By Greg Smokes, owner and editor of Car Auction Network
My Advice on Used Car Auctions in Pennsylvania
Hello there, I am Greg Smokes, owner of the Car Auction Network blog, and I find Pennsylvania auction cars are a decent way to buy a used car or truck while saving money. I often see car auctions in Pennsylvania have used cars and trucks with decent prices and will often include newer models up into the $20k+ price range so there is a car, truck, SUV, or van for everyone at an auto auction.
You do not need to pay for any membership or upfront fees at free public auto auctions. There is usually an auction buyer’s fee on top of what you bid on a car, but that is not unless you decide to bid on something in the auction.
I always feel it is best to arrive at the auction early so that you may view the auction cars for sale before the auction bidding starts. Obviously, having some knowledge of auto mechanical and body work can help a lot when buying a used car.
Websites for Public Auto Auctions in Pennsylvania (Auction Dates & Contact Info)
These auctions are open to the public, and many of them also offer some form of internet bidding. At Car Auction Network, we highly recommend these auctions below in Pennsylvania because they are more user friendly than police auctions or tow auctions.
I like to remind all first-time bidders that they should not hesitate to ask as many questions as they have about the auction process. In my experience, auction staff are almost always very helpful.
Carriage Trade Public Auto Auction – Conshohocken, PA
Public auctions every Monday at 3 p.m.
1575 Alan Wood Rd, Conshohocken, PA 19428
Weekly public auto auction outside Philadelphia. It is open to the public and to dealers. Dealers can also register to bid online.
Mason Dixon Auto Auction – Greencastle, PA
12876 Molly Pitcher Hwy, Greencastle, PA 17225
They are open to the public and I always dig the laid back atmosphere. Their auction inventory is not as large as the others, but you will appreciate the service.
422 Public Auto Auction
All sorts of used vehicles for sale at this public auction in Pennsylvania, including used School Buses.
This one stands out to me because of the large selection of vehicle types. You will see for yourself that they offer much more than just used trucks and cars.
Philadelphia Public Auto Auction
Public auctions on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
5618 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
This public car auction in Philly has weekly wholesale vehicle auctions. I always loved the large auction inventory here and their website is so easy a caveman could do it so do not worry. They welcome first-timers and I suggest that you ask as many questions as you need.
Lehigh Valley Auto Auction – Whitehall, PA
Public sale every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Dealer-only sale every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
3880 Lehigh St, Whitehall, PA 18052
They have two auctions weekly, a Dealer Only Sale every Wednesday at 5:00pm and a sale open to the public auction every Saturday at 10:30am. Vehicle viewing for the Saturday sale starts at 9:30 a.m.
Lebanon Auto Auction
Public auctions every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
1915 State Rt 72 North, Lebanon, PA 17046
Open to the public with auctions every Thursday evening at 6:30PM.
Capital Auto Auction – Philadelphia, PA
Open to the public, no auction license required. They also have locations in Maryland, New Hampshire, and DC.
I can recommend this auction to first-timers, for sure. All the inventory is online with photos so you can be prepared before you arrive. Or you can bid entirely online and have the vehicle transported to your home. They are one of my favorite public car auctions in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country because they have several locations with over a thousand vehicles for sale.
Aspite Auto Auction – Philadelphia, PA
Online only.
Public online only auto auctions with bank repos, government surplus vehicles (from the Philadelphia Parking Authority – impounds and abandoned cars and trucks), and you may also sell your vehicle at auction. They also offer heavy equipment.
The cool thing about Aspite car auction in Philly is that they also include impounded and surplus vehicles from the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Pardon my cliche, but it’s one of those auctions where you really never know what you might find.
Northeast Pennsylvania Auto Auction – Scranton, PA
Auctions on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Four lane wholesale auto auctions are on Tuesdays at 10am.
There are also several options for online car auctions in Pennsylvania. Online bidding is much more popular now at Pennsylvania public auto auctions and offers a way to buy a car from an auction without the hassle of traveling to the auction.
Be sure to always verify what days and hours they allow public bidders or car dealer bidders to view the cars for sale.
Also, make sure to verify their accepted form of payment. Payment rules vary a lot from one auction to the next. Some are cash only, and some only take cards online.
Tow, Police & Government Auctions in Pennsylvania
Auctions – The Philadelphia Parking Authority
Online only, through Aspite Auto Auction.
Impounded and abandoned vehicles from the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Vehicles are posted online at least two days before each auction. There is no live preview. No keys are available.
Auto Auction – McGann and Chester Towing – Pittsburgh, PA
Online auction the last Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.
700 Hargrove St, Pittsburgh, PA 15226
Online public auto auction the last Wednesday of every month, regardless of the weather. Bidding starts at 10 am. Pre-bidding is open until 9 am that morning. These are impounded and unclaimed vehicles from the Pittsburgh impound lot.
Pennsylvania DGS – Commonwealth Fleet Vehicle Auctions
Public auctions at Manheim Keystone in Grantville. Auctions begin at 10 a.m.
488 Firehouse Road, Grantville, PA 17028
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services sells retired state fleet vehicles at public auctions. Auction dates are posted on their website. You can fill out their pre-sale registration form online before the auction.
Government Surplus Auctions – Plum, PA
(Surplus and confiscated items auctioned to the public online) – You may bid on their items at the GovDeals website.
Online Auction – Montgomery County, PA
Norristown, PA 19404
They use the public GovDeals website to auction their surplus vehicles, tools, and equipment.
Surplus Auction – Berks County
You can bid on the Public Surplus website. If there are no items currently listed, check back later as they do not list frequently, in our experience.
Links for Dealer Auto Auctions in Pennsylvania
Dealer auctions in PA require a dealer’s license in order to bid on cars. If you’re a public buyer, your best bet is to try and find a vehicle broker that could help you out.
Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania Auto Auction – Grantville, PA
(Dealers-Only) However, the state of Pennsylvania holds its public fleet vehicle auctions here. See the Department of General Services listing above.
There Are Several Different Types of Car Auctions in Pennsylvania
- Bank Repo Auctions – These are repossessed cars from banks and other finance institutions.
- Car Dealer Trade-Ins – Cars that were traded in at local car dealers which are then brought to an auction and sold for low prices.
- Police Seizures – Drug seizures and impound cars auctioned to the public in Pennsylvania.
- Tow Lot Impounds – Abandoned vehicles sold at auction to the public.
- Government Fleet Surplus Vehicles – These are cars, trucks, and vans from local municipalities and state governments.
- Private For Sale by Owner Cars – Cars sold at auction from private individual sellers.
- Salvage Car Auctions – These are wrecked vehicles sold by insurance companies at auctions and will come with salvaged titles.
Do not miss out on the fun and excitement of an auto auction in PA! If you prefer bidding in-person locally or in online car auctions, you can save money the next time you buy a vehicle. Trust me when I say to be patient at an auction and do not rush into buying one specific car.
It is very helpful to have a few picked out to bid on so that you can hopefully get the best price on it. Some people make the mistake of focusing on a single car in the auction and end up paying a lot more for it than they should have. Just make a short list of vehicles you are interested in buying and work off of that for the best deal you can get.
Last updated on November 6th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
