Hear from Our Customers
You’re not buying a regular used car. You’re getting a vehicle that was built to handle high-speed pursuits, long idle hours, and constant use without falling apart.
Ford Police Interceptor Utility models and Crown Victoria Police Interceptors come with heavy-duty suspension, upgraded brakes, bigger alternators, and engine calibrations designed for performance. These aren’t luxury features. They’re functional upgrades that mean the vehicle lasts longer and handles better than most civilian cars at the same mileage.
When you buy a used police car, you’re also buying into a maintenance history. Fleet vehicles get regular oil changes and documented upkeep because agencies can’t afford downtime. That’s different from buying from a private seller who may or may not have kept up with basic care.
The other thing? Safety. Ford Interceptors are the only vehicles tested to meet a 75-MPH rear-impact crash standard. That’s not marketing. That’s engineering designed to protect officers in the worst-case scenarios, and now it protects you.
State Surplus Auto Sales was started by someone who spent years in law enforcement. That background matters because it means we know which vehicles hold up and which ones don’t.
Since 2003, we’ve been selling quality pre-owned government vehicles to people in Middletown, PA and the surrounding Central Pennsylvania area. We’re not trying to move luxury cars or push financing packages that don’t make sense. We’re here to help people on fixed incomes, small budgets, or anyone who wants a solid vehicle without the inflated price tag find something reliable.
Middletown sits right off Route 283 and Interstate 76, which means you’re dealing with highway driving, winter weather, and the kind of wear that tests a vehicle. The Ford Explorer Police Interceptor and Crown Vic models we sell were built for exactly that kind of use. They’re not fragile. They’re not finicky. They’re workhorses.
First, you look at what’s available. We carry Ford Interceptor models including the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. You can see what’s in stock, check mileage, and get a sense of condition before you ever come in.
When you visit, you’re not walking into a high-pressure sales environment. You can ask questions. You can look under the hood. You can take it for a drive and see how it handles. We’re not here to rush you into a decision you’re not ready to make.
If you decide to move forward, we talk pricing and financing. We offer zero percent interest financing because we want to make it easier for you to get keys in hand without adding unnecessary costs. In Pennsylvania, you’ll need to factor in a 6% sales tax, title fees, and registration costs. We’ll walk you through what that looks like so there are no surprises.
Once the paperwork is done, you’ll need to get the vehicle inspected within 10 days. That’s a Pennsylvania requirement for all used cars. If you’re in an emissions testing area, that’s part of the process too. We’ll make sure you know what’s required before you leave the lot.
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When you buy a Ford Interceptor from us, you’re getting a vehicle that was purpose-built for law enforcement use. That means factory upgrades you won’t find on civilian models. Heavier-duty suspension components. Larger brakes designed for repeated high-speed stops. A bigger alternator to handle the electrical load. A recalibrated engine computer for better acceleration.
You’re also getting a vehicle that’s been maintained on a schedule. Government fleets don’t skip oil changes or ignore warning lights. Maintenance records are typically available, so you’re not guessing about the vehicle’s history.
In Middletown and the surrounding areas, winter driving is a reality. Salt on the roads. Ice. Snow. The Ford Police Interceptor Utility comes standard with all-wheel drive in many configurations, which matters when you’re navigating Route 283 in January. The Crown Victoria’s rear-wheel-drive platform is proven in all conditions, and the weight distribution makes it stable even in bad weather.
Here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania’s used car laws. There’s no cooling-off period. Once you buy, the sale is final. The Lemon Law doesn’t apply to used vehicles. That’s why it’s important to ask questions upfront and understand what you’re getting. We’re transparent about vehicle condition because we’d rather you know what you’re buying than deal with regret later.
Not usually. Insurance companies care more about the base model than the police package designation. A Ford Police Interceptor Utility is still a Ford Explorer to your insurance company, and a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is still a Crown Vic.
