How to Buy Military Surplus Vehicles

Thousands of former military items are sold to the public every year, either singly or in lots. Here's how to keep an eye out for the vehicle you want.

Instructions

        1

        Log on to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service's Web site, which lists all surplus goods for sale worldwide, along with instructions for buying or bidding. The information is there, although the setup doesn't seem user-friendly at first.

        2

        Follow the link for Sales Customers, select Buy DRMS Property and then choose Do a Property Search. From there, you can search for a vehicle using a number of paths. For example, you can search by Commodity Category, then select Ground Transportation Equipment and hit Submit Search.

3

Browse through the list that appears next. It usually runs more to heavy equipment than to passenger vehicles, but it's also likely to have everything from auto parts, to cars, to cargo trucks, to railway cars.

4

Order catalogs if you want to skip the Web site. But catalogs are not just less timely, they're also less precise because you have to sift through lists of all the sales in your region and maybe elsewhere.

5

Find out where you have to go in person, and when, to inspect any vehicle that interests you.

6

Read carefully about the procedure for that particular auction or sale, and follow those instructions.

About Military Surplus Vehicles

Most people think of buying clothes or camping equipment when they think of military surplus. What many don't know is that the U.S. military also auctions off surplus vehicles for a significant savings to the buyer.

Significance

    One of the more prominent reasons to buy military surplus vehicles is that the U.S. military usually keeps a rigid maintenance schedule on every vehicle in their fleet, whether it is used for combat or for civilian purposes. When problems are detected, military mechanics tend to fix them promptly, thus extending the overall life of the vehicle. Buyers at most auctions are worried about the possibly hidden condition of their purchases, but military surplus auctions are much more forthcoming about the condition of each of their vehicles.

Types

    There are an astonishing number of vehicles to choose from when looking through military surplus auction lists. Ranging from pickup trucks to 2.5-ton haulers, boats and heavy equipment, the selection of vehicles available is diverse. For buyers looking to aquire spare parts, there are also parts auctions for various vehicles, including aircraft parts. Occasionally, entire aircraft frames are sold, but must usually be dismantled for scrap under the supervision of Department of Defense personnel.

Time Frame

    Military surplus vehicle auctions can last for two weeks, and the website, listed in the resources section, will sort the auction lists according to time left in the auction if desired. Once a bid has been placed, the site continually updates to show the latest bid, but delivery time is completely up to the buyer, as delivery is the buyer's sole responsibility.

Warning

    As with most auctions, buying military surplus vehicles is an "as is" purchase. Bidders are given information about each vehicle before the purchase, but are not given any guarantees or warranties as to the vehicle's estimated life from the time of purchase. Buyers should use caution when considering prospective vehicles, and always look through the vehicle description before bidding.

Considerations

    Potential buyers for military surplus vehicles tend to see the price of the bid as the total price that must be paid, and will bid based on that idea. When bidding on an item, it is important for buyers to also consider how the item can be transported to them, how much the process will cost, and how much tax will need to be paid on the purchase. Taxes are charged by the military surplus organization, and are due upon payment for the item.