Hear from Our Customers
You’re not buying a retired cruiser because it’s cheap. You’re buying it because it was built to a different standard.
Ford Police Interceptor Utility models come with reinforced suspensions, upgraded brakes, heavy-duty cooling systems, and engines designed to run hard for years. These aren’t consumer-grade SUVs with a paint job. They’re purpose-built machines that had to pass a 75-mph rear-impact crash test—the only vehicles in the world held to that standard.
Most cop cars for sale you’ll find at our lot were maintained on strict schedules by municipal fleets. Oil changes every 3,000 miles. Inspections every few months. Records kept because taxpayers demand it. That’s the kind of history you don’t get from a trade-in at a regular dealership.
You also get all-wheel drive standard, which matters in Pennsylvania winters. You get better sight lines because the seating position is higher. And you get a vehicle that holds its value because people know what these things are built to do.
State Surplus Auto Sales was started by Carmen Yannuzzi, a career law enforcement officer with over 25 years on the job. He knew these vehicles inside and out, and he knew most people couldn’t get financing for them.
So we built our dealership around one idea: sell quality used police cars and offer 0% interest financing to everyone. No credit check. No games. You either qualify or you don’t, and most people do.
We’re located near State College, PA, and we’ve been serving Centre County and the surrounding area since 2009. This is all we do. We don’t sell regular trade-ins or auction cars. Just government vehicles—mostly Ford Interceptors—that we know were maintained properly and built to last.
First, you browse what we have in stock. Our inventory changes regularly because we source directly from government auctions and municipal fleets. Most of what we carry are Ford Explorer Police Interceptors and older Crown Victoria models, depending on what’s available.
When you find something you like, you can come see it in person or ask us questions over the phone. We’ll show you the service records if we have them, walk you through the vehicle’s history, and let you know exactly what’s been done to it.
If you want to move forward, we talk financing. We offer 0% interest in-house financing regardless of your credit score. You put money down, we set up a payment plan, and you drive off the lot. No bank. No third-party lender. No surprises.
You’re not going to get upsold on warranties or add-ons you don’t need. You’re getting a used police vehicle at a fair price with terms that make sense. That’s it.
Ready to get started?
Not every used cop car is the same. Some come from highway patrol units that racked up highway miles. Others come from city departments that put them through stop-and-go hell. The difference matters.
We focus on vehicles that were maintained by the book. That usually means municipal or state fleet vehicles with documented service histories. You’ll see higher mileage than a typical used car—sometimes 80,000 to 120,000 miles—but those are fleet miles, not neglect miles.
In State College, PA, and the surrounding areas, you’re also dealing with winter weather. That’s why most of the Ford Police Interceptor Utility models we sell come with all-wheel drive as standard equipment. You’re not paying extra for it. It’s already there because it had to be.
Parts are easy to find. These are Ford Explorers underneath the police package, so any parts store or mechanic can work on them. You’re not stuck hunting down specialty components or paying dealer-only prices.
The other thing worth knowing: these vehicles were built to perform. The 3.0L EcoBoost engine option in the Police Interceptor Utility outperformed every competitor in Michigan State Police testing, including V8-powered models. You’re getting real performance, not just the appearance of it.
Yes, but only if you know what you’re buying. A used police car isn’t for everyone.
If you want low mileage and a pristine interior, buy a certified pre-owned SUV from a franchise dealer. But if you want a vehicle that was built stronger, maintained better, and costs thousands less than a comparable civilian model, a Ford Police Interceptor makes sense.
The average nationwide price for a used Ford Police Interceptor Utility is around $14,000. A similar-year Ford Explorer without the police package will run you significantly more, and it won’t have the upgraded brakes, suspension, cooling system, or crash-test standards. You’re paying less and getting more vehicle.
The trade-off is cosmetic. You might have holes in the dash from old equipment. The interior might be worn. But mechanically, these vehicles were built to take abuse that no civilian driver will ever put them through.
The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the older, body-on-frame sedan that was the standard police car for decades. Production ended in 2011. It’s rear-wheel drive, has a V8 engine, and is built like a tank. Parts are cheap and plentiful.
The Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility is the newer SUV-based model that replaced the Crown Vic. It’s been in production since 2013. It’s all-wheel drive, has better fuel economy, more interior space, and higher safety ratings. It’s also faster and handles better in bad weather.
If you want something simple and bulletproof, the Crown Vic is hard to beat. If you want modern performance, safety features, and all-wheel drive for Pennsylvania winters, the Explorer-based Interceptor is the better choice. Both are solid vehicles. It just depends on what you need.
Yes. That’s actually why we started offering in-house financing in the first place.
Most banks won’t finance a high-mileage police vehicle, even if it’s in great shape. They see the mileage and the history and say no. That leaves a lot of people who need a reliable car with no way to buy one.
We offer 0% interest financing to everyone, regardless of credit score. You’re not getting a loan from a bank. You’re financing directly through us. That means no credit check, no third-party approval process, and no surprises.
You put money down, we agree on a payment plan that works for your budget, and you make payments until it’s paid off. If you miss payments, we’ll work with you. We’re not a faceless lender. We’re a small dealership that wants to see you succeed.
Most of the Ford Interceptors we sell have between 80,000 and 120,000 miles. Some have less. Some have more.
That sounds like a lot compared to a typical used car, but context matters. These are fleet miles, not personal-use miles. Fleet vehicles are maintained on strict schedules because they have to be. Oil changes every 3,000 miles. Regular inspections. Documented service records.
A police vehicle with 100,000 miles has probably been maintained better than a personal vehicle with 50,000 miles. It’s also been built to higher standards from the factory. Stronger components. Better cooling. Upgraded brakes and suspension.
The engines in these vehicles are designed to idle for hours at a time and then accelerate hard when needed. They’re built for durability, not just efficiency. A well-maintained Police Interceptor can easily run past 200,000 miles if you take care of it.
First, ask for service records. Not every vehicle will have them, but many do. If a car was maintained by a municipal fleet, there’s usually documentation. That tells you whether it was taken care of or run into the ground.
Second, check the interior. Police vehicles get used hard. Look for excessive wear on the seats, dashboard, and door panels. Some wear is normal, but if it looks trashed, that’s a red flag.
Third, ask about the engine and transmission. The 3.0L EcoBoost and 3.5L EcoBoost engines are both solid, but the 3.0L is generally more reliable. The 10-speed automatic transmission in newer models has had some issues, so if you’re buying a 2020 or newer model, ask if any transmission work has been done.
Finally, take it for a test drive. Listen for unusual noises. Feel how it handles. Check the brakes. These vehicles were built to perform, so if something feels off, it probably is.
No. That’s one of the biggest advantages of buying a Ford Interceptor.
Underneath the police package, it’s still a Ford Explorer. That means you can get parts at any auto parts store, and most mechanics can work on it. You’re not stuck going to a specialty shop or paying dealer prices for everything.
Brake pads, oil filters, suspension components—all of it is standard Ford parts. Even the police-specific stuff like heavy-duty alternators and transmission coolers can be found at salvage yards or online for reasonable prices.
The only thing that might cost more is if you need to replace a police-specific component that’s not shared with the civilian model. But even then, you’re usually talking about a modest upcharge, not double the price. Overall, these are some of the cheapest high-performance vehicles to maintain.
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