If you have a need for a utility vehicle, like a truck or a jeep, but you simply can't afford to buy new, then used military vehicles for sale may be a viable option.
Buying Military Vehicles for Sale
There are a lot of websites out there that offer to sell you lists of "secret" government surplus vehicles for sale. The truth is that military surplus vehicles that go up for auction are available to the entire public, without exception. You don't need any special license to buy one, and you certainly don't need to purchase a membership or a list from any website or organization. By following the steps below, you can purchase your own utility vehicle, straight from the U.S. military, without any hassle at all.
How Military Surplus Works
The concept of military surplus only really started after World War II, when the amount of clothing, vehicles and other hardware produced by the U.S. surpassed the needs of the post-war U.S. military.
The Army-Navy Store
Because of the surplus, the government instituted a system of liquidating its surplus assets through a chain of sales from the military base to licensed bidders or wholesalers. Those buyers would then resell those goods to retail outlets, or possibly operate a retail outlet of their own. This was essentially the birth of the "Army-Navy" store.
The DLA Disposition Services
In the 1970s, the government consolidated those sales that were taking place at individual bases into a central surplus sales system known as the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS). This new department would manage military surplus. Military goods were either relocated to other bases or facilities that needed the equipment, or they were sold to the highest bidders at public auctions. Today, the name of this organization is the Defense Logistics Agency's Disposition Services.
The public no longer purchases items directly from the government. In 2001, Liquidity Services won a contract to handle the public sale of military surplus goods. This meant that all public bidders interested in purchasing surplus military goods could find everything at one central source. That source is Government Liquidation, the website set up by Liquidity Services to conduct the online public auction of military surplus in a format not unlike Ebay auctions.
Where to Find Military Vehicles for Sale
If you are interested in purchasing a surplus vehicle from the military, the best place (in fact the only place) to start is Government Liquidation. To purchase your vehicle, go through the following steps:
- From the main page, click on "Find Items" from the top menu.
- On the menu page, click on "Trucks & Other Vehicles".
- At the top of the vehicles page, you'll see categories like pick up trucks, utility trucks, trailers, specialty and others. Choose the category that's closest to what you need.
- You'll see a listing with a lot of information about each vehicle for sale. Some listings include the VIN number, so you can check the history of the vehicle before bidding. The location is available as well, so you can find a vehicle within driving distance of where you live.
- On the summary page, you'll find detailed information about the vehicle and conditions of the sale, so read it all carefully before you bid.
- You'll need to register before you can bid, but anyone who wants to buy is allowed to register.
If you're unsure about how to go about buying a vehicle that you want, check the item location and contact information. That way, you can just make contact with the organization that has the vehicle on-site. They'll be more than glad to provide you with the information you need to make a wise purchase.
Things to Keep in Mind
When you purchase military surplus, remember that almost all of the items you purchase will be used. In fact, sometimes they'll be very used. If you live close enough to where the vehicle is being held until it's sold, it's a very good idea to drive to the site and inspect the vehicle yourself. With government surplus vehicles, you usually will have to perform a few repairs to get it back into good, working condition. However, military surplus sales also often offer the opportunity to purchase very unique, one-of-a-kind vehicles as well.
