FAQ
How to buy
Once payment is confirmed, our integrated transportation partner VeriTread (or the transportation carrier of your choice) will help you transport items from the seller’s location to yours.
Do I have to bid from my computer?
If you prefer, you can submit bids by fax. Just print and return our PriorityBidSM form for fax bidding.
Can I inspect an item prior to placing a bid?
For customers that still prefer to view their items in person prior to an auction, GovPlanet does allow for onsite inspections. All onsite visits must be scheduled in advance with a GovPlanet representative. Some selling locations may have restrictions or unique requirements that you must comply with as part of the visit. Once an inspection appointment is approved, you will be personally escorted by a member of the GovPlanet inspection team while on site.
Who can answer questions on the equipment?
What is a PriorityBid and why is it smart to use them?
- You do not have to be at your computer on auction day. When you place a PriorityBid, you specify the maximum you are willing to pay for an item. You will be told immediately if yours is the highest bid placed so far, but you will not know how much of your bid amount remains to protect you from later bidders. Your bid amount is confidential and our auction software will keep you in the lead against competitive bids through the preview and on auction day or until your maximum amount is exceeded. If you get outbid by another PriorityBid, an automatic email will immediately be sent to you.
- You can win the item for less than your maximum amount. In our style of auctions, the price the winner pays is determined by the price the runner-up was willing to pay. The final price is never more than one bid increment greater than the next-highest bid. So, if you have little competition, you can win an item for less than your maximum amount. We recommend you determine your "no regrets" price—the price at which, if someone else were to win, you would not regret the outcome—and then bid one increment below that.
- Bidding early helps ensure that you are the winner. When competing PriorityBids are placed for the same amount, the earliest bid takes precedence (it has Priority at that price), so submitting your bid early gives you an advantage. You can place a PriorityBid online any time day or night, or by fax during our Customer Care hours.
- Freedom to keep an eye out for other bargains. PriorityBids give you the freedom to browse and track other items on auction day without worrying about your "must-have" items. Our system acts as your assistant, constantly monitoring your PriorityBids and keeping you in the lead until the price goes beyond your designated maximum bid amount.
As auction day approaches, you can check the status of your PriorityBids in the Buying List of My Account. Make sure your email address and notification settings are correct in My Account Profile so that you can receive outbid notification emails. Before even being outbid, you can increase the maximum on any of your PriorityBids by placing a new PriorityBid on the same item for your new maximum amount (don't worry, you can not outbid yourself). Like all bids, PriorityBids are binding and can not be retracted nor reduced.
- If your account is registered in the United States or Canada, you are not required to send a deposit or provide credit card information to initially be approved to bid at a credit level of $150,000. Approval at a higher credit level will require the submission of bank information.
- If your account is registered outside of the United States and Canada, please submit an International Bidders Qualification form along with a $2,000 USD deposit in order to participate in GovPlanet auctions.
In some instances, retailers must collect use tax, rather than sales tax. A common example of a purchase subject to the use tax is a purchase of an item for use in California from an out-of-state retailer. The tax rate for sales and use taxes are generally the same.
More info on Sales Tax
More info on Sales Tax in California
What is an End-Use Certificate (EUC)?
- If an item requires an EUC, the buyer will be required to receive Trade Security Clearance approval before the item is released for pickup. In order to receive approval, the buyer must complete all required information in the EUC form. Items requiring the EUC can only be purchased by a citizen of the United States and the account has been established within the United States. If the buyer was born outside of the United States, the buyer must submit a copy of their US Passport, US Naturalization Certificate, or US Green Card.
- If you purchase an item which requires an EUC, you will be asked to submit the completed form during the checkout process.
Some items are listed with demilitarization codes, what do the different codes represent?
- For questions on the different demilitarization codes, please visit the Defense Logistics Agency website.
- Items marked with demilitarization codes F and Q will be required to receive Trade Security Clearance approval before the item is released for pickup. In order to receive approval, the buyer must complete all required information in the EUC form. Items requiring the EUC can only be purchased by a citizen of the United States and the GovPlanet account has been established within the United States. If the buyer was born outside of the United States, the buyer must submit a copy of their US Passport, US Naturalization Certificate, or US Green Card.
Will I be able to inspect an item before I place a bid?
What fees will I incur if I win an item?
- Along with the final selling price, every item will be charged a Buyer Transaction Fee as well as any applicable sales taxes. GovPlanet will require a copy of your sales tax exemption certificate prior to removing any taxes. You will need to submit your exemption certificates prior to purchasing an item for your exemption to be applied. You can send your sales tax exemption certificate to salestax@govplanet.com.
