Agency wants to get rid of giant stock of seized; Lots include 180 thousand cars and motorcycles suitable for circulation and scrap
The São Paulo State Traffic Department (Detran-SP) has set an ambitious goal for 2026: to auction up to 100 thousand vehicles throughout the year. The initiative aims to give vent to an accumulated stock of approximately 180 thousand units — including cars and motorcycles fit for circulation or scrap — that currently occupy the state’s yards.
The sales offensive should start in the first two months. According to the preliminary schedule, 15 auctions are already scheduled, each with about a thousand lots. The agency also projects the confirmation of another 15 bids in the sequence, in addition to another 40 administrative processes that should be initiated in the first weeks of the year.
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The acceleration of auctions is not by chance. The movement strategically coincides with the process of granting vehicle collection and custody services to the private sector. To make the transfer of the operation feasible and reduce environmental and economic liabilities, the State needs to “clean house”. The auctions were technically evaluated as the most efficient tool to empty the yards quickly and transparently.
Davi Artigas, general coordinator of vehicle collection and auction at Detran-SP, projects an intense year. According to him, the goal is to start processes involving more than 100 thousand lots, ensuring a continuous flow of output.
Currently, the profile of seizures in São Paulo is varied. Most occur due to lack of licensing — cases in which regularization is usually fast, with the owner removing the property in a few days. However, vehicles seized for poor conservation, abandonment or serious infractions (such as the Dry Law) tend to remain in custody longer, becoming the main candidates for auction notices.
