Hear from Our Customers
Most used cop cars for sale run between $5,000 and $15,000. Compare that to $20,000 or more for a similar civilian vehicle, and you’re looking at serious savings on day one.
These aren’t stripped-down economy cars. You’re getting Ford Police Interceptors and Dodge Charger police packages built with reinforced frames, upgraded brakes, and engines designed for high-speed operation. They’re rated for 150 mph and built to handle stress most civilian vehicles never see.
Every vehicle comes from a law enforcement fleet where maintenance schedules are strict and service records are documented. You know what you’re buying because these agencies don’t skip oil changes or ignore warning lights. That’s the difference between a retired cop car and a mystery-history sedan from a random lot.
State Surplus Auto Sales has been in business since 2003, and we’ve never sold anything but used police cars. We’re located at 833 Broadway in Newark—less than 15 minutes from Plainfield—and we’ve built our reputation on one thing: giving you access to the same vehicles law enforcement trusts, without the dealer games.
We don’t do pushy sales tactics. We offer 0% interest financing to everyone, regardless of credit score, because we know Plainfield residents need reliable transportation for those 30-minute-plus commutes. You can browse our full inventory online, see detailed photos, and even arrange remote purchase if that works better for your schedule.
This is what we do. It’s all we do. And after 22 years, we’ve gotten pretty good at it.
First, you browse our inventory online or visit our Newark location to see what’s available. Our stock rotates regularly with Ford Police Interceptor Utilities, Dodge Charger police packages, and other retired patrol vehicles. You’ll see photos, mileage, and vehicle details upfront.
Once you find something that fits your needs, we walk you through the vehicle’s history. Most of our cars come with service records from their time in the fleet, so you know what maintenance has been done. We’re transparent about mileage and condition—no surprises later.
Financing is simple. We offer 0% interest to everyone. No credit checks that disqualify you. No hidden fees that inflate the price. You get approved, pick your payment plan, and drive off the lot.
If you’re coming from Plainfield or anywhere in the surrounding area, we can also discuss trade-ins. We give fair value on your current vehicle and apply it directly to your purchase. The whole process takes a few hours, not a few days.
Ready to get started?
Our inventory focuses on the most reliable models from active police fleets. That means Ford Police Interceptor Utilities, which are the best-selling police vehicles in America, and Dodge Charger AWD police packages known for their power and handling. These aren’t civilian models with a paint job—they’re factory-built for law enforcement with performance upgrades you can’t get on a standard lot.
You’re looking at vehicles with heavy-duty cooling systems, reinforced suspension, upgraded alternators, and larger fuel tanks. Braking systems are built for repeated high-speed stops. Frames are reinforced to handle pursuit conditions. These are the same specs agencies rely on when seconds matter.
For Plainfield buyers, this makes sense. You’re dealing with a 30-minute average commute, often longer depending on traffic and your route. You need something that won’t break down on the Parkway or leave you stranded on Route 22. A used police cruiser gives you that durability without the new-car payment.
Prices vary by model, year, and mileage, but the nationwide average for a Ford Utility Police Interceptor is around $13,978. We’ve seen them start as low as $5,974. You won’t find that kind of value on a civilian SUV with the same power and capability.
Yes, but you need to understand what that mileage actually represents. Police cars rack up miles differently than civilian vehicles. A lot of those miles are idle hours—sitting at a scene, running radar, or parked with the engine on. The odometer counts it all the same, but idle time doesn’t wear an engine the way highway driving does.
What matters more is how the vehicle was maintained. Law enforcement agencies follow strict service schedules. Oil changes happen on time. Brake inspections are regular. Fluid levels get checked. These aren’t personal cars where someone skips maintenance to save money. They’re fleet vehicles with documented service histories, and most of that paperwork is available when you buy.
The components themselves are also built tougher. Police interceptors use heavy-duty parts designed for high-stress use. That means they’re engineered to last longer under conditions that would wear out a standard vehicle. So yes, a retired cop car with 100,000 miles is often more reliable than a civilian car with 60,000 miles and no maintenance records.
A police interceptor is built from the factory with performance and durability upgrades you can’t get on a civilian model. We’re talking about reinforced frames, upgraded suspension, heavy-duty brakes, larger alternators, and enhanced cooling systems. These vehicles are rated for high-speed operation—often up to 150 mph—and designed to handle pursuit driving, which is far more demanding than normal commuting.
