Is GovPlanet legit? An honest review for buyers & resellers
Short answer: yes. GovPlanet is a real online auction site owned by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global, NYSE: RBA), a public company. It sells surplus military and government vehicles and equipment to the public. People rarely lose money there to fraud. They lose it to freight costs, demilitarization rules and overpaying for as-is vehicles.
What is GovPlanet?
GovPlanet is an online auction site that specializes in surplus military and government vehicles and equipment: tactical and utility trucks, trailers, generators, heavy equipment and parts, sold to civilian buyers. It's part of the IronPlanet family of marketplaces and gets much of its inventory through U.S. government surplus programs. GovDeals sells a bit of everything. GovPlanet specializes in wheeled and tracked equipment.
How does GovPlanet work?
- Register a free account and get approved to bid.
- Browse timed online auctions. Many lots come with an IronClad Assurance inspection report, a third-party condition report that cuts down on surprises but doesn't eliminate them.
- Bid up to your maximum. Auctions are timed and can extend when late bids come in.
- Pay your bid plus a buyer's premium, any taxes and any fees.
- Arrange transport. Most lots are collected or shipped from the storage yard, and you handle the logistics within the removal window.
As on every surplus site, everything sells as-is, where-is. The inspection report helps, but there are no returns.
Who owns GovPlanet? Is it a real company?
GovPlanet is owned by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global, Inc., NYSE: RBA), a public company founded in 1958 and one of the largest equipment auctioneers in the world. Ritchie Bros. acquired GovPlanet as part of its 2017 purchase of IronPlanet.
Is GovPlanet a scam?
No. You get the lot you won, payment goes through the platform, and the inventory is real government surplus. What makes buyers nervous is specific to military vehicles, and all of it is legitimate:
- Demilitarization and use restrictions. Some military items are sold with demilitarization requirements or limits on use and registration. These are disclosed on the listing, so read them.
- As-is heavy machinery. "Runs" versus "for parts" makes a huge difference on a truck. Use the inspection report.
- Transport. A cheap win 1,500 miles away isn't cheap once you pay to move a 20,000-pound vehicle.
Is GovPlanet safe to buy from?
Yes. You get what you won and payment goes through the platform. The danger is in your own numbers: bidding on a vehicle's book value while ignoring transport, repairs, demilitarization rules and title or registration hurdles. You won't get defrauded, but you can lose money if you skip the landed-cost math.
GovPlanet review: pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Owned by Ritchie Bros., a large public auction company | As-is, where-is, with no returns |
| IronClad Assurance inspection reports on many lots | Some military items carry demilitarization or registration limits |
| Specialist inventory: trucks, tactical vehicles, equipment | Freight can cost more than the winning bid |
| Below-market prices on the right vehicles | Titling and registering ex-military vehicles can take work |
GovPlanet is a legitimate specialist marketplace for surplus vehicles and equipment. The risk is underestimating transport, demilitarization rules and repairs.
Where buyers actually lose money
- Freight and transport. The biggest cost on heavy lots. Get a real quote before you bid.
- Buyer's premium and fees, added to your bid and shown on each listing.
- Demilitarization and registration rules or paperwork that limit how you can use or resell it.
- Condition and repairs. As-is on a diesel engine is a real gamble. Use the inspection report.
Comparing surplus sites? GavelGap does the landed-cost and resale math for every live lot on GovDeals, the largest general surplus marketplace, so you know whether a lot can flip before you bid.
Try GavelGap free →Frequently asked questions
Is GovPlanet a legitimate website?
Yes. GovPlanet is owned by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global, NYSE: RBA), a public company, and sells surplus military and government vehicles and equipment to the public through timed online auctions.
What is GovPlanet?
An online auction site that specializes in surplus military and government vehicles and equipment (trucks, tactical and utility vehicles, trailers, heavy equipment and parts) sold to civilian buyers. It's part of the IronPlanet family of marketplaces.
Who owns GovPlanet?
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (RB Global, Inc., NYSE: RBA), a public company founded in 1958. Ritchie Bros. acquired GovPlanet as part of its 2017 purchase of IronPlanet.
Is GovPlanet a scam?
No. It's owned by a public auction company and sells real government surplus. The risks are practical: items sell as-is, some military items carry demilitarization or registration restrictions, and heavy lots are expensive to transport.
Is it safe to buy from GovPlanet?
Yes. You receive the lot you won and payment goes through the platform. Many lots include an IronClad Assurance inspection report. Read the demilitarization and title terms, get a transport quote, and work out your landed cost before you bid.
Does GovPlanet charge buyer fees?
Yes. GovPlanet adds a buyer's premium to your winning bid, and you also pay any taxes, documentation or payment fees, and all transport. The premium and fees are shown on each listing and vary by lot.