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UkAuctions
The City of New York auctions vehicles and property under certain circumstances. These auctions are conducted by the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the city marshals.
Upcoming vehicle auctions
The Sheriff’s Office is hosting several auctions in the coming weeks. Learn more
Vehicle auctions
The City of New York will auction vehicles that have been seized or abandoned.
The vehicle’s owner must pay all tickets that are in judgment, plus penalties and interest, to redeem the vehicle. Vehicles are sold at auction if they are not redeemed within 10 business days of being towed.
Proceeds from the auction, after expenses, are used to pay the judgment debt. All vehicles are sold “as is” and the purchaser must pick them up where they are located.
Upcoming Auction(s):
- August 20, 2025 – Queens
- August 21, 2025 – Bronx
- August 22, 2025 – Brooklyn
- August 22, 2025 – Queens
- August 27, 2025 – Brooklyn
- August 28, 2025 – Queens
- August 29, 2025 – Bronx
- August 29. 2025 – Brooklyn
- September 5, 2025 – Bronx
Bidding on a vehicle
- Be sure you know the lot number of the vehicle you’d like to bid on.
- Vehicles are sold to the highest bidder.
- If there is a dispute about the highest bid between two or more bidders, the bidding process will begin again.
- The Sheriff’s Office may refuse any bid and cancel the sale at any time.
After you have purchased a vehicle at auction
- You must pay with cash in full as soon as the sale is final. We will waive the sales tax if you present a resale certificate.
- In many cases, you may need to tow the auctioned vehicles from the yard. Vehicle keys are not available.
- You must remove the vehicle from the tow yard by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the auction or you will be charged a storage fee of $20 per day. If you do not take the vehicle within 96 hours of 5:00 p.m. of the auction date, it will be considered abandoned and will be removed.
- Once you remove a vehicle from the tow yard, you cannot park it on the street or drive it unless the owner has proper registration and license plates.
- You must take the Certificate of Sale to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a title issued in your name. We only issue one certificate of sale per owner – no exceptions. We cannot issue duplicates for second copies or replacements of the original.
- The Department of Motor Vehicles may consider the vehicle as salvage. This means the vehicle may have to be examined before a new title or registration is issued.
- The tow yard may charge a tow fee to remove a purchased vehicle from the yard.
Property auctions
The Sheriff may sell real or personal property to satisfy an unpaid judgment. This is known as a “private asset auction.”
Auction dates are advertised in New York City newspapers and posted in each county’s Sheriff’s and county clerk offices. The money from the auction goes to the creditor.
Sale of real property
- At an auction, the successful bidder must pay at least 1O percent of the bid price (not less than $2,000). Cash, money orders, and certified checks are accepted for payment. A Memorandum of Sale is issued immediately.
- If partial payment is made at the auction, the balance of the bid price must be paid no later than three business days after the auction.
- If the successful bidder does not pay the balance within three business days, the sale will be voided and the property re-sold.
- A successful bidder who fails to comply with the terms of the sale may be liable for damages to the judgment creditor.
- Any taxes or transfer/delivery fees must be paid by the bidder.
- The Sheriff reserves the right to approve or deny all bids.
Sale of personal property
- Payments must be made in cash.
- The Sheriff sells the right, title, and interest only.
- The Sheriff reserves the right of approval on all bids.
Upcoming property auctions
Vehicle auctions — frequently asked questions
Can I buy back my own vehicle?
Purchasers are prohibited from buying back their own vehicles.
How old do I have to be to buy at an auction?
Bidders and purchasers must be at least 18 years old.
Can I pay with a credit card? Can I make a partial payment?
Bidders must be prepared to pay for any vehicle they purchase as soon as they make the winning (highest) bid. Payments must be made in cash. Anyone not prepared to pay immediately should not bid.
Do the vehicles have warranties?
The Department of Finance and the Sheriff’s Office make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the year of any vehicle or any vehicle’s quality or state of repair.
Are there any safety recalls on the vehicles being auctioned?
