The auction, held four to five times annually, is located at the DAS General Services Administration facility at 4200 Surface Road, on Columbus' west side. Surplus vehicle auctions provide the general public an opportunity to purchase quality goods at reduced prices and enable the state to recoup a portion of its initial investment. Vehicles can be started August 8 only. Those bidders not paying in full at the time of sale must deposit 25 percent of the total purchase price, and have until 3 p.m., August 11, to pay the balance. Vehicles must be picked up no later than 4 p.m., August 15.
Public auctions are the last step in the state's surplus program.
State agencies declare property as surplus because it is damaged or at the end of its life cycle for governmental usage. The property is then made available to other state agencies, state colleges and universities, tax-supported agencies, municipal corporations, and other political subdivisions of the state, including public schools. Remaining property is sold at the public auctions. Money generated by the purchases covers administrative costs for the program, and additional funds are returned to the original funding source for the property. On average, 400-450 people attend each vehicle auction and 175 people attend each miscellaneous property auction.