That said, you should call your insurance agent before you buy. Some companies have specific policies about former police vehicles, and it’s better to know upfront than after you’ve signed paperwork. In most cases, you’ll find that rates are comparable to civilian versions of the same vehicle, and sometimes lower because of the safety features and build quality.
The other factor is how you plan to use it. If you’re driving it as a daily commuter in Middletown, your rates will reflect that. If you’re using it for business purposes like taxi service, that’s a different conversation with your insurer.
The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is a full-size sedan that Ford built until 2011. It’s rear-wheel drive, seats six, and has a V8 engine. It’s known for being nearly indestructible. You’ll see these with 200,000 miles still running strong because they were built like tanks.
The Ford Police Interceptor Utility is based on the Explorer platform. It’s an SUV, which means more cargo space and better visibility. Most come with all-wheel drive and either a V6 or a hybrid powertrain. It’s the current best-selling police vehicle in the United States because it offers versatility that a sedan can’t match.
Which one is right for you depends on what you need. If you want maximum durability and don’t care about modern tech, the Crown Vic is hard to beat. If you need space for gear, kids, or cargo, and you want something more current, the Interceptor Utility makes more sense.
Most of the time, yes. Police interceptors for sale usually come with the spotlight still mounted, push bars on the front, and sometimes vinyl graphics or decal residue. Some have holes in the dash or trunk from where equipment was mounted.
You can remove or cover most of that if you want the vehicle to look less like a cop car. Push bars unbolt. Spotlights come off. Vinyl residue can be cleaned. Some buyers actually prefer the look because it commands respect on the road. Other drivers tend to slow down and follow traffic laws when they see what looks like an unmarked police vehicle.
If having a vehicle that looks civilian is important to you, ask about what’s been removed or what can be removed before purchase. We’ll tell you what’s involved and whether it’s something you can do yourself or if you’ll need help.
Most police interceptors come off the fleet with anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 miles. That sounds high if you’re comparing it to a typical used car, but it’s not the same kind of mileage.
A lot of those miles are highway miles or idle hours. Patrol vehicles spend time idling at scenes, which puts hours on the engine but not miles on the odometer. Highway miles are easier on a vehicle than stop-and-go city driving. The other thing is that these vehicles were maintained on schedule, which matters more than the raw mileage number.
Ford built these vehicles to handle 250,000 miles or more. A Crown Vic with 100,000 miles is just getting broken in. An Interceptor Utility with 120,000 miles still has a lot of life left if it’s been maintained properly. Don’t let the mileage scare you off if the vehicle has been cared for.
Yes. We offer zero percent interest financing to help you get into a vehicle without adding extra costs on top of the purchase price. That’s different from most dealerships that build interest into the payment and make the total cost significantly higher.
You’ll still need to budget for Pennsylvania’s 6% sales tax, title fees, registration, and the inspection that’s required within 10 days of purchase. Those costs are separate from the vehicle price, and we’ll break down exactly what you’re looking at before you commit.
If you’re on a fixed income or working with a tight budget, financing can make the difference between being able to afford a reliable vehicle or not. We’re not here to push you into a payment you can’t handle. We’d rather have an honest conversation about what works for your situation and find a vehicle that fits.
Police impound cars for sale and surplus government vehicles are priced lower because they’re sold in volume and they’re not retail inventory. When a police department retires a fleet vehicle, they’re not trying to maximize profit on each unit. They’re clearing out vehicles to make room for new ones.
That means you’re getting a vehicle that would cost significantly more on the regular used car market. A comparable Ford Explorer without the police package might sell for double what you’d pay for a Ford Explorer Police Interceptor for sale from a government auction or surplus dealer.
The other reason is perception. Some buyers don’t want a former police vehicle because of the way it looks or because they assume it’s been beaten up. That keeps demand lower than it should be given the actual condition and capability of these vehicles, which works in your favor if you’re focused on value over appearance.
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