You live in Minnesota, you want a car at auction prices, and you don’t have a dealer license. Most “Minnesota car auction” lists send you to dealer-only sales you can’t get into. This guide covers where Minnesota buyers can actually bid, what each option is like, and what happens with title and tax after you win.
Where Minnesota buyers can bid without a dealer license
| Option | How you bid | What’s sold | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remarket Space (Elk River) | Online, live auctions plus Buy Now | Inspected used cars, trucks, SUVs, boats and powersports | Delivered to you; free history report; 3-day guarantee on eligible cars |
| State of Minnesota surplus (MNBid) | Online and live auctions | Retired state fleet vehicles and equipment | Sold as-is; you collect the vehicle |
| City impound auctions | In person | Abandoned and impounded vehicles | Sold as-is; often no keys; must be towed out |
| Salvage auctions (Copart, IAA) | Online | Insurance total losses and damaged cars | Many lots require a dealer license or broker; check each listing |
| Dealer-only auctions (Manheim, ADESA) | Licensed dealers only | Off-lease and fleet cars | Not open to the public |
State surplus auctions
The State of Minnesota sells retired fleet vehicles, trucks and equipment through MNBid, the state’s official auction site, and through live surplus auctions run by the Department of Administration. Expect high-mileage fleet vehicles sold as-is. You inspect and pick up the vehicle yourself.
City impound auctions
Minneapolis holds a public impound auction on the first Thursday of each month; dealer-only sales follow it. Vehicles sell without plates and must be towed off the lot, and salvaged or rebuilt vehicles need a Driver and Vehicle Services inspection. Other Minnesota cities, such as Moorhead, run their own impound sales.
Salvage auctions
Copart has yards in Blaine, Ham Lake and Avon, and IAA has one in St. Paul. Many of their lots are limited to licensed dealers or dismantlers, so check the listing’s buyer requirements, or use a broker, before you bid.
Buying from Remarket Space
Remarket Space is an online auction and marketplace based at 9643 161st Ave NW in Elk River. It’s open to the public, with no dealer license needed.
- Two ways to buy. Use Buy Now for an instant purchase, or bid in a live no-reserve auction.
- Every car is inspected. Each listing shows what’s wrong with the car, measured tire tread, dozens of photos, a test-drive video, and a free vehicle history report.
- Real sale prices are public. Sold vehicles shows what similar cars actually went for.
- Delivered to you. Every vehicle is delivered, typically within 48 hours; there’s no lot pickup.
- Backed after the sale. Eligible cars carry the 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee.
Browse by budget: under $1,000 · under $2,500 · under $5,000. Or by type: SUVs · trucks · sedans.
Tax, title and fees for Minnesota buyers
- Sales tax. Minnesota charges a 6.875% motor vehicle sales tax on the purchase price.
- DMV fees. At Remarket Space, Minnesota title and registration fees are $119.50, collected at checkout.
- Auction fees. Budget for a buyer’s premium and an administrative fee on top of your winning bid. Remarket Space publishes its full fee tables on the Pricing & Fees page.
- Title timing. Remarket Space files the title paperwork; title transfers typically take 8 to 12 weeks.
- Branded titles. Salvage and rebuilt vehicles need a state inspection before they can be registered. See salvage title cars in Minnesota.
Car auctions near you
Looking for a specific city? See car auctions in Minnesota by city, which lists guides for Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud and 65 more cities.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a car at auction in Minnesota without a dealer license?
Yes. Remarket Space, state surplus auctions and city impound auctions are open to the public. Dealer-only auctions such as Manheim and ADESA are not.
Can I drive an impound auction car home?
Usually not. Minneapolis, for example, requires auction vehicles to be towed off the lot, and they’re sold without plates.
Do I pay sales tax on an auction car in Minnesota?
Yes. The 6.875% motor vehicle sales tax applies when you title the car.
How fast can I get a car from Remarket Space?
Vehicles are delivered, typically within 48 hours of payment.
What if the car has a major problem that wasn’t disclosed?
Eligible Remarket Space cars are covered by the 3-Day Major Mechanical Guarantee for undisclosed engine, transmission, frame or flood damage reported within 72 hours of delivery.