- When purchasing a titled item, you will have the option to purchase Titling Services through GovPlanet. If you elect to purchase Titling Services, you will be asked to provide us with the necessary information during the checkout process. GovPlanet will be able to provide the buyer with either a SF97 form or will complete the Title Document process.
How will I know when a particular item is being auctioned?
How can I have the sales taxes removed from my invoice if I have a sales tax exemption?
How long do I have to submit payment after I have won an item at an auction?
After completing the checkout process and paying for my item, how do I make pickup arrangements?
- After final payment and any required Trade Security Clearance approval is received, the Item Release form will be available either in the Buyer's GovPlanet account or sent to the selected transportation provider. The Item Release form will include the contact information for the GovPlanet department who will assist you in scheduling a pickup date and provide you with the exact pickup location.
- For items being sold from a government site, you or your transportation service provider will be required to present personal identification, proper paperwork, and in some cases, proof of insurance before entering the site.
How long do I have to pick up my item before I'm charged additional fees?
- Unless otherwise noted, you must pick up your item within eight (8) business days of the auction to avoid accruing storage fees. If your item requires an EUC, you must pick up your item within eight (8) days of receiving the Item Release. Any storage fees owed must be paid prior to picking up an item. Please contact GovPlanet Customer Service to pay the final storage fee balance before picking up your item.
- Any item not picked up within 60 days will be considered abandoned. Once an item is declared abandoned, it will no longer be available for pickup. Please refer to the GovPlanet Terms and Conditions for more detail on our abandonment policy.
IronClad Assurance®
Are operational manuals always available with equipment?
How is IronClad Assurance applicable when I am making an equipment purchase through GovPlanet?
HMMWV
- First, you need to register with GovPlanet.
- To register, click here and enter your email.
- You will then receive an email from IronPlanet with your temporary password. You will use this temporary password to log into your account, update your contact information, create a new password, and request bidding privileges.
- Once your contact information has been verified, you will be asked to put a credit card on file. This card will hold a $1 pending charge that grants you $150,000 purchase power. Your card will not be charged unless you default on a payment, or call Customer Service and grant them permission to use the card on file to complete purchase of a won item.
Can I visit the HMMWV before bidding?
- o All GovPlanet items are individually evaluated by a certified inspector using IronPlanet’s patented inspection process. These detailed Inspection Reports are published online and made available for GovPlanet registered users to review prior to placing a bid. In addition, every item sold on GovPlanet comes with our IronClad Assurance providing you with the confidence that the inspection report is an accurate representation of the item.
- o For customers that still prefer to view their items in person prior to an auction, GovPlanet does allow for onsite inspections. All onsite visits must be scheduled in advance with a GovPlanet representative. Some selling locations may have restrictions or unique requirements that you must comply with as part of the visit. Once an inspection appointment is approved, you will be personally escorted by a member of the GovPlanet inspection team while on site. If you would like to try and schedule personal inspection, please fill out ‘application for onsite preview’, and email this form to our Customer Service department at CustomerService@GovPlanet.com. One of our representatives will get back with you within 24 hours.
- Onsite visits will be kept to 30 min maximum; and you WILL NOT be able to test drive the vehicle.
What is an EUC and why do I need one?
- An EUC (End User Certificate) is required for all surplus Military assets with demilitarization (DEMIL) code of Q or F; all HMMWVs, with the exception of Private Seller Consignments, are issued a DEMIL Q code. The EUC process typically takes 6-10 weeks from submission to be approved by Trade Security Controls (TSC). If you don’t have a history in dealing with entities/ countries whose interests are adverse to the United States, expect to be approved and the proud new owner of a HMMWV!
- EUCs are good for 36 months from their initial approval date. Subsequent submissions within this timeframe, provided no information (Residence, Company Name, etc) has changed typically results in approvals within 7-10 working days of submission to TSC.
- EUC forms can only be completed post-purchase.
- No storage fees will be charged during the EUC approval process.
- For more information, visit our EUC page.
What is a SF97 and what is it good for?
- The SF97 is a U.S. government-issued certificate that can be used to obtain a title for a vehicle.
- HMMWVs from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will have “off-road use only” stamped onto the SF97, where units from other sellers will not. All SF97s will be assigned to IronPlanet, and then re-assigned to (you) the buyer, utilizing a standard dealer re-assignment letter. Please check with your appropriate titling agency in your state to ensure that this letter is acceptable. If your state has unique requirements in regards to titling Former Military Vehicles, please contact customer service so that we can work together in ensuring you have the adequate re-assignment paperwork for your state.
- SF97s will typically arrive via FedEx or USPS within 30 - 60 Business days of EUC approval.
- For more information, visit our SF97 page.
- Not to start with. HMMWVs from the DLA cannot be taken on the road until you meet your state’s vehicle inspection requirements, and receive a state title and registration from your local DMV or State titling authority.