The Sheriff makes no representations on the functionality, safety, or recall status of the vehicles auctioned. Potential purchasers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research, such as a VIN search, on any vehicles they wish to bid on.
If there are problems with the vehicle, will the City make reparations?
Purchasers have no legal recourse against the City, including the Department of Finance, the Sheriff’s Office, and the auctioneer.
If the vehicle is a lemon, can I renegotiate the price?
The price of a vehicle will not be changed after sale due to the vehicle’s condition.
Are any vehicles sold with liens on them?
Yes, in some cases, vehicles with liens are sold at auction. Purchasers buy the right, title, and interest to a vehicle, subject to any and all recorded liens. A vehicle subject to a lien remains subject to the lien after sale. Any vehicle with a lien may be subject to repossession by the lien holder. The Sheriff is not responsible for notifying bidders about liens on vehicles.
If the vehicle has parking tickets from the previous owner, am I responsible?
Purchasers are not responsible for any outstanding parking tickets that were issued to the former registered owner of the vehicle.
Need help?
Contact the Department of Finance for assistance.
First Time Bidder
IRS auctions are conducted generally as “live” auctions where the bidders are physically present to bid. Occasionally an auction is conducted as a “Sealed Bid” where all bids are mailed, and then opened at the same time. The type of auction is always announced as part of the sale notice.
What is a Mail-In Bid?
A mail in bid is a courtesy to those that cannot attend the physical auction. While not present for every sale, it allows a bidder to place their bid, which is then incorporated into the actual auction. The conditions present for a mail‐in bid are spelled out on the bid form.
What’s the difference between a Sealed Bid and a Mail‐In Bid?
The sealed bid is a specific type of auction where all bids are mailed. Mail‐in Bids are used as part of the live auction, where the bids can be raised by those actually attending the physical auction.
What is being sold?
What’s sold is the rights, title, and interest of the person/entity from whom the asset was seized to the asset being offered. The sale is conducted subject to any senior encumbrance.
What is an Encumbrance?
An encumbrance is something that attaches to the asset, be it a loan on a car, a mortgage on a house, a judgment, or a tax lien.
How do I find out about the encumbrances?
For each sale, the auctioneer creates a Notice of Encumbrances which lists what possible encumbrances were found during our research. While we cannot guaranty its accuracy, it is a good faith search in an effort to provide the bidder with the information. Each bidder should conduct their own independent research.
Do I have to pay all the encumbrances in addition to my bid?
The winning bidder is only responsible for those encumbrances that fall senior to the IRS’s lien position.
What is a Senior Encumbrance?
A senior encumbrance is a party that has protected their interest on the particular assets. Common senior encumbrances to the Notice of Federal Tax Lien include Property Taxes, Mortgages, and Vehicle Loans.
How do I determine who is senior?
While we will not advise you on such matters, the Notice of Encumbrance will give you information such as when the encumbering documents were filed, which is often a good indicator of who is senior to whom.
The only items on the Notice of Encumbrance are Notices of Federal Tax Lien. Do I have to pay those?
The Notices of Federal Tax Lien are the documents that the government filed to protect its interest in the seized parties’ assets. The sale of the asset is being done to secure funds to pay down those liabilities. The winning bid is applied to the liability and the sold asset is discharged from those Notices of Federal Tax Lien.
Can I Pay by Credit Card or Personal Check?
No, the terms of sale generally are for certified funds or cash. Payment terms are spelled out in the Notice of Sale
Can I bid, and then pay later?
As a general answer, no. The terms of the sale are announced as part of the sale notice. If a deferred payment is to be allowed, the terms will be stated as part of that notice of sale. The auctioneer will make an announcement at the time of the sale of any changes to the terms of payment. The most common announcement is to allow for up to an hour to remit the payment subsequent to the auction’s conclusion.
When deferred terms are offered, how do I calculate the deposit required?
The terms for the deposit will be spelled out in the Notice of sale. When a range of bidding is allowed (Mail‐in bidding only), you should include a deposit that would be required if your maximum bid were to be accepted. For example, if 20% deposit is being required and your high bid is $100.00, then enclose a check for $20.00 so your bid will meet the terms of the sale.