The engines are more powerful. Ford Police Interceptor Utilities often come with EcoBoost V6 engines tuned for quick acceleration. Dodge Charger police packages use HEMI V8s with aggressive cams and performance tuning. You’re getting horsepower and torque that civilian versions don’t offer, or only offer in expensive trim levels.
Safety features are also enhanced. You’ll find reinforced door panels, additional airbags, and body-on-frame construction designed to protect officers in high-risk situations. Braking systems are built for repeated hard stops without fade. Even the tires are larger and rated for higher speeds. It’s not just a paint job and some decals—these are fundamentally different vehicles built for a specific, demanding purpose.
No, most used police cars for sale are sold as-is without a manufacturer warranty or mechanical certification. That’s standard across the industry, not just with us. These are decommissioned fleet vehicles, and once they leave agency service, factory warranties don’t transfer.
That said, you’re not buying blind. We provide access to service records from the vehicle’s time in the fleet, so you can see what maintenance was performed and when. You know the vehicle’s history, which is more than you get with a lot of used cars on the market. We’re also transparent about condition—if there are cosmetic issues or mechanical notes, we’ll tell you upfront.
If you want extra protection, you can purchase an extended warranty or service contract from a third-party provider. We can point you toward options, but that’s a separate purchase. What you’re getting from us is a performance-built vehicle with a documented history, sold at a price that reflects its as-is condition. For most buyers, that trade-off makes sense because you’re saving thousands compared to a certified pre-owned civilian vehicle.
Yes. We offer 0% interest financing to everyone, regardless of credit score. That’s not a promotional rate or a limited-time offer—it’s how we do business. You don’t need perfect credit, good credit, or even average credit. If you’re ready to buy, we’ll work out a payment plan that fits your budget.
This matters in Plainfield, where the median household income is around $80,000 and a lot of residents are working professionals managing tight budgets. You shouldn’t have to pay double-digit interest rates just because your credit took a hit a few years ago. We’re not a bank, and we’re not trying to squeeze extra profit out of financing. You pay the vehicle price, split into manageable payments, with zero interest added.
The approval process is simple. We don’t run hard credit checks that ding your score or disqualify you based on arbitrary cutoffs. You tell us what you can afford, we show you what’s available in that range, and we structure payments that work. It’s straightforward, and it’s designed to get you into a reliable vehicle without the financing headaches most dealers put you through.
Our inventory rotates, but we consistently stock Ford Police Interceptor Utilities and Dodge Charger police packages because those are the most common vehicles in active law enforcement fleets. Ford Interceptors are the best-selling police vehicles in the country, so we see a steady supply of retired units. They’re SUVs with room for equipment, better visibility, and all-wheel drive—practical for Plainfield winters and reliable for daily commuting.
Dodge Chargers are the performance option. They’re sedans with HEMI V8 engines, aggressive styling, and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you want something that feels fast and handles well, that’s your pick. We also occasionally get Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, which are older but still popular for their body-on-frame durability and simple maintenance.
Every vehicle we sell comes from a government or law enforcement fleet. We don’t buy from auctions with questionable histories or take trade-ins from private sellers. You’re getting a vehicle that was purpose-built for police work, maintained on a strict schedule, and retired when the agency upgraded its fleet. That’s the standard for everything on our lot.
Even after the decals are removed and the lights are taken off, retired cop cars still look like police vehicles. The body shape, the wheels, the stance—people recognize them. And yes, that means other drivers will slow down when they see you in their rearview mirror, or they’ll stare when you’re parked. It’s just part of owning one.
For some buyers, that’s a downside. If you want to blend in, a former police cruiser isn’t the move. But for others, it’s not a dealbreaker. You’re getting a high-performance vehicle at a fraction of the cost, and if people drive more carefully around you, that’s not exactly a problem. It’s also worth noting that the attention fades over time—once your neighbors and coworkers know it’s your car, it stops being a novelty.
The cosmetic side is manageable. Most retired police cars have holes in the interior from removed equipment, and some need a repaint to cover spots where decals were. We sell them as-is, so you’ll see those imperfections before you buy. If you’re handy or willing to pay for cosmetic work, you can make the vehicle look however you want. But if you’re buying purely for performance and value, the looks are secondary to what’s under the hood.
Local Resources
Other Services we provide in Plainfield
