You want a car at auction prices, you live in the St. Louis area, and you do not have a dealer license. The good news: you have real options. Here is where the public can bid, how each type of auction works, and what Missouri expects from you after you win.
The short answer: The public can buy at auction in St. Louis two main ways: City of St. Louis tow lot auctions, held every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., and online public marketplaces like Remarket Space, which need no dealer license and deliver nationwide. Large wholesale auctions are usually dealer-only. After you buy, Missouri gives you 30 days to title the car and pay sales tax.
Updated October 3, 2026. Checked against the Missouri Department of Revenue, Missouri DNR Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program, Revised Statutes of Missouri, the City of St. Louis Towing Division, and the Illinois Department of Revenue. Sources are linked at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Public options: city tow lot auctions and online marketplaces are open to anyone. Wholesale auctions usually need a dealer license.
- Tow lot auctions: the City of St. Louis holds unclaimed towed cars for 30 days, then sells them every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to the highest bidder.
- Online: Remarket Space is open to the public, shows the out-the-door total on every listing, and delivers nationwide.
- Missouri deadline: title and pay sales tax within 30 days of purchase, or pay a $25 penalty that grows to as much as $200.
- Inspections: St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties need an emissions test at title transfer for most cars. Older or high-mileage cars also need a safety inspection.
Where can the public buy cars at auction in St. Louis?
Most searches for car auctions in St. Louis turn up a mix of places you can bid and places you cannot. This table sorts them by who is actually allowed in.
| Auction type | Who can bid | What you will find | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online public marketplace (Remarket Space) | Anyone 18 or older with a free account | Inspected used cars, live auctions, and Buy Now | Buyer’s premium and admin fee, and payment due within 48 hours |
| City of St. Louis tow lot auction | The public | Unclaimed towed vehicles | Little condition information, in-person only |
| Dealer-only wholesale auctions | Licensed dealers | Trade-ins, fleet, and lease returns | You need a dealer license to register |
If you live on the Illinois side of the river, the same choices apply. Our state guides to car auctions in Missouri and car auctions in Illinois cover the rest of each state.
How do police and tow lot car auctions work in St. Louis?
When people search for police car auctions in St. Louis, they usually mean the city tow lot. According to the City of St. Louis Towing Division:
- Holding period: towed vehicles are held 30 days before they are sold at auction.
- Schedule: public auctions happen every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
- How it sells: each vehicle goes to the highest bidder.
These cars were towed, not traded in, so expect little or no condition report and no history beyond what you can see. St. Louis County and other cities run their own towing, so check with the agency that towed a car you are interested in.
What about repo auctions? There is no single public list of repo car auctions in St. Louis. If you want a specific repossessed car, ask the lender directly how they sell it.
Can you buy a car at auction in St. Louis without a dealer license?
Yes, at public auctions. Tow lot auctions and online public marketplaces do not ask for a license. Dealer-only wholesale auctions do.
If you plan to buy and resell cars, check the rules first. Missouri limits how many vehicles you can sell without a license, which we cover in how many cars you can sell in Missouri without a license. If you need one, read how to get a used car dealer license in Missouri, or the Illinois dealer license guide if you are in the Metro East.
How does online bidding work on Remarket Space?
Remarket Space is an online car marketplace open to the public. We have started taking in cars from the St. Louis area, and every listing, wherever the car sits, comes with a delivery quote.
- 1. Make a free account. You need to be 18 or older, with a government-issued photo ID, insurance information, and a card on file. No dealer license or membership fee.
- 2. Check the car. Every listing has an inspection report, a free Carfax, photos, an HD virtual test drive, and the out-the-door total.
- 3. Bid or Buy Now. Buy Now locks the car at the listed price. In a live auction, bids are binding and move in $50 steps. No Reserve cars run every day.
- 4. Pay within 48 hours. Pay the full amount by credit or debit card. Miss the deadline and the account is suspended and the car is relisted.
- 5. Get it delivered. Nationwide delivery is quoted on every listing and typically takes about 48 hours after purchase.
What fees do you pay on top of your bid?
Every winning bid adds a buyer’s premium and an administrative fee from our pricing and fees page. Missouri and Illinois buyers do not pay the Minnesota DMV fees at checkout.
| Winning bid | Buyer’s premium | Administrative fee | Total before delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $459 | $189 | $2,648 |
| $4,000 | $549 | $209 | $4,758 |
| $8,000 | $729 | $209 | $8,938 |
Want to know what cars actually sell for? Our sold vehicles page shows real final prices from our Minnesota auctions. We do not have St. Louis sale history yet. Before you bid anywhere, read our tips for first-time auction buyers and the list of common mistakes when buying a car at auction.
