How the Jamaica Customs Agency and the Ministry of Finance sell vehicles at public auction, how to take part, and when the next sales are.
When people in Jamaica talk about a "government auction", they usually mean one of two different sales. The Jamaica Customs Agency auctions imported goods, mostly vehicles, that were never cleared by their importers. The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service auctions the government's own used vehicles and equipment. Neither is a bank repossession, and both work differently from the private treaty sales on the rest of this site.
Checked 8 October 2026. Sales can be postponed and lots withdrawn, so always confirm with the agency before you travel or bid.
Goods that are landed in Jamaica but not cleared by their importer are moved into the Queen's Warehouse. Under section 88 of the Customs Act, they can be auctioned once they have been in the warehouse for four months. Perishable goods can be sold straight away, and goods under investigation or tied up in court are excluded. In practice the regular sales are of motor vehicles, many of them recent Japanese imports brought in by car dealers.
Each item has a reserve price: the lowest price that recovers the duties, taxes and charges owed on it. Customs does not publish the reserve in its lot lists.
Customs publishes a lot list (the "bidders copy") for each sale. For each vehicle it gives the year, colour, make and model, number of seats and doors, steering side, fuel, transmission, engine size and chassis number.
It does not give a price, and mileage is almost always recorded as "not seen". Only a handful of lots carry any note about damage. Treat every vehicle as unseen until you have inspected it yourself during the viewing week.
Bring two passport-size photographs, your TRN card and a valid ID to a Queen's Warehouse: at Norman Manley International Airport, Sangster International Airport, or 230 Spanish Town Road. Registration is Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Each sale has a viewing period, usually the week before. Take a mechanic if you can, and check the chassis number against the lot list.
Auctions are held in the presence of auditors and a representative of the Ministry of Finance.
If you cannot pay in full on the day, you must pay a deposit of at least 10% of your bid. The balance is due within seven working days, and the deposit is non-refundable. Payment by manager's cheque is made to the "Collector of Customs", and the vehicle is not released until the cheque has cleared.
The original importer can still clear a vehicle by paying what is owed, up to the day before the sale. A car you have viewed may be withdrawn, so don't make plans that depend on one lot.
The Ministry's Asset Management and Disposal Services Branch sells vehicles and equipment the government no longer needs. The catalogues we found list items from a wide range of public bodies, including the Jamaica Defence Force, the regional health authorities and several ministries. They range from cars and minibuses to ambulances and road equipment. Most lots are kept at the Branch at Shalimar Avenue, Kingston 3, with some at hospitals, depots and garages around the island.
The catalogues give the year, make and model, registration or fleet number, chassis number and location of each lot. Like Customs, the Ministry does not publish prices, and everything is sold "as is, where is".
The Ministry publishes conditions of sale for each auction. At its 7 November 2025 auction they were:
These terms can change from sale to sale, so read the conditions published for the auction you plan to attend.
| Jamaica Customs | Ministry of Finance | Bank private treaty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is sold | Uncleared imports, mostly vehicles | Government surplus vehicles and equipment | Repossessed vehicles and property |
| How you buy | Live public auction | Live public auction | Written offer or bid to the bank |
| Registration | In person at a Queen's Warehouse | With Jamaica Customs, J$2,000 fee (Nov 2025) | None; submit the bank's bid form |
| Prices published | No | No | Usually an asking price |
| Deposit | At least 10%, non-refundable | J$20,000 or 10%, whichever is greater (Nov 2025) | Set by each bank |
| Condition | As is; mileage usually "not seen" | As is, where is | As is, where is |
Bank sales are covered on the rest of this site, starting with our guide to repossessed cars and how bank private treaty sales work.
The lot lists belong to the agencies and change as vehicles are withdrawn. We link to the official versions so you always see the current one, and we check this page for new sale dates.
Five banks' repossessed vehicle lists with asking prices, searchable in one place and checked monthly.
🚗 Compare Bank Repo Cars 🏠 Browse the Directory