Why You Should Buy a Tank

Being a military history buff is a blessing and a curse. Understanding how we got where we are creates a pretty well-informed worldview, if you ask me. But most of our favorite vehicles, aircraft and equipment seem out of reach.

Some of them are more attainable than others. Sure, you can fill a shopping cart at an Army & Navy surplus store. You can visit air museums and tour old ships. You can also buy a surplus military vehicle and — apparently — put a tank in your garage.

It’s perfectly legal and more common than you might think. Allow me to be the bad influence that convinces you that getting a tank is the responsible and, dare I say, charitable thing to do.

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States Where You Can Legally Own a Tank

Want to know which states let you have a tank? All of them.

That’s right: Americans are free to own a tank. It can even be armed, although that involves about as much red tape and paperwork as you’re imagining.

You probably didn’t know tank ownership was possible, simply because the idea doesn’t occur to most people. Writer John Blumenthal has seen a thing or two, yet even he penned an article describing his dismay that such a thing is possible.

“I can’t imagine how disquieting it would be to wake up to the sight of a military tank on a neighbor’s lawn,” Blumenthal wrote for Cleveland.com in 2023. “Any vehicle that can flatten my barbecue into a metal area rug is frightening. Moreover, the presence of a tank in the neighborhood would probably affect real estate values and not in a good way.

“Clearly, serious collectors of military paraphernalia find tanks appealing. Not being one of these people, I don’t get it — given the scrutiny, the cost and the limitations, why would anyone want such a behemoth? They don’t even make attractive lawn ornaments.”

Let’s give Blumenthal the benefit of the doubt and assume he asked out of genuine curiosity because I’m happy to answer.

To own one of these tanks is to preserve a piece of history. Support or condemn the political justifications for using them in their day; young lives were changed and lost in these hunks of metal.

I wish more B-17s had gone to civilian owners than scrap yards following World War II. Boeing built more than 12,000 of the incredible aircraft during the war. According to Smithsonian Magazine, more than 26,000 Americans died in them in the 8th Air Force alone. The surviving aircraft were hacked up for scrap metal by the thousands as soon as it ended. In 2022, Fox 4, a Dallas television station, reported that only 45 remained in existence and only nine could fly.

But if you’re not passionate about history, old tanks just look like big, green eyesores threatening your property value (as if any of them are going to residential lawns).

Meet America’s Biggest Tank Dealer

Critics of civilian tank ownership might view the people who buy them as backwoods kooks in tinfoil hats, skirting the laws of polite society. In reality, they’re just taxpayers going to the source, because most tanks come straight from the U.S. Army.

According to the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, the U.S. military needs a way to offload equipment that outlives its wartime usefulness.

“​​TACOM’s Army Donations Program office is responsible for 407,595 pieces of property valued at $2.6 billion across 33,000 organizations in 14 countries,” the command’s website reads. “These artifacts range from revolutionary war cannons to M1 Abrams tanks. Proudly placed at historical museums, sites of remembrance and more, each piece stands to commemorate those who served, educate those who will serve and provide the public a piece of military history they can touch and see.”

The most surprising part? The tanks aren’t sold; they’re donated. If you can get approval to receive one and pour a satisfactory concrete pad to display it, the Army will send you a tank.

There’s just one catch: It won’t technically be yours. The tanks donated by TACOM remain U.S. government property, so the recipients are more like custodians than owners. For those interested in preserving history, that’s enough.

There are rules and regulations, too. In 2024, Peter Suciu wrote an article for ClearanceJobs that addresses Blumenthal’s concern directly.

“Organizations must meet qualifications under Title 10, USC 2572, as well, which means that private property can’t simply be designated a memorial,” Suciu wrote. “In other words, you can’t claim your front lawn is a World War II memorial and then ask the Army to loan you a tank.”

Buying Tanks on the Private Market

The Army may be the biggest player in the used tank game, but there are private sellers, too. This is America, dammit.

Bring a Trailer, one of my favorite places to lust after unobtainable cars, also has listings for privately owned tanks. An adorable little 1941 M3 Stuart went for $176,000 in 2021. They have imports, too, such as the 1972 Alvis Sabre from the United Kingdom that sold for $55,000 in 2020.

If you’re not a stickler for matching numbers vehicles or want something you can daily guilt-free, there’s even the occasional replica. A modern recreation of a 1917 Renault FT sold for $105,000 just a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately, it appears that even bargain tanks are out of reach for most consumers. If that’s you, fear not. You can always fly to Texas (of course, right?) and rent a tank at the aptly named Drive Tanks. You can even drive a Sherman that appeared in “Fury” and shoot the main gun — just remember to scream, “On the way!” like Shia LaBeouf before you do.

So You Bought a Tank. Now What?

I always tell car enthusiasts to look up their local cars and coffee meetups to find like-minded people and swap stories. Unfortunately, the pool for tank owners is a bit limited.

The most common use for decommissioned tanks is public display. You could share yours with a local military museum, veterans memorial or charitable organization.

If your tank is roadworthy, you can participate in parades and volunteer with Make-A-Wish. I bet if you volunteered to give rides at retirement homes and VA hospitals, you’d probably get to hear some pretty incredible stories from real tankers. Don’t forget to use your blinkers.

Owning a tank is a big responsibility. Even if the Army donates it, you still have to stay in compliance with state and local laws. If it runs, you’ll undoubtedly spend most of your free time greasing bearings and chasing down oil leaks. Either way, you’ll be in charge of keeping a real piece of military history alive for future generations to learn from.

It’s a heavy responsibility. Not as heavy as a tank, but still pretty heavy.

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