Iowa government surplus auctions
Iowa sells its state surplus on GovDeals: the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) contracts with it for state property, and the University of Iowa and Iowa State sell there too. We tracked 6,536 Iowa auctions with a confirmed result from May 22 to October 31, 2026, and Iowa's cars, pickups and SUVs drew bigger crowds than any state we cover except Oregon.
Iowa's State Surplus Property Program
DAS contracts with GovDeals to sell state property other than real estate. Each item goes up at least twice, and the first auction runs at least 10 days. For the first five days, any state agency with a business use for an item can ask for it, and the selling agency then pulls it from the auction, so a lot you're watching can vanish early. From day six, agencies bid like everyone else. DAS lists 515-281-8887.
The universities run their own surplus. UI Surplus (2222 Old Highway 218 South, Iowa City, 319-335-5001) sells on three GovDeals sites: general surplus, athletic clothing and collectibles, and vehicles. ISU Surplus in Ames offers items to university departments and other state entities first and also sells on GovDeals.
Iowa on GovDeals: the numbers
Every GovDeals auction with an Iowa pickup location that closed from May 22, 2026 to October 31, 2026 with a confirmed result:
| Metric | Iowa on GovDeals |
|---|---|
| Auctions with a confirmed result | 6,536 |
| Sold | 5,909 |
| Median bidders per sold lot | 10 (all GovDeals: 11) |
| Median winning bid | $84 (all GovDeals: $175) |
| Total winning bids | $7.7 million |
| Selling accounts | 193 |
| Auctions from commercial sellers | 1.7% |
| Lots open on November 7 | 399 |
Hawkeye gear and state cars
The University of Iowa's two accounts ran 3,179 auctions, nearly half the state. The athletic clothing account sold 1,073 lots for $67,837, and clothing is Iowa's biggest category (833 sold, median $36). The general surplus account sold 1,781 lots, led by laptops, desktops and lab equipment, at a median $99.
State vehicles sell high. The DAS fleet account sold all 166 of its lots, mostly cars, SUVs and pickups, for a median $5,948 with 64 bidders, $1.1 million in all. Iowa pickups went for $6,600 (national: $3,800) and cars for $5,001 with 56 bidders (national: $2,200 and 28). The Iowa DOT sold 438 lots, from tractors to traffic signals, for $861,784.
What sells
The busiest categories (at least 10 sales each), with the GovDeals-wide figure for comparison:
| Category | Sold | Median bidders | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing | 833 | 6 (all GovDeals: 6) | $36 (all GovDeals: $36) |
| Computers: Laptops | 399 | 13 (all GovDeals: 18) | $102 (all GovDeals: $230) |
| Computers: Desktops and All-In-Ones | 345 | 11 (all GovDeals: 14) | $137 (all GovDeals: $170) |
| Sporting Equipment | 169 | 4 (all GovDeals: 7) | $125 (all GovDeals: $80) |
| Laboratory Equipment | 164 | 6.5 (all GovDeals: 7) | $100 (all GovDeals: $100) |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | 131 | 2.5 (all GovDeals: 3) | $25 (all GovDeals: $19) |
| Chairs | 154 | 6 (all GovDeals: 3) | $52 (all GovDeals: $20) |
| School Equipment | 141 | 3 (all GovDeals: 3) | $25 (all GovDeals: $27) |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 119 | 7 (all GovDeals: 5) | $100 (all GovDeals: $60) |
| Pickup Trucks | 126 | 45 (all GovDeals: 38) | $6,600 (all GovDeals: $3,800) |
| Automobiles/Cars | 117 | 56 (all GovDeals: 28) | $5,001 (all GovDeals: $2,200) |
| Exercise Equipment | 92 | 12.5 (all GovDeals: 9) | $215 (all GovDeals: $111) |
| Collectibles | 87 | 10 (all GovDeals: 6) | $69 (all GovDeals: $52) |
| Furniture and Furnishings | 67 | 3 (all GovDeals: 2) | $17 (all GovDeals: $15) |
Who sells
| Seller | Type | Auctions | Sold | Winning bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa Surplus | Government | 1,902 | 1,781 | $514,959 |
| University of Iowa Surplus - Athletic Clothing | Government | 1,277 | 1,073 | $67,837 |
| State of Iowa | Government | 637 | 541 | $284,921 |
| Iowa Department of Transportation | Government | 477 | 438 | $861,784 |
| State of Iowa - Department of Administrative Services Fleet | Government | 166 | 166 | $1,108,448 |
| Iowa State University/ISU Surplus | Government | 147 | 145 | $205,834 |
| West Des Moines Community School District | Government | 129 | 121 | $37,045 |
| Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District | Government | 108 | 106 | $5,386 |
| Cedar Rapids | Government | 69 | 67 | $236,855 |
| Cedar Rapids Community School District | Government | 65 | 59 | $26,368 |
Where
| City | Auctions | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 3,301 | 2,961 | $67 |
| Ames | 661 | 620 | $240 |
| Des Moines | 497 | 413 | $27 |
| West Des Moines | 302 | 291 | $3,300 |
| Cedar Rapids | 217 | 200 | $92 |
| Grimes | 108 | 106 | $11 |
| Ankeny | 94 | 82 | $111 |
| Clive | 86 | 72 | $168 |
By month
| Month | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026* | 496 | $113 |
| June 2026 | 777 | $82 |
| July 2026 | 960 | $62 |
| August 2026 | 1,076 | $90 |
| September 2026 | 1,250 | $90 |
| October 2026 | 1,350 | $82 |
What's open right now
313 Iowa 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.
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2011 Ford F250 XL Super Duty 4x4 Regular Cab with Plow and Spreader
$9,600current bidIowa CityEnds Nov 11, 8:30 PM ET -
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2016 International WorkStar 7600 SBA DIESEL Tandem Axle w/ Snow Removal Equipment
$6,550current bidMovilleEnds Nov 11, 4:15 PM ET -
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.
Try GavelGap free →Methodology
Our GovDeals figures include every GovDeals auction with an Iowa 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 Iowa'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 Iowa sell surplus?
On GovDeals. DAS contracts with GovDeals to sell state property other than real estate, and the University of Iowa and Iowa State sell their own surplus there too.
Why did an Iowa state auction disappear before it ended?
For the first five days of a state auction, any Iowa agency with a business use for the item can ask for it, and the selling agency then pulls it. After that, agencies bid like everyone else.
Where can I buy University of Iowa surplus?
UI Surplus sells on three GovDeals sites: general surplus, athletic clothing and collectibles, and vehicles. Its office is at 2222 Old Highway 218 South in Iowa City (319-335-5001).
What do Iowa state vehicles sell for?
From May 22 to October 31, 2026, the DAS fleet account on GovDeals sold all 166 of its lots, mostly cars, SUVs and pickups, for a median $5,948 with 64 bidders.
Related: Pricing surplus clothing · Pickup truck sold prices · Car auctions near you
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