In the Lone Star State, most car auctions are clustered around the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, with a few outliers in places like San Antonio and Austin.
One advantage of buying cars in this region is they’re less likely to have the rust problems you often see up north. Texas weather is pretty much dry and warm year-round, which is a big plus for preserving those classic cars and steel frames.
I’ve put together a list of recommended auction sites and locations around Texas, and there’s a real variety to choose from. You’ve got your standard wholesale auctions, along with police auctions, tow impounds, cars sold directly by owners, bank repossessions, and more.
Prices run the gamut, with some cars going for under $2,000 and newer models fetching $30,000 or more.
The Lone Star state is known for many things, but I also find it to be one of the easiest states to find a car auction nearby.
Below is a list of a view different auto auctions in Texas – mostly opened to the public, but a couple are dealer auctions. Be sure to call first to make sure they are open to the public.
Texas Auto Auction Websites & Locations
EBlock Houston / Houston Auto Auction
2000 Cavalcade St, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 644-5566
Car auctions in Houston for the public and also dealer wholesale auto auctions. Online bidding is available. My Take: Eblock Houston holds dealer-only sales, but their heavy equipment and surplus vehicle sales are open to the public. If you need to bid in the dealer sales, just find a local auction broker to help you out.
Houston Police Auction
Website
View Impound Vehicles for Sale List
Want to know where the action is next week? You’ll have to work for it a bit. These auction locations change all the time because they’re held at the actual storage facilities where the vehicles were abandoned.
To find out where the auctions are happening, give their hotline a call at (832) 394-4838. They start bright and early at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. Oh, and they’re open to the public.
Now, here’s the deal with buying: It’s cash only, and the highest bidder takes all. If you’re looking for salvage vehicles, you’ll need a state salvage license. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID to bid. Also, if you plan on buying more than five vehicles in a year, you’ll need to get a MVD license.
Lonestar Auctioneers Police and Tow Auctions
512-463-6599
Website
Lonestar Online Auctions
Most of the impounded cars for sale at this auction are from the City of Dallas Auto Pound. Police car auctions are held onsite at 1955 Vilbig Dallas, Texas 75208
Thinking about hitting up the Dallas auto pound auctions? Smart move. Here’s the lowdown:
Get there early! Vehicle inspections start at 9:00 a.m. sharp, and the auction kicks off at 10:00 a.m.
Now, about getting your car out of there: The auto pound is open every single day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., so you’ve got plenty of time to haul your prize away.
Just make sure you do it by 11:59 p.m. the day after the auction, or you’ll get hit with a storage fee. If you leave it there until the next auction rolls around, they’ll put it back on the block!
One more important thing: You can’t just drive your new purchase away. All auction vehicles have to be towed out of the auto pound by a licensed TxDOT wrecker.
Adesa San Antonio (Dealers Only)
200 S Callaghan Rd
(210) 434-4999 · San Antonio, TX, United States
Alright, let’s talk about ADESA San Antonio. This dealer auction’s got a good flow to it, and they make it pretty easy to check out the cars beforehand.
You’ve got two preview windows: Wednesdays from noon to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Now, pay attention to the sale schedule because things get rolling early on Thursdays. The IN-OP sale starts the day at 8:30 a.m. CT, followed by Dealer Consignment at 9:00 a.m. Fleet/Lease and Ally sales both kick off at 10:00 a.m.
Plan your day accordingly so you don’t miss out on the good stuff. Unfortunately, they’re stuck in the Stone Age and require you to register before looking over the inventory.
Alliance Auto Auction – Longview (Dealers Only)
6000 SE Loop 281
Longview, TX 75602
903-212-2955
These folks at Alliance Longview seem to really get customer service. They’re all about building strong relationships and making sure their customers succeed.
They’re serious about keeping their word and doing business with integrity. You should head over there one Friday morning – their auctions start at 9:30 a.m.
They offer a bunch of services too, like pre-sale and post-sale inspections, transportation, detailing, and even car spotting. Seems like they’ve got everything covered.
Plus, it’s in a good spot, right between Dallas, Shreveport, and Houston. I figure if I’m going to spend my valuable time at an auction, it better be a good experience and a decent value, and that’s what they offer.
America’s Auto Auction San Antonio
13510 Toepperwein Rd
Live Oak, TX 78233
(210) 298-5477
Formerly “Sparkling City Auto Auction”, I’ve had good results with this family-owned dealer car auction. They’ve been around since 1989, so they’ve got a ton of experience in the Texas auto auction scene.
They’ve built up a great reputation for having high-quality vehicles. They’ve got hundreds of pre-owned cars for dealer auctions, and you can check out their inventory online.
I’m thinking about heading down there to experience a live auction for myself. I’d say it’s one of the best in Texas except for the fact they make you register to view their inventory. Is it 2005, or something?
Greater Tyler Auto Auction
View Inventory
11654 Texas 64
Tyler, TX 75704
(903) 597-2800
I like to check out the GSA Sales at this auction for decent deals on surplus government vehicles and police car auctions. Those sales are open to the public.
If you’re a licensed automotive dealer, you will probably appreciate the range of dealer services that they offer.
Alliance Auto Auction
(Auctions in Austin, Abilene, Dallas, Longview, and Waco) – Dealers Only
15735 Interstate 35 Frontage Road
Elm Mott, Texas 76640
(254) 829-0123
Metro Auto Auction of Dallas
1836 Midway Road
Lewisville, TX 75056
(972) 492-0900
Metro Auction Dallas will sometimes hold public GSA Sales in Dallas with surplus government vehicles and equipment from the Government Services Administration.
See Also:
Car Dealer King’s Auto Auction Directory: Car Auctions in Texas
Government Surplus and Police Impound Vehicle Auctions in Texas
Police Car Auctions in Texas – Police Auctions USA Directory
How to Get a Used Car Dealer License to Sell Cars in Texas
Watch a Video of a Car Auction in Texas
Curious about have a live car auction in Texas is like? Check out the action in the video below of a wholesale auto auction Houston, TX. Notice the fast-paced atmosphere, which is what we love about these car auctions.
If you’re a public bidder, don’t worry, the public car auctions in Texas tend to move a bit slower.
Last updated on February 9th, 2025 at 02:46 am
