You want to buy a car at auction in Kansas, and most lists you find mix dealer-only sales, salvage yards, and public auctions into one pile. The question that matters is simple: where can you bid without a dealer license? Here is who sells to whom, what Kansas needs from you after you win, and an online option that delivers to Kansas.
The short answer: Several of the best known Kansas auctions, including Mid Kansas Auto Auction in Wichita, sell only to dealers. The public can bid at IAA’s Kansas City, Kansas branch, on state surplus vehicles through GovDeals, and on online marketplaces like Remarket Space. After you win, you have 60 days to title and register the car at your county treasurer.
Updated October 17, 2026. Checked against the Kansas Department of Revenue, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Administration, and each auction’s own website. Sources are linked at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Dealer auctions: Mid Kansas Auto Auction calls itself a dealers-only auction. Salina and Sunflower Auto Auction are built around dealer buyers too, so call before you drive there.
- IAA: the Kansas City, Kansas branch page says its auction is open to public buyers. Expect insurance total losses, not ready-to-drive cars.
- Government sales: Kansas State Surplus Property runs its auctions on GovDeals.
- After you win: 60 days to register, a $10 title fee, Kansas sales tax (6.5% state rate plus local), and a $20 VIN inspection if the car has an out-of-state title.
- No emissions test: Kansas does not require one.
- Easiest option: Remarket Space is an online marketplace open to the public, with no dealer license and no membership fee, and it delivers to Kansas.
Which car auctions in Kansas are open to the public?
Fewer than most directories suggest. Kansas licenses auctions as a dealer type, with its own license and a $30,000 surety bond, according to the Kansas Dealer Handbook. A license tells you the auction is legal. It does not tell you if the public can bid.
| Where to buy | Can the public bid? | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| IAA Kansas City, Kansas | Yes. The branch page lists the auction as open to public buyers. | Insurance total losses and repairable cars |
| Copart (Wichita and Kansas City areas) | Depends on the title type. Check Copart’s licensing rules for Kansas before you register. | Damaged and repairable cars |
| Mid Kansas Auto Auction, Salina Auto Auction, Sunflower Auto Auction | Dealer sales. Mid Kansas says dealers only. | Licensed dealers |
| State surplus on GovDeals | Yes, with a GovDeals account | Former state fleet vehicles |
| Remarket Space (online) | Yes. No dealer license, no membership fee. | Inspected cars with an out-the-door price, delivered |
New to auctions? Our guide on whether the public can buy cars at auction explains the difference between public, dealer, and salvage sales.
Kansas car auctions by city: the 2026 list
These are the main vehicle auctions with Kansas locations. We checked each one’s website on October 17, 2026. Who can buy changes, so treat “ask the auction” as a no until they tell you yes.
| City | Auction | Type | Public bidding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, KS | IAA Kansas City | Insurance and salvage | Listed as open to public buyers |
| Kansas City, KS | Copart Kansas City and Kansas City East | Insurance and salvage | Depends on title type. Check Copart. |
| Wichita area | IAA Wichita | Insurance and salvage | Ask the auction |
| Wichita | Copart Wichita | Insurance and salvage | Depends on title type. Check Copart. |
| Wichita | Mid Kansas Auto Auction | Wholesale | No. Dealers only. |
| Salina | Salina Auto Auction | Wholesale | Ask the auction. Its sign-up form is for dealerships. |
| Topeka | Sunflower Auto Auction | Wholesale, weekly Wednesday sale | Ask the auction |
| Statewide, online | Kansas State Surplus Property on GovDeals | Government surplus | Yes |
Call first and ask two things: do you sell to the public, and what ID or deposit do you need to register?
Are there free public car auctions in Kansas City?
Yes, on both sides of the state line, but they are not the kind with clean, inspected cars. On the Kansas side, IAA’s Kansas City branch sells mostly insurance total losses to public buyers. Watch the costs: the branch page says domestic buyers pay within 2 days and storage runs $50 a day after 4 free days.
On the Missouri side, the City of Kansas City tow service auctions vehicles not claimed by their owners once a month through OAI Auctions. In Kansas City, Kansas, the KCK Police Department says towed property not retrieved 30 days after notice to the owner can be sold at auction. Call its auto release desk for sale details. If you live in Missouri, our guide to car auctions in Missouri covers that side of the line.
Can you buy at Copart or IAA in Kansas without a dealer license?
At IAA Kansas City, yes. Its branch page lists the auction as open to public buyers. Other branches and some vehicles can have different rules, so read the listing before you bid.
At Copart, it depends on the title. Copart sets buyer rules by the state where the car sits and by title type, and salvage cars often need a business license or a broker. Check Copart’s state licensing overview for Kansas before you pay for a membership. Our post on whether Copart and IAAI are a scam walks through the fees and risks first-time buyers miss.
One Kansas rule matters here: the Division of Vehicles says a vehicle with a nonrepairable or junk brand from another state cannot be titled or registered in Kansas. Check the title brand before you bid on an out-of-state wreck. For the bigger picture on damaged cars, read how salvage auctions work.
