<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0407</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-03-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001046102</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RITCHIE BROS AUCTIONEERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001661698</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Zimmerman Christopher</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9500 GLENLYON PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURNABY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>V5J 0C6</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Maria Teresa Punsalan as attorney-in-fact for Christopher Zimmerman.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
