You searched for a list of car auctions you can actually walk into, or log into, and bid at. The problem is that most auction directories mix dealer-only lanes with public sales and never say which is which, so you find out at the registration page.
This is a short, checked list for the Twin Cities area, the rest of Minnesota and the St. Louis area, with who can bid at each and what to bring. Want to see cars you can bid on now? Browse this week’s public auctions, no dealer license and no membership fee.
The short answer: Auctions open to the public include online marketplaces like Remarket Space, city impound auctions in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Minnesota state surplus sales on MNbid. Copart lets Minnesota individuals bid on titled and salvage cars without a broker. ACV is dealer only, and Manheim lists no public sales in Minnesota or Missouri.
Updated November 5, 2026. Checked against the City of Minneapolis, City of St. Paul, Minnesota Department of Administration, Anoka County, Copart, IAA, Manheim and ACV websites. Sources are at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Public means anyone can register: you need an ID and a way to pay, not a dealer license.
- City impound auctions are public but in person: Minneapolis and St. Paul both sell unclaimed vehicles to the public, mostly cash and tow-away.
- Government surplus moves online: the State of Minnesota sells surplus property on MNbid.mn.gov, and counties such as Anoka County send vehicles there.
- Salvage auctions depend on the state: Copart’s Minnesota page says individuals need no broker for titled or salvage cars. Other states differ.
- Wholesale lanes are not for you: ACV is limited to licensed dealers, and Manheim’s public sales are at select locations outside Minnesota and Missouri.
Which auto auctions are open to the public near me?
Here is the list, checked on each auction’s own website today. If an auction is not on it, that does not mean it is closed to you. It means we could not confirm public bidding from the auction’s own site.
| Auction | Where | Who can bid | How you bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remarket Space | Twin Cities area and St. Louis area, delivered nationwide | Anyone with a free account. No dealer license, no membership fee. | Online: Buy Now or live bidding |
| Minneapolis Impound Lot auction | Minneapolis | Public auctions held by the City | In person, first Thursday of each month |
| St. Paul Police Impound Lot auction | St. Paul | Anyone 18 or older with a $5 bid card and photo ID | In person, plus select vehicles sent to an online auction |
| State of Minnesota surplus (MNbid) | Statewide | Public bidders on the state’s official auction site | Online on MNbid.mn.gov, plus live state auctions |
| GSA Auctions | Federal surplus, some items in Minnesota | Public bidders | Online on gsaauctions.gov |
| Copart (Minnesota yards) | Minnesota | Individuals: titled and salvage, no broker required | Online, with a paid bidding membership |
| IAA | Varies by branch | Public Buyer accounts, public inventory only | Online. Some states need a broker |
Remarket Space: online public auctions in the Twin Cities and St. Louis areas
Remarket Space, formerly Twin Cities Auto Auction, is an online car marketplace that is open to the public. You create a free account, verify your ID, and either click Buy Now or bid live. No Reserve auctions run every day, with cars from the Twin Cities area and the St. Louis area.
Every listing has an inspection by a Verified Remarket Space Inspector, a free Carfax and an HD virtual test drive, and it shows your out-the-door total with the delivery quote. You pay by card within 48 hours, and the car is delivered. If you are on a budget, start with cars under $2,500 or cars under $5,000.
City impound auctions in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Both cities sell unclaimed towed vehicles at public auction. These are the closest thing to a classic, show-up-and-bid public car auction in the Twin Cities.
- Minneapolis: the City holds public auctions on the first Thursday of each month at the Impound Lot. You cannot drive a car out of the lot. It must be towed, and you get a receipt and a notarized bill of sale. Auction vehicles have no plates.
- St. Paul: anyone 18 or older can buy a $5 bid card on site with a valid photo ID. Vehicles must be paid for in cash by 4:30 p.m. on auction day, sell as is with no refunds, and must leave the lot by the Sunday after the sale. Select vehicles also go to an online auction.
Impound cars are cheap for a reason: little history, no inspection and no test drive. Read our guide to police and government surplus auctions in Minnesota and our car auction inspection tips before you bid.
Government surplus auctions in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Administration sells state surplus property online at the state’s official auction site, MNbid.mn.gov, and also runs live auctions where you register online and print a bidding card. Counties take part too. Anoka County says it sells surplus vehicles through the state’s online auction site on a continuous basis.