- However, some HMMWVs are sold on consignment, where the previous owner may already received proper titling and registration.
- Not all states will accept out of state titling documents on HMMWVs or other Former Military Vehicles. Please ensure that you contact your state titling/registration authority for your individual state’s requirements.
How long do I have after the auction to pay for my HMMWV?
What fees will I incur if I win an item?
How it works
How does the bidding work in an example auction?
- Bidder A starts the bidding by entering a maximum bid amount of $23,000. The GovPlanet auction system bids $20,000 on Bidder A's behalf, which is the minimum amount required to put Bidder A in the lead.
- Bidder B enters a maximum bid of $20,500 in an attempt to take the lead. However, since Bidder A has a higher maximum amount, our auction system responds with a bid of $21,000 to maintain Bidder A's lead.
- Bidder C then joins the bidding with a maximum bid of $28,000. Our auction system first tries to bid on behalf of Bidder A at his maximum amount of $23,000. But, since Bidder C's maximum amount is higher, the system cannot keep Bidder A in the lead. The auction system then places a bid on behalf of Bidder C for $23,500, which is the minimum amount required to make Bidder C the high bidder.
- Bidder A then attempts to reclaim the lead with a maximum bid of $25,000. But, since Bidder C's maximum amount is higher, our system responds to keep Bidder C in the lead with a bid of $25,500.
- No more bids are submitted to this auction, so Bidder C wins the auction at $25,500, even though his maximum bid amount was $28,000.
Why does the bid jump so quickly sometimes?
Why did I immediately get outbid after placing a bid?
Can I increase my maximum bid amount?
Is it possible to bid against myself?
Can I retract, cancel or decrease a bid?
Do I have to bid in whole increments?
For example: Let's say you're bidding on a grader being auctioned, where the current highest bid is $60,000 and the bid increment is $1,000. You can successfully place a bid for $61,000, $62,000, $63,000, etc., but our auction system will NOT accept a bid of $61,500, $62,001, or any other amount which is NOT a whole increment of $1,000.
What happens if two maximum bids tie?
For example: Let's say you're bidding on a wheel loader, and you set a maximum bid amount of $60,000 and take the lead with a current highest bid of $57,000. If another bidder later enters $60,000 as his maximum bid amount, the auction system will bid on your behalf and keep you in the lead at $60,000.
What are PriorityBids and why is it smart to use them?
PriorityBidSM is our system for placing bids during the preview period of an auction. A significant amount of all bidding in our auctions occurs with PriorityBids; more than 70% of items typically have bids on them before auction day. Because they are placed during preview, PriorityBids have a delayed effect on the price of an item: the price does not change until the auction opens. There are several advantages of using PriorityBids:
- You do not have to be at your computer on auction day. When you place a PriorityBid, you specify the maximum you are willing to pay for an item. You will be told immediately if yours is the highest bid placed so far, but you will not know how much of your bid amount remains to protect you from later bidders. Your bid amount is confidential and our auction software will keep you in the lead against competitive bids through the preview and on auction day or until your maximum amount is exceeded. If you get outbid by another PriorityBid, an automatic email will immediately be sent to you.
- You can win the item for less than your maximum amount. In our style of auctions, the price the winner pays is determined by the price the runner-up was willing to pay. The final price is never more than one bid increment greater than the next-highest bid. So, if you have little competition, you can win an item for less than your maximum amount. We recommend you determine your "no regrets" price—the price at which, if someone else were to win, you would not regret the outcome—and then bid one increment below that.
- Bidding early helps ensure that you are the winner. When competing PriorityBids are placed for the same amount, the earliest bid takes precedence (it has Priority at that price), so submitting your bid early gives you an advantage. You can place a PriorityBid online any time day or night, or by fax during our Customer Care hours.
- Freedom to keep an eye out for other bargains. PriorityBids give you the freedom to browse and track other items on auction day without worrying about your "must-have" items. Our system acts as your assistant, constantly monitoring your PriorityBids and keeping you in the lead until the price goes beyond your designated maximum bid amount.
As auction day approaches, you can check the status of your PriorityBids in the Buying List of My Account. Make sure your email address and notification settings are correct in My Account Profile so that you can receive outbid notification emails. Before even being outbid, you can increase the maximum on any of your PriorityBids by placing a new PriorityBid on the same item for your new maximum amount (don't worry, you can not outbid yourself). Like all bids, PriorityBids are binding and can not be retracted nor reduced.
How can I tell if I'm winning an auction?
Remember that in response to other bids, GovPlanet's auction system will automatically increase your bid in the smallest increment possible (up to your maximum amount) to maintain your position as high bidder. At the end of the auction, the high bidder pays only the lowest possible winning bid; you could win an auction at a price less than your maximum bid amount.
