Alabama government surplus auctions
Alabama's state surplus is sold by the State Surplus Property division of ADECA in Montgomery, through periodic auctions on GovDeals. We tracked 6,355 Alabama auctions with a confirmed result from May 22 to October 31, 2026, for $12.2 million in winning bids, and only 1.5% of them came from commercial sellers.
Alabama State Surplus Property (ADECA)
State Surplus Property, a division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, generally holds quarterly auctions on GovDeals at govdeals.com/alabamasurplus, depending on how much surplus it has. Each auction runs about a week, and you have to register with GovDeals to bid.
Before each auction, you can inspect items in person at the warehouse at 4590 Mobile Highway in Montgomery on set days. Between public auctions, surplus is available to state agencies, local governments and qualified nonprofits. Items are sold as-is, and all sales are final.
Alabama on GovDeals: the numbers
Every GovDeals auction with an Alabama pickup location that closed from May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026 with a confirmed result:
| Metric | Alabama on GovDeals |
|---|---|
| Auctions with a confirmed result | 6,355 |
| Sold | 6,153 |
| Median bidders per sold lot | 12 (all GovDeals: 11) |
| Median winning bid | $150 (all GovDeals: $175) |
| Total winning bids | $12.2 million |
| Selling accounts | 343 |
| Auctions from commercial sellers | 1.5% |
| Lots open on November 7 | 476 |
Lost-and-found lots and police gear
The state's account sold 1,079 lots for $1.75 million, a median $450 with 28 bidders. Its biggest category is lost and abandoned property, sold in lots of tools, knives and multi-tools; Alabama's 259 such lots went for a median $443 with 28 bidders, against $121 and 19 nationally.
An unnamed account in Fort Payne sold 714 lots of police-vehicle gear, like Tahoe partitions, pit bars and light controllers, for a median $20 on 4 bidders, which is why Alabama's fire and police equipment runs so cheap. Vehicles drew crowds: SUVs sold for $3,605 with 51 bidders (all GovDeals: $3,000 and 30), and government cars, pickups and SUVs drew a median 43.
What sells
The busiest categories (at least 10 sales each), with the GovDeals-wide figure for comparison:
| Category | Sold | Median bidders | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire & Police Equipment | 595 | 4 (all GovDeals: 6) | $20 (all GovDeals: $65) |
| Furniture and Furnishings | 368 | 4 (all GovDeals: 2) | $22 (all GovDeals: $15) |
| Pickup Trucks | 345 | 35.5 (all GovDeals: 38) | $3,705 (all GovDeals: $3,800) |
| Lost & Abandoned Property | 259 | 28 (all GovDeals: 19) | $443 (all GovDeals: $121) |
| SUV | 215 | 51 (all GovDeals: 30) | $3,605 (all GovDeals: $3,000) |
| Automobiles/Cars | 176 | 36.5 (all GovDeals: 28) | $2,003 (all GovDeals: $2,200) |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | 141 | 7 (all GovDeals: 3) | $32 (all GovDeals: $19) |
| Audio/Visual Equipment | 129 | 7 (all GovDeals: 6) | $50 (all GovDeals: $55) |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 129 | 10 (all GovDeals: 5) | $52 (all GovDeals: $60) |
| Kitchen Equipment | 107 | 11 (all GovDeals: 7) | $112 (all GovDeals: $60) |
| Furniture, Miscellaneous | 84 | 3 (all GovDeals: 3) | $11 (all GovDeals: $21) |
| Office Equipment & Supplies, Miscellaneous | 83 | 4 (all GovDeals: 3) | $20 (all GovDeals: $17) |
| School Bus | 84 | 15 (all GovDeals: 23) | $2,513 (all GovDeals: $1,925) |
| Commercial Food Service and Cafeteria Equipment | 79 | 9 (all GovDeals: 7) | $177 (all GovDeals: $102) |
Who sells
| Seller | Type | Auctions | Sold | Winning bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Alabama, Surplus Property Division | Government | 1,147 | 1,079 | $1,753,195 |
| Account 31731 | — | 714 | 714 | $25,729 |
| University of Alabama | Government | 701 | 693 | $100,051 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Government | 471 | 467 | $260,443 |
| University of South Alabama | Government | 470 | 446 | $26,342 |
| USA Health | Government | 143 | 141 | $31,055 |
| Mobile | Government | 142 | 142 | $644,449 |
| Shelby County Board of Education | Government | 93 | 85 | $14,819 |
| Auburn University | Government | 75 | 75 | $112,665 |
| Account 24601 | — | 62 | 62 | $797,082 |
Where
| City | Auctions | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | 1,148 | 1,079 | $445 |
| Mobile | 937 | 908 | $42 |
| Fort Payne | 754 | 754 | $25 |
| Tuscaloosa | 715 | 706 | $44 |
| Birmingham | 596 | 592 | $107 |
| Columbiana | 159 | 151 | $460 |
| Auburn | 111 | 110 | $625 |
| Huntsville | 108 | 94 | $205 |
By month
| Month | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026* | 670 | $419 |
| June 2026 | 676 | $228 |
| July 2026 | 864 | $138 |
| August 2026 | 1,575 | $145 |
| September 2026 | 997 | $112 |
| October 2026 | 1,371 | $75 |
What's open right now
435 Alabama lots were open on GovDeals when this page was last updated (Nov 8, 11:23 PM ET). These 8 have the highest current bids among lots closing in the next few days. Bids move fast, so open the listing for the current bid, the pickup address and the removal deadline before you bid.
GavelGap puts the other half of the math on every GovDeals listing: what the lot resells for, what it costs you landed, and the pickup-only, title and condition problems that sink a deal, right in your browser.
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Our GovDeals figures include every GovDeals auction with an Alabama pickup location that ended from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026 and whose outcome GovDeals confirmed by status, bid history or bid count. Lots we couldn't confirm either way are left out, as are real estate and land sales and sellers that sell at a fixed price with no bidding (at least 90% of 20 or more sales with no recorded bid). "All GovDeals" figures use the same rules nationwide over the same dates. "Bidders" is the bid count on the sold lot, which can include several bids from one person, so read it as a measure of how contested a lot was. Category medians are per lot, so a multi-unit lot counts as one sale at its full price. Categories need at least 10 sales. Commercial sellers are businesses and remarketers selling on GovDeals rather than government bodies, using GovDeals' own seller type. We don't show sell-through: before September 2026 our tracking didn't record every unsold auction, so early months would overstate it. We don't publish per-lot resale estimates. Facts about Alabama's own surplus program come from the official sources linked above; programs change, so confirm terms with the agency before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the State of Alabama sell surplus?
On GovDeals, at govdeals.com/alabamasurplus, through the State Surplus Property division of ADECA. It generally holds quarterly auctions, each about a week long.
Can I see Alabama surplus before I bid?
Yes, on set inspection days before each auction, at the warehouse at 4590 Mobile Highway, Montgomery. Check the auction notice for dates.
What do Alabama government vehicles sell for?
From May 22 to October 31, 2026, Alabama SUVs on GovDeals sold for a median $3,605 with 51 bidders, pickups for $3,705 and cars for $2,003.
What does the winner pay on top of the bid?
On GovDeals, a buyer's premium (12.5% on most lots) plus sales tax. Alabama surplus is sold as-is, and all sales are final.
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