What do you do after you win? Missouri title, tax, and inspections
If you live in Missouri, here is what the Missouri Department of Revenue requires when you title a car you bought. For every form, fee, and special case, read our full guide to Missouri title transfer. Giving a car to a relative instead? See gifting a car to family in Missouri.
| Requirement | What Missouri says |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 30 days from the purchase date to title the car and pay sales tax |
| Late penalty | $25 on day 31, plus $25 for every 30 days after, up to $200 |
| Title fee | $8.50, plus a $9.00 processing fee |
| Sales tax | 4.225% state tax plus your local sales tax, on the price minus any trade-in |
| Application | Form 108, Application for Missouri Title and License |
| Safety inspection | Required unless the car is within 10 years of its model year and under 150,000 miles |
| Emissions inspection | Required in St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties for most cars |
Your local rate depends on your address, and our Missouri car sales tax guide for St. Louis lists the rates for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. The DOR sales tax calculator estimates your total before you go to the license office. Inspections need to be recent: DOR says not more than 60 days old, or 90 days if the seller is a Missouri dealer. Winning a car that has a title from another state adds a VIN and odometer check, covered in our guide to Missouri title transfer from out of state.
Do you need an emissions test in St. Louis?
Most likely. The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program covers vehicles registered in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County. It applies to:
- Gas vehicles: model year 1996 and newer, 8,500 pounds or less.
- Diesel vehicles: model year 1997 and newer, 8,500 pounds or less.
- When: at any vehicle sale or title transfer, then every other year based on model year.
- Cost: $24, with one free retest at the same station within 20 business days if the car fails.
- Exempt: electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, motorcycles, and historic vehicles over 25 years old.
Plan around the 30-day clock. Our How It Works page says title paperwork can take 8 to 12 weeks to reach you after a purchase. Ask us how titling works for the car you want before you bid, so the Missouri deadline does not catch you.
Live in the Illinois Metro East?
Illinois residents report vehicle tax to the Illinois Department of Revenue within 30 days. Form RUT-25 is for vehicles bought from a dealer or other retailer, including out-of-state dealers, and Form RUT-50 is for private-party purchases. You then title and register the car with the Illinois Secretary of State.
Shopping on a budget?
Auctions are where cheap cars are, and our guide to cheap cars in St. Louis under $3,000 shows where to find ones that run. Our guide to cars under $1,000 in St. Louis shows what that budget really buys, and how to read a vehicle history report helps you skip the bad ones. With poor credit, read buying a car at auction with bad credit before you register anywhere.
Why St. Louis buyers bid on Remarket Space
You do not need a dealer license, a membership, or a trip to a Wednesday tow lot. Every listing has an inspection report, a free Carfax, real photos, an HD virtual test drive, and the out-the-door price before you bid. You can buy instantly with Buy Now or try for a better price in a live auction, and the car comes to you with nationwide delivery. Engine and transmission issues reported within 72 hours of delivery are covered by our 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee, and title issues are guaranteed for life.
See cars up for auction now, learn how bidding works, or browse used SUVs, used trucks, and cars under $5,000. Those pages list cars currently in Minnesota, and each one ships to St. Louis with a delivery quote.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The City of St. Louis Towing Division auctions unclaimed towed vehicles to the public every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. You can also bid online on public marketplaces like Remarket Space, which need no dealer license. Large wholesale auctions in the area are usually for licensed dealers only.
Yes, at public auctions. City tow lot auctions and online public marketplaces like Remarket Space are open to anyone. Dealer-only wholesale auctions require a dealer license to register, so the public cannot bid there.
The City of St. Louis Towing Division holds unclaimed towed vehicles for 30 days, then sells them at a public auction to the highest bidder. Auctions run every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Expect little condition information, so inspect what you can and budget for repairs.
Missouri gives you 30 days from the purchase date to title the vehicle and pay sales tax. On the 31st day a $25 penalty applies, and it grows by $25 for every additional 30 days late, up to $200.
Usually, yes. Gas vehicles from model year 1996 and newer and diesel vehicles from 1997 and newer, 8,500 pounds or less, need a test at sale or title transfer if registered in St. Louis City or St. Louis, St. Charles, or Jefferson counties. The test is $24.
Missouri charges 4.225% state sales tax on a vehicle, plus the local sales tax where you live, on the purchase price minus any trade-in. The Missouri Department of Revenue has an online calculator that estimates your total by address.
Yes. Remarket Space delivers nationwide, and every listing shows a delivery quote and the out-the-door total before you bid. Missouri and Illinois buyers do not pay Minnesota DMV fees at checkout.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Motor vehicle titling and registration
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Buying a vehicle
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Vehicle sales tax calculator
- Revised Statutes of Missouri 307.350: Safety inspection exemption
- Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program: Does my vehicle need a test?
- Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program: Test cost and retests
- City of St. Louis Towing Division: Towed car retrieval and auctions
- Illinois Department of Revenue: Tax requirements for vehicles
- Remarket Space: How It Works
- Remarket Space: Pricing and Fees
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees, schedules, and rules can change, so confirm with the agency before you buy.
