beforehand to get an idea of what’s available. That way, you can head to the auction with a few targets in mind.
9529 8th Street
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Open to the public with tons of government vehicle auctions, including U.S. Marshall sales in all 50 US states. The auction website is very easy to use and there are always additional auction vehicles being listed with photos.
16139 Stagg Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Keystone Towing runs their auctions every Thursday evening at 7:30. You can bid online or in person through the “Aurtura” website. Now, I’ve noticed they usually don’t have a ton of vehicles up for grabs at any given time. But, since it’s all online, it’s easy to take a quick peek every now and then and see if anything catches your eye.
Hollywood Tow Lien Sale Vehicle Auction
1015 N. Mansfield Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90038
Over at Hollywood Tow, they hold their auctions every Thursday morning at 10:00 am. From what I’ve seen, they usually have about a dozen cars up for auction each week. It’s small, but it’s worth checking out if you’re in the area.
1516 South Bon View Avenue
Ontario, CA 91761
They hold silent auctions on Tuesdays, and then announce the winners the next day. The vehicles they auction off come from all over the Los Angeles area. So, you might find some interesting stuff depending on what part of town the car came from.
2119 E 25th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90058
Auctions are every Thursday at 10:00AM
You may bid online or live, in-person.
U.S. Tow was one of the first towing companies around here to let you buy auction cars completely online. It’s super convenient and takes a lot of the stress out of the process.
The best part? The cars you see online are the same ones being auctioned off in person. The auctions happen at the same time, whether you’re online or on-site, so everyone has an equal shot at getting the car they want.
San Diego Public Police Auction
San Diego online surplus auctions offer a large variety, including tow impounds, heavy equipment, surplus gov vehicles, used police cars, and more. They use both JJ Kane Auctions (near Los Angeles) for their police car auctions and PublicSurplus for other misc. items..
See Also: Locations of Public Auto Auctions in California
You’ll find all sorts of vehicles at these tow auctions – everything from beat-up old trucks to newer models. Just remember, no kids allowed.
In my experience, most places let you show up early to inspect the cars before the bidding starts. And keep in mind that you’ll usually have to pay a small fee on top of the car’s price and taxes.
Now, while learning the ropes at these auctions isn’t rocket science, I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t know much about cars.
You can find some decent deals at police impounds, but you need to know what you’re looking at. These auctions are really more suited for folks who have some experience buying cars this way.
Be sure to view my guide for buying a used car in California.
Tow yard cars for sale can be great bargains if you know what to look for and are patient. However, it is important to always ask questions first to tow yards that sell cars before bidding. All police car auctions in CA are open to the public, including in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Always use caution when buying lien sale cars, police drug seizures, impound cars, etc. and consider what repairs they may need. Tow company cars for sale in particular can come in a variety of conditions.
VIDEO: How to Bid on Police Auction Cars Online
This video from Police Auctions USA shows the basics of police car auctions for public bidders. The main idea is to arrive early, learn the rules and fees, and have a valid ID for registering to bid in the auction.
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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