Police auctions: what they are and how to save money

Not all stolen items go back to their rightful owners. Sometimes, the police confiscate the proceeds of crime and have to do something with them. Rather than keep these for themselves or throw them away, they put them up for sale, either in person or online.

Buying stolen goods has a negative ring to it for understandable reasons. If you do it knowingly from a criminal, it constitutes a crime. However, you have nothing to fear from an official police auction. They have the right to sell and you have the right to buy.

The police hold auctions because they physically cannot hold on to or return every piece of stolen property they come across. They lack the storage space to hold them indefinitely and the means to identify the owner of everything they come across.

As such, police forces across the UK sell items at auction as a space-saving measure. Selling items far below market price and other auctions saves them the expense of storing them and raises money for good causes like local charities.

You don't just save money on bids for hundreds of bargains. You get to do a good thing with every item sold.

How do police auctions save you money?

When you buy at a police auction, there aren't any minimum prices, which means items often sell cheaper than at normal auctions.

In most auctions, the 'reserve price' is the minimum bid the seller will accept. Most auction houses keep this number hidden, but it ensures a floor for auctioned items.

This also holds true for eBay bidding, where sellers can set a minimum sale price for the item.

In police auctions, there is almost never a reserve price. The police force need to get rid of the item held and aren't concerned with turning a profit.

As a result, these auctions often sell items for significantly lower than their typical price. People have bagged finds on expensive items going for less than a tenth of their market value.

That isn't all.

Many people don't know about or trust police auctions. They're often much less competitive with fewer bidders chasing each find. You still won't be able to place your bids and have your free pick of every item, but you won't need to fight tooth and nail like you do at other auctions.

That doesn't mean that every item listed at a police auction is a bargain or a steal, however. In some cases, you'll get what you pay for, with low-quality or damaged goods. Other times, things will cost the same or more than they do from other places.

It's nice to imagine bargains in every police auction lot. Nonetheless, make sure to do your research and consider your options before you bid.

What gets sold at police auctions?

For starters, almost anything.

The world of crime and policing is an unpredictable place. An unimaginable range of items get stolen, recovered, and sold at auction every year. While some auction houses or sites specialise in specific types of seized items, there's no predicting what you can get from the police overall.

Some of the most common goods found in police auction lots include: 

Laptops, gaming consoles, and other tech 

Jewellery 

Name-brand clothes (both designer and high street)

 Bicycles

In particular, stolen bikes are very well-represented in these auctions. You can find bicycles that were sold from new very recently, in near-mint condition.

Police car auctions

In particular, police car auctions are an unexpected way to find a great bargain. Stolen cars, impounded cars, and confiscated cars that can't be returned to their owners for legal reasons all end up on the auction lot.

However, few cars at a police vehicle auction will have been used in a crime or by criminals. In many cases, they'll have been subject to outstanding financial agreements and repossessed by banks, bailiffs, or the police themselves.

Much like other items available at police auction lots, cars can go for significantly under their market value. However, any car auction is serious (and expensive) business, so make sure you're getting value for money!

Stolen vehicles aren't the only find you can get at a police car auction. They're also used to sell old or surplus police cars and vans. If you like the idea of owning something the cops have driven – albeit without the ability to sound sirens or pull people over – then scope out some police car auctions for your next ride.

When you buy a car at auction, it might not be in excellent condition. However, it will be road-worthy at the point of purchase. Just remember that you need to be insured before you can drive it home.

Where do you find police auctions?

These days, you can attend a police auction either online or in person. Each has its own advantages when it comes to convenience and money-saving.

Online police auctions

The most popular website for finding internet law enforcement auctions, Bumblebee Auctions, is unfortunately defunct.

For online police auctions, eBay is your best bet. Several forces, including Sussex Police and Leicester Police, maintain active eBay pages with plenty of listings. Others, such as Thames Valley and Cheshire Police, have eBay pages that they infrequently list items on.

To get the best deals from police auctions on eBay, you might need to check your local police force’s seller page relatively often. However, the bargains are usually worth it.

If you want an online police car auction specifically, raw2k.com has seized and salvaged vehicles for sale. This can be a great chance to bag a bargain, but they don't specify whether cars are from the police or not.