Can I place a bid in a foreign currency?
Do any items in the Featured Auctions have a reserve?
A Reserve Price is a hidden minimum price that the seller is willing to accept for an item. In a Reserve Price auction, the seller is only obligated to sell the item once the bid amount meets or exceeds the Reserve Price. A seller can lower, but cannot raise, the Reserve Price.
All Reserve Price auctions are clearly noted with a message next to the current or opening price. This message will either say "Reserve not met" or "Reserve met". As in all GovPlanet auctions, all bids are binding, but an item will only sell to the highest bidder if the Reserve Price has been met. If the Reserve Price is not met, a seller will have the option of extending a Second Chance Offer to the highest bidder, which gives the highest bidder an option to purchase the unit at a price equal to his or her maximum bid amount.
When bidding in a Reserve Price auction, you should bid as you would in any GovPlanet auction, by entering the maximum amount you're willing to pay for an item. Our auction system will automatically bid on your behalf in the smallest increment possible to keep you in the lead, up to your maximum amount. The only exception is that if your maximum bid is the first to meet or exceed the Reserve Price, our auction system will initially enter your bid in the smallest increment possible so that your bid meets the Reserve Price.
What is a Second Chance Offer?
Where can I review the bid history?
Checkout
Why do I have to go through the Checkout?
What kind of information should I have available during the Checkout Process?
- Your sales tax exemption number, if you believe your are exempt from sales tax.
- Your City / State / Zip Code delivery address / equipment destination
- Buyers exporting equipment will also be asked to declare their US port of export.
If your resale certificate is already on file for your equipment destination state, your resale exemption number will pop-up automatically during Checkout. If your resale certificate is not on file, you will need to provide a copy of your resale certificate using the bar-coded fax form provided for your convenience. You can print this fax form during Checkout and from the Post Sale page.
How long will it take for me to complete the Checkout process?
When will I be able to see and print my Invoice?
What if I cannot get through the Checkout process successfully?
Can I checkout multiple pieces of equipment at the same time?
Once I have completed Checkout, can I make changes to my delivery address or tax exemption status?
What happens if I fail to checkout during the three (3) business days following the auction?
When can I request shipping quotations from GovPlanet's transportation partner?
I haven't decided what the delivery address will be. I'm considering more than one address.
Why do I have to provide a Bill of Lading?
Why do I have to pay sales tax? This is an internet purchase and it's going to a different state.
What if the item I am purchasing is eligible for a titling document?
Payment & transfer
After purchasing an item eligible for a titling document, when will I receive it?
If I don't receive my titling document within 30 business days of my request, what should I do?
Does GovPlanet provide a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) along with my Used Equipment?
Are titling documents available for all "on-road" items?
I am exporting/importing my vehicle. How should I handle the process?
Sales & use tax
What purchases are subject to sales or use tax?
Are sales and use tax rates and regulations the same between and among the different states?
Do all states levy sales and/or use tax?
When can I claim a valid Exemption from sales and/or use tax?
- You are a reseller of like-kind equipment as the equipment you just bought; and
- You have a valid Seller Permit (or its equivalent) from your state; and
- You have completed the Exemption or Resale Certificate for your state and submitted it to GovPlanet; and
- You have submitted a Bill of Lading from a common carrier for shipment of your purchase.
Why are Resale Certificates required?
What information must a Resale Certificate include?
- The name and address of the purchaser.
- The number of the Reseller's Permit held by the purchaser (see Note below).
- A description (including serial number or VIN) of the specific property being purchased.
- A statement that the described property is being purchased for resale.
- The certificate must contain words that state the property will be resold or is for resale. The use of words such as "nontaxable" or "exempt" or similar terms is not acceptable.
- Signature of the purchaser or someone approved to act on his or her behalf.
- Date certificate was signed.
What if I do not hold a Seller's Permit?
Some states, such as California, require a Seller's Permit; buyers from such states must always supply a Seller's Permit number on their Resale Certificates.
What are my responsibilities as a buyer using a Resale Certificate?
I have a Seller's Permit, but where do I find a Resale Certificate?
What if I do not use a Common Carrier?
Are there any penalties for the illegal use of a Resale Certificate?
- Liability for the amount of tax due had the certificate not been used; and
- Liability for Interest payments on the tax due; and
- Penalties imposed by your state for intent to fraud or intent to evade tax; and
- Possible cancellation of your Seller's Permit.
Sales & use tax in California
Where should I fax the Bill of Lading to insure I receive my refund of the tax?
I am a California reseller. Must I pay sales tax for equipment purchased in another state?