Hey there, I’m Greg Smokes, editor of Car Auction Network.
I’ve put together this list of car auction sites in Washington State along with some insider tips and advice. If you’re looking for wholesale used cars, police auctions, or tow company auctions, there’s something here for you.
I’ve been to a lot of these auctions myself, and I can tell you that they’re a great way to find a good deal on a used car. Most of them are open to the public, so you don’t need to be a dealer to participate.
Advice: Public Car Auctions in Washington State
If you’re considering how to find a car auction in Washington, you have two options to consider: traditional wholesale car auctions that are open to the public and also government auctions — such as tow lot impound auctions and police auctions. The auction sites below are not for wrecked cars or salvage car auctions. Those are a different type of automobile auctions than wholesale used auto auctions that we will discuss.
Things We Always Recommend You Bring to an Auto Auction
- A Flashlight: You will thank us later.
- A Valid I.D.: This is important for you to register the vehicle in your name after purchase.
- Form of Payment: Cash is always king at car auctions, but sometimes exceptions are made.
Auction Info & Locations of Public Auto Auctions in Washington State
You don’t need a special dealer’s license or auction license to bid at public car auctions in Washington. That’s one of the things I like about them – they’re open to everyone.
If you’re a first-time bidder, I recommend checking out the sites I’ve listed here. They’re a good place to get your feet wet and learn how the process works.
Centralia Auction
View Inventory Online
1101 N Pearl Street
Centralia, WA 98531
360-807-4331
Centralia Car Auction is a great choice if you’re in the Olympia or Tacoma area. They make it really easy for the public to get involved and bid on cars. I’ve been there myself, and it’s a pretty smooth process. They’ve got a good selection of vehicles, too.
The run list is posted online weekly with photos of the cars for sale.
Bellingham Public Auto Auction
5487 Guide Meridian Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
360-647-5370
Up in Bellingham, you’ve got a place that’s a little different. They let regular folks sell their cars, and they’ve also got stuff like bank repos, police seizures, and tow impounds. You can bid online or in person, which is handy.
It’s not just cars – they’ve got boats, ATVs, RVs, even heavy equipment. I haven’t been to this one myself, but I’ve heard good things.
You may bid on the vehicles online or live, in-person.
Info & Websites for Tow Impound & Police Auto Auctions in Washington
Now, if you’re looking for a real bargain, you might want to check out some of the auctions from tow lots, police impound lots, and government agencies. These don’t happen as often as the wholesale auctions, and they usually have fewer cars, but you can sometimes find a great deal if you’re careful.
I’ll be honest, these auctions aren’t for everyone. They move fast, and there’s not a lot of room for error. If you’re a first-timer, you might want to stick with the wholesale auctions. But if you’ve got some experience and you’re willing to do your research, you could find a real steal at one of these auctions.
SEE ALSO: My Guide for Online Car Auctions
Auction 757 Tow Impound Auctions – (757) 512-8833 – Auction 757 is another option if you’re looking for a bargain. They run auctions for different tow companies around Washington State, and you can find some interesting stuff there.
Think seized vehicles, abandoned cars and trucks, that kind of thing. I’ve heard of people getting some really good deals at Auction 757, but you gotta be careful. Make sure you know what you’re bidding on.
Washington State Surplus – Bid on public surplus items, including vehicles, tools, and equipment. I like this option because the registration is quick and easy on their bidding site.
Kent Towing – Car Auctions Kent, Washington – (253) 852-6000 – In my personal experience, these are held less frequently than other impound auctions listed here. Just check back every couple of weeks and see what they have.
Seattle.Gov – Fleet Vehicle and Equipment Auctions (Surplus used fleet vehicles and equipment auctioned to the public around Seattle, WA.) – These are very high volume from what I have seen. Seattle’s surplus auctions are worth checking out because there are a lot of vehicles and also equipment for auction.
My Tip: Check out their “historical auction results” at the bottom of the page to get an idea of what they sell and for how much.
Auctions – King County (Surplus items through live public auctions and sealed bids)
The surplus warehouse is located at:
707 S. Orcas St.
Mailstop ORC-ES-0200
Seattle, WA 98108
Auctions in Motor Pool – State of Washington – The State of Washington also holds online vehicle auctions through the PublicSurplus.com website. They sell all kinds of government vehicles and equipment that they no longer need.
I find that it’s a good way to buy well-maintained vehicles. It’s something to consider if you’re looking for something a little different.
Impound Vehicle Auctions – Gene’s Towing (Auto auctions in the Lakewood, Puyallup, and Federal Way)
These tow impound auctions are open to the public and are held at various locations:
Lakewood
3700 94th Street SW Lakewood, WA 98499
Puyallup
1022 30th St Tacoma, WA 98409
Puyallup
1120 E. Main Ave. Puyallup, WA 98372
Federal Way
1928 So. 344th Street Federal Way, WA 98003
Evidence Unit – City of Vancouver Washington – These are infrequent, but you may bid on them with the Property Room website.
Auctions – Roadone Seattle (Abandoned vehicles and tow impounds auctioned to the public) – We like that they have a decent inventory because they offer impounds from multiple tow companies in Seattle.
Roadone Seattle holds their public tow lot auctions at these locations:
Lincoln Towing North
12220 Aurora Ave N
Every Saturday
Gates open at 7:00AM for viewing.
Auction starts at 10:00AM.
Lincoln Towing South
8425 1st Ave S
Every Wednesday
Gates open at 7:00AM for viewing.
Auction starts at 10:00AM.
Dick’s Towing and Road Service Inc
8425 1st Ave S
Every Wednesday
Gates open at 7:00AM for viewing.
Auction starts at 10:00AM.
Chico Towing Vehicle Auction – Bremerton, WA (While some vehicles may come with keys, we can make no guarantee of availability. If a key is present at the time of pick up, it will be given to the winner at that time.) 11634 Clear Creek Rd NW Silverdale, WA 98383 – (360) 297-8600
Chappelle’s Towing – Vancouver Washington Car Auctions – Over in Vancouver, you’ve got Chappelle’s Towing. They hold abandoned vehicle auctions every other Thursday. They’ve got all sorts of stuff – cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, even motorcycles.
I’ve never been to one of their auctions, but I’ve heard they can be a bit of a wild card. You might find a great deal, or you might find a real lemon. It’s a bit of a gamble, but that’s part of the fun, right?
Surplus Property – Kennewick, WA (Public auction of vehicles, equipment, police seizure, unclaimed, lost, stolen or other property no longer necessary for City operations) – You may bid on the PublicSurplus website.
See Also: Auction Listings in Washington on Car Dealer King’s Auto Auction Directory
Look, if you’re new to car auctions, I’d stick with the public wholesale auctions in Washington. They’re used to dealing with first-timers, and they’ll usually walk you through the process. Plus, the cars they sell are usually in better shape than what you’ll find at a police auction or tow lot.
Those police and tow auctions I mentioned can be tempting, but you really need to know what you’re doing. You should have a good understanding of car mechanics, and you need to be able to get repairs done cheaply. Otherwise, you could end up with a car that’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Wholesale auctions also have the extra option of allowing you to buy a car or sell your car at an auction. Contact the auction you are interested in to verify specific details.
Auction cars in Washington are a good opportunity to buy a cheap used car. You will be buying a car from the same place that used car dealers buy their cars.
You may visit a public car auction without any dealer license and there is no obligation to buy if you do not find a car you are interested in.
Last updated on February 9th, 2025 at 02:45 am
