Reno & Sparks Car Auctions
Every vehicle auction in the area — who can bid, when they run, and what to know before you raise a hand. Most "Reno car auctions" in search results are dealer-only; here is the honest map.
Reno-Sparks Auction Company
- Schedule
- Every Sunday, 12:00 noon
- Typical inventory
- ~30 cars and trucks weekly — consignments, trade-ins, fleet
The main truly-public weekly car auction in the area. Arrive early to inspect — there are no test drives, and everything sells as-is.
JJ Kane Auctions (Sparks)
- Schedule
- Online-timed sales; in-person inspection the two business days before close, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Typical inventory
- Government and fleet vehicles, trucks, equipment
Took over TNT Auction's operations in 2023. Ex-government vehicles usually come with documented service history — one of the safer ways to buy at auction.
Washoe County / City surplus sales
- Schedule
- Periodic — watch the county purchasing page
- Typical inventory
- Retired county and city fleet vehicles, sometimes dozens at once
The City of Sparks has auctioned as many as 70 vehicles in a single sale. Known maintenance history, honest mileage.
Brasher's Reno Auto Auction
- Schedule
- Every Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. (6000 Echo Ave, Reno)
- Typical inventory
- Wholesale lanes — trade-ins, fleet, lease returns
Licensed dealers only. This is where local dealers source the cars they retail — the public cannot bid.
ADESA Reno
- Schedule
- Scheduled dealer sales
- Typical inventory
- Wholesale dealer lanes
Licensed dealers only, like Brasher's.
Frequently asked questions
Which Reno car auctions are open to the public?
Reno-Sparks Auction Company (Sundays at noon, ~30 vehicles), JJ Kane Auctions in Sparks (government and fleet vehicles, online-timed with in-person inspection days), and periodic Washoe County / City of Reno / City of Sparks surplus sales. Brasher's and ADESA are dealer-only.
Can the public buy at Brasher's Reno Auto Auction?
No. Brasher's (6000 Echo Ave, Wednesdays 9 a.m.) is a wholesale auction restricted to licensed dealers, as is ADESA Reno.
Do auction cars come with a warranty or test drive?
No. Public auction vehicles sell as-is with no warranty and no cooling-off period, and you generally cannot test drive before bidding — at best a cold start and idle. Run the VIN through a history report before the sale and budget for unknown repairs.
When are the Washoe County surplus vehicle auctions?
Periodically through the year rather than on a fixed schedule. Watch the Washoe County purchasing page and JJ Kane's Sparks listings — city and county fleet sales are usually announced there.
Rather skip the auction gamble?
Buying from a local private seller gets you what no auction will: a proper inspection, a test drive, and a person you can ask questions. Tell us what you're after and we'll email when a match lists.