How do I get the items I bid on?
All assets are sold “where is” and “as is”. Once the sale and its terms are concluded, the asset is yours. Further storage or moving becomes the responsibility of the winning bidder.
Will you ship the item to me?
No, the assets are sold “where is” and “as is”
Can I buy items before the auction?
No, the auction is the procedure that the government has for selling seized items.
Can I bid online?
At this time, only for GSA sales.
Can I phone in a bid?
Unless specifically announced as part of the Notice of Sale, this is not an option
What is a Minimum Bid?
To protect the Government’s and the entity from whom the asset was seized, a minimum figure is established for each sale or asset which much be reached for the sale to be finalized.
Is the Minimum Bid announced?
It is at the discretion of the auctioneer and not a requirement.
Is the Minimum what I have to bid?
The Minimum Bid (reserve) is the starting point for the auction, which the auctioneer
cannot go below. The auctioneer will start the bidding there and seek raises on the bidding until a final bid is reached.
How do I know how much to bid?
It is up to each bidder to determine the value of the item being sold, as it is their money being spent.
Can I get something for the minimum bid?
The more interest shown in an asset, the more likely the minimum bid will be exceeded.
Will you tell me what the high Mail-In Bid is?
At the physical auction, we will confirm the presence of a mail-in bid, but not the amount. We will have an employee bid on behalf of the highest mail-in bid received during the auction.
What condition is the asset in?
Because of the number of sales each auctioneer is usually working, they are often limited to the same information which has already been distributed. Bidders are encouraged to attend the physical viewing to form their own opinion on the condition of the asset being sold. Because that condition is often subjective, the bidder is responsible for determining condition, not the auctioneer.
All seized property is sold under the following statement:
“All property is offered for sale ”where is” and ”as is” and without recourse against the United States. No guaranty or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the validity of the title, quality, quantity, weight, size, or condition of any of the property, or its fitness for any use or purpose. No claim will be considered for allowance or adjustment or for rescission of the sale based on failure of the property to conform with any expressed or implied representation.”
How do I bid at the live auction?
The bid process is geared toward the auctioneer asking for an amount. The most common way to bid is to raise your bidder number (supplied at auction registration) to acknowledge that you would be willing to buy it at the price auctioneer calls out.
Can I just come to the auction to watch?
Yes, the auction is open to the public, so please feel free to come and observe. But please be aware that only registered bidders are allowed to bid.
How do I register to Bid?
We ask that you bring your driver’s license and we will enter contact information on the registration form and assign you a ‘Bidder Number’ card.
What happens if the item does not sell?
If the item does not sell, the auctioneer has three options:
Bid the item in for the government; Adjourn the sale for a period not longer than 30 days;
Give the item back to whom it was seized.
Vehicle Questions
What Kind of Title Do I Get?
We do not issue titles, as that is a state function. The transferring document is a Certificate of Sale, which is accompanied by an odometer statement for the sales of motor vehicles. These two documents are what you take to your local DMV.
Do Dealers attend the auction?
We get all types of different bidders attending our auctions, depending on what is being sold. For some this is their 100th auction, for others it is their first.
Real Estate Questions
Where do I find out more on the property?
Suggestions include checking the registry of deeds for title information and speaking to the town for
assessment information.
Can I view the property prior to the sale?
Remember what is being sold are the rights to the property subject to the right of redemption. Because of that most sales do not allow access to go onto the property and the viewing is limited to “Drive by only” with the statement “Do Not Trespass”. If there is access to the property that was granted, it will be stated on the Notice of Sale.
What is the right of redemption?
For 180 days after the sale the party from whom the property was seized can “redeem” the property by remitting the purchase price, plus a 20% per annum amount.
Can I do anything to the property during the right of redemption?
Since a deed will not be issued until the 180 days have expired without redemption, it would be at your own financial risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
The government does not provide any form of financing and the form of payment and amount of the bid must comply with the Terms of Payment as stated on the Notice of Public Auction Sale.