Buying at auction houses

You don't have to go online for police auctions. UK police forces often take their stock to physical, old-fashioned auction houses where things are bought and sold in person.

If you want a truly authentic experience, and the chance to cast your net wider for a deal, you might consider attending one of these public auctions.

Locating one can be as simple as searching on Google and following the directions to your nearest auction house. Alternatively, you can use a network to find police auctions near you.

John Pye Auctions are the leading commercial auction house network in the UK, hosting police-seized items auctions nationwide. On their website, you can filter by location to find police and government auctions in cities like Edinburgh, Leeds and Plymouth, as well as across South Wales and Northern Ireland.

Also, Wilsons Auctions work with various law enforcement agencies and government bodies across the UK and Ireland, including West Midlands Police and Avon & Somerset Police. You can use any auction site to find in-person police auctions, but these two are the best.

Police auction tips

Saving the most money isn't just a matter of turning up to a police auction and getting the bargain of your dreams. There are several tips you can follow to get the best deal, understand the process, and avoid spending more than you mean to.

 Do your research

You should know what's on sale ahead of the auction. If possible, find out what condition the items you’ve got your eye on are in. Then compare the prices available elsewhere to see how much the auction could save you.

 Pick a maximum bid and stick to it

Whether online or at an auction house, it's very easy to get swept up in the excitement and end up with a sky-high price. Stick to a limit, however exciting the item.

 When visiting auction houses, arrive early

You can't just turn up and start bidding, there is a process to get registered. If you want to bag a juicy early lot, make sure you're ahead of schedule.

 Try a couple out without spending money

If you're going to an auction house, attend one or two public auctions without buying anything. This way you can learn how the process works and avoid costly mistakes.

 Be mindful of extra fees

Most auction houses charge more than the value of winning bids. A premium fee or VAT may push up what you pay. On eBay or other online auctions, you may well need to pay for or arrange delivery.

 Consider a range of vehicles seized by the authorities at a police car auction

If you go in only looking for classic cars or ex-police vehicles, you might be disappointed. If you have an open mind and an eye for a bargain, however, at least some of the auctioned cars should suit your purposes.

Police auction FAQs

Hopefully, we've covered the broad questions about police auctions and how they can save you money. Nonetheless, there are a few questions that come up time and time again, both from newcomers and those with some experience.

What happened to Bumblebee Auctions?

For a long time, Bumblebee Auctions were the best website for online police auctions. However, their site has been down for a significant length of time and some browsers have raised security concerns. The service appears to no longer exist.

Are police auctions worth it?

You can make genuine savings on items across the board, particularly at a police car auction. However, the process of registering, bidding, and arranging transport, as well as the variable quality of products, may not suit some customers. For some, it might sound like the perfect day out and can make for an exciting new hobby.

What is the best police auctions website?

With Bumblebee Auctions' closure, eBay is the best way to buy seized police goods online. However, not every force has an eBay page.

Can the original owner claim their property at a police auction?

Generally, items are only sold at auction if the police can't reunite them with their rightful owner. Once an item is in your hands, you won't face any consequences from the original owner. On rare occasions, people have spotted their own items at an auction and had them withdrawn before they can be sold or delivered.

What happens to the money raised by a police auction?

The money a police force makes from selling goods at auctions isn’t required to go to one specific place. It’s usually donated to charity or local government schemes. It does sometimes go back to the police force, usually to fund their own community projects.

Get away with a steal

Hopefully, after reading this guide, you trust police auctions to bag you a cheap bargain, completely legally. You have the right to remain pleased as you leave with a good-condition car or some as-new tech that is far better in your hands than some neerdowell's.

Even if you don't get something as cheaply as you hope for, or even if you're outbid on a dream item, it still makes for a unique experience. It's not the end of the road, either. There are plenty of other ways to save money on your purchases besides buying the proceeds of crime.

Take TopCashback, for instance. We put money back in your account every time you buy from one of our brands. We might not have the thrill of a brush with the law, but we can offer you a brush with saving more. Do check out online auctions from your local police, but remember there are bargains elsewhere if that falls through.