Are there government car auctions in Kansas?
Yes. The Kansas Department of Administration says State Surplus Property is running its auctions through GovDeals.com. Inventory changes week to week, and vehicles are sold as is, so plan on a pre-bid look and your own transport.
Do you need a dealer license to buy at auction in Kansas?
Only for dealer-only sales like Mid Kansas Auto Auction. A license makes sense if you plan to resell. The Kansas Dealer Handbook defines a dealer as someone who sells 5 or more vehicles in a calendar year. Read how many cars you can sell in Kansas without a license and our guide to getting a used car dealer license in Kansas.
What does a Kansas auction car really cost?
More than the winning bid. Add these up before you set your top bid:
| Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Buyer fees | Every auction adds its own buyer premium. Compare them in our car auction buyer premium guide. |
| Storage and pickup | Salvage yards charge daily storage after a few free days. IAA Kansas City charges $50 a day after 4 free days. |
| Transport | Budget a tow or a carrier. See our guide to transporting a car after you win an auction. |
| Kansas sales tax | 6.5% state rate plus your local rate |
| Title fee | $10 |
| VIN inspection | $20 if the car has an out-of-state title, $25 for a salvage inspection |
What do you do after you win a car at auction in Kansas?
- 1. Get the title signed over to you. The Division of Vehicles wants the purchase price, sale date, odometer reading, and printed names and signatures of seller and buyer.
- 2. Get insurance. You need current proof of insurance to register.
- 3. Get a VIN inspection if the title is from another state. The Kansas Highway Patrol asks you to bring the car, the signed title, the purchase papers, and a government ID. Call the station first.
- 4. Register within 60 days at the county treasurer where the car is kept, and pay the title fee, sales tax, and property tax there.
Car auctions in states near Kansas
If you live near a border, the auction next door may be closer. See our guides to Missouri car auctions, car auctions in Oklahoma, car auctions in Nebraska, and car auctions in Colorado. You still title the car in Kansas if you live here, so the 60-day rule and the VIN inspection apply.
A simpler way to buy auction cars in Kansas
If you want auction prices without a dealer license, a broker, or a salvage yard tow, Remarket Space, formerly Twin Cities Auto Auction, is an online car marketplace open to the public, based in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Sign-up is free with an ID. Every listing has an inspection by a Verified Remarket Space Inspector, a free Carfax, an HD virtual test drive, and the out-the-door total with the delivery quote included. Buy Now or bid live, pay by card within 48 hours, and the car is delivered nationwide, typically within 48 hours. Undisclosed engine, transmission, frame, or flood damage reported within 72 hours of delivery is covered by our 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee.
See cars up for auction now, read how bidding works, or check the buyer premium and fees. On a $2,000 winning bid, the buyer’s premium is $459 and the admin fee is $189, for $2,648 before delivery and Kansas tax. Browse cars under $5,000, used trucks, or used SUVs. Those cars are in Minnesota and ship to Kansas with a quote. Title paperwork can take 8 to 12 weeks, so ask how titling works before you bid.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. IAA’s Kansas City, Kansas branch lists its auction as open to public buyers, and the state sells surplus vehicles on GovDeals. Several large Kansas auctions, such as Mid Kansas Auto Auction in Wichita, sell only to dealers, so call before you go.
Yes, at public sales. IAA Kansas City, GovDeals state surplus, city tow lot auctions, and online marketplaces like Remarket Space do not need a dealer license. Wholesale auctions such as Mid Kansas Auto Auction are for licensed dealers.
Kansas City, Missouri auctions unclaimed tow lot vehicles once a month through OAI Auctions, and IAA’s Kansas City, Kansas branch is open to public buyers. Expect as-is cars, buyer fees, and daily storage charges if you pick up late.
No. Mid Kansas Auto Auction in Wichita describes itself as a full-service, dealers-only auto auction. Without a dealer license, look at IAA Kansas City, state surplus on GovDeals, or an online public marketplace instead.
60 days from the purchase date. You register at the county treasurer where the car is kept, with the signed title and proof of insurance. You pay a $10 title fee and Kansas sales tax, and a $20 VIN inspection if the title is from another state.
Yes. A car with a title from another state needs a VIN inspection at a Kansas Highway Patrol station or approved location before Kansas will issue a title or tag. A regular inspection costs $20. Kansas does not require an emissions test.
Sources
- Kansas Division of Vehicles: Title a used vehicle
- Kansas Division of Vehicles: Titling a vehicle FAQ
- Kansas Department of Revenue: Pub. KS-1510 Sales Tax and Compensating Use Tax
- Kansas Department of Revenue: Dealer Handbook
- Kansas Highway Patrol: VIN inspection cost
- Kansas Department of Administration: State Surplus public auctions
- City of Kansas City, Missouri: Tow services
- IAA: Kansas City (KS) branch
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Auctions change their buyer rules, so confirm with the auction and your county treasurer before you bid.