Can I get on the mailing list?
There is no special mailing list at this time. To view all present and upcoming auctions, visit our web site.
Why doesn’t the Internal Revenue Service take personal checks, credit cards or Bank Letters of Guarantee at their sales?
As per the Internal Revenue Code, all payments for property sold must be by a certified, cashier’s, or treasurer’s check drawn on any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States or under the laws of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or by a United States postal, bank, or express money order. Checks or money orders are to be made payable to the ‘United States Treasury’.
Since the Internal Revenue Service can only accept cash or certified funds at their auctions, how can I bring certified funds if I don’t know how much the property will sell for or if I will be the successful bidder?
Bidders are encouraged to bring several cashier’s checks (made payable as directed in the Notice of Sale) in differing amounts, along with some cash to make up any difference needed.
For example, a bidder may bring a cashier’s check for $5,000, two checks for $2,500, one check for $1,000 plus $500 in cash. Any checks not used at the sale should be able to be returned to your bank by you and cancelled and the funds returned to you. We also will usually have the ability to make change to some degree at the sale. Of course, other amounts and scenarios may apply.
What type of sale is it and how is it conducted?
Can I mail a Bid in?
While a mail-in bid is a courtesy to those that cannot attend a physical auction, it is not present for every sale. The conditions set forth for a mail-in bid are spelled out on the bid form. Most IRS auctions will allow some form of mail-in-bid, but it would behoove a potential bidder to obtain a copy of the Notice of Sale for instructions and limitations.
Why do I need to obtain a Copy of the Notice of Sale?
Any auction may differ in one way or another. The Notice of Sale will give the potential bidder all the necessary information to begin to make an educated bid on the property in question. It will describe the property, tell you if there is a minimum bid to be met, where to send a sealed bid and if mail-in bids are allowed. Most importantly, the Notice of Sale will provide you with a point of contact for any information needed to assist you in making your decision.
What if the asset (car, boat, etc.) breaks after I purchase it?
All property is offered for sale “where is” and “as is” and without recourse against the United States. No guaranty or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the validity of the title, quality, quantity, weight, size or condition of any of the property, or its fitness for any use or purpose. No claim will be considered for allowance or adjustment or for rescission of the sale based on failure of the property to conform with any expressed or implied representation.
Can I negotiate to buy seized property from the Internal Revenue Service before the auction?
No. The Internal Revenue Code Section 6335 requires that the sale be conducted either by public auction or by public sale under sealed bids. The law does not allow the Internal Revenue Service to bypass the auction or sealed bid processes.
What other fees do I have to pay the Internal Revenue Service at the auction, in addition to my successful bid?
Unlike many other auctions, the IRS does not charge or add on any buyer’s premium at our sales.
Real Estate
Do I get clear and insurable title?
If I am the successful bidder, is the property then owned by me to do with as I wish?
According to the Internal Revenue Code, Section 6337, the following individuals have the right to redeem the property at any time within 180 days after the date the successful bid is accepted by the IRS:
- The owners, the heirs, executors, or administrators of the owners;
- Any person having any interest in the property;
- Any person having a lien interest in the property;
- Any person on behalf of those listed.
During the 180-day redemption period- May I collect rent, evict tenants or move onto the property?
The taxpayer and others of interest have a right to redeem the property and any action is dependent upon state law. Therefore, you should contact an attorney or legal representative for this type of advice.
Will I be paid for any expenses on the property that I expend during the 180-day redemption period if the property is redeemed?
The law requires only that for cash sale, the property or tract of property may be redeemed upon payment to the purchaser of the amount paid by the purchaser plus interest at the rate of 20 percent annually.
What happens after the 180-day redemption period? What kind of deed and when will I receive it?
The Internal Revenue Code Section 6338(b) provides that whenever real property is not redeemed within the 180-day period, the purchaser or his/her assign, will be issued a deed (usually a Quit-Claim Deed) upon surrender of the Certificate of Sale. The deed will be in accordance with the laws of the state in which the real property is situated pertaining to sales of real property under execution.