Federal surplus is listed separately at gsaauctions.gov, where you can browse by location and choose Minnesota. Each government sale sets its own terms for inspection, payment and pickup, so read them on the listing before you bid.
Can the public buy at Copart and IAA in Minnesota?
Yes, with limits. Copart’s Minnesota licensing page says individuals can buy titled items and salvage items with no broker required. To bid, Copart asks you to upgrade from its free guest account to a paid Basic or Premier membership.
IAA offers a Public Buyer account, but its own guide says that account gives you access only to inventory available to the public, and that some states require a broker. Rules change by state, so check the vehicle’s location before you bid. We compare fees and condition info in Remarket Space vs Copart.
Which auctions are dealer only?
Wholesale auctions exist so dealers can trade cars with each other. Two big names, checked on their own sites today:
- ACV Auctions: its buyer FAQ says only licensed car dealers or their authorized reps can buy, and buyers need an active AuctionACCESS account.
- Manheim: Manheim says public individuals are welcome at select locations. Its public auction list does not include any Minnesota or Missouri location.
If a site offers to rent you a dealer license so you can get in, skip it. Our guide on why renting a dealer license is illegal explains the risk, and how to buy a car at auction without a dealer license covers your other options.
Public car auctions in the St. Louis area
Remarket Space also runs online auctions with cars from the St. Louis area. See St. Louis cars for sale. For in-person options, our St. Louis car auctions guide lists the public sales, police impound auctions in St. Louis covers tow lots, and Copart and IAA in St. Louis explains the Missouri and Illinois broker rules.
Auctions open to the public in nearby states
Driving distance matters less when bidding is online, but if you want an auction you can visit, see our state guides for Wisconsin car auctions, Iowa car auctions and North Dakota car auctions. For the full Minnesota picture, read Minnesota car auctions.
How to tell if an auction is really open to the public
Directories go stale. Before you drive anywhere, check the auction’s own site for these five things:
- 1. Registration: look for a public or individual sign-up. If it asks for a dealer license number or AuctionACCESS, it is a dealer sale.
- 2. Inventory limits: a public account may see only part of the inventory. Look for a filter such as public or no license required.
- 3. Payment: confirm what they take. City impound sales often want cash on auction day.
- 4. Pickup: find out if you can drive the car away, must tow it, or can have it delivered, and by when.
- 5. Fees: find the buyer fee table before you bid, so you know your real total.
Why public buyers use Remarket Space
Remarket Space is open to everyone, with no dealer license, no broker and no membership fee. You bid online from home instead of standing in an impound lot with cash. Every car comes with inspection results, a free Carfax and an HD virtual test drive, and every listing shows your out-the-door total, including the buyer premium and fees and a delivery quote. Undisclosed engine, transmission, frame or flood damage is covered by the 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee when you file within 72 hours of delivery.
See cars up for auction now, or read how it works first.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. In Minnesota, public options include Remarket Space online auctions, Minneapolis and St. Paul impound auctions, and state surplus sales on MNbid.mn.gov. Copart also lets Minnesota individuals bid on titled and salvage cars without a broker, with a paid membership.
No. A public auction lets anyone register with an ID and a payment method. Dealer licenses are only required at wholesale auctions such as ACV, which says only licensed car dealers or their authorized reps can buy.
Manheim says public individuals are welcome at select locations, but its public auction list does not include any Minnesota or Missouri location. Plan on Manheim Minneapolis being a dealer sale unless Manheim says otherwise.
The City of Minneapolis says it holds public auctions on the first Thursday of each month at the Impound Lot. Cars must be towed out, and auction vehicles have no plates, so plan for a tow and a DVS visit.
St. Paul says anyone 18 or older can buy a $5 bid card on site with a valid photo ID. Winning vehicles must be paid for in cash by 4:30 p.m. on auction day and sell as is.
Yes. Remarket Space, MNbid.mn.gov, GSA Auctions, Copart and IAA all take online bids. Online public auctions let you compare condition reports and fees before you bid, instead of judging a car in a lot.
Sources
- City of Minneapolis: Impound Lot auctions
- City of St. Paul: Police public auctions
- Minnesota Department of Administration: State auctions
- Anoka County: Vehicle auctions
- GSA Auctions
- Copart: Minnesota licensing information
- IAA: Online car auctions, who can buy
- Manheim: Public auction sales
- ACV Auctions: Buy
- Remarket Space: How it works
Auction rules change. Confirm on each auction’s site before you bid. Remarket Space is not affiliated with the other auctions listed.
