Selling a car in Minnesota: the paperwork
| Minnesota seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Stay with the car |
| Report the sale | Notice of Sale (report vehicle sold), within 10 days, online |
| Duplicate title | Application for Duplicate Title, Registration, Cab or Lien Card, PS2067A; $7.25 plus $2.25 tech surcharge and $12 filing fee |
| Older cars without a title | Vehicles registered before July 1, 1972 and never titled can be transferred on the registration card. |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Minnesota
We buy cars in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth and Bloomington, and in every other town in Minnesota a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
Minnesota winters are hard on rocker panels and brake lines, and we buy rusted cars and trucks statewide.
How it works in Minnesota
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Minnesota, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Minnesota
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Minnesota too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Minnesota car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Minnesota?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Minnesota title, apply to the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) with Application for Duplicate Title, Registration, Cab or Lien Card, PS2067A. The fee is $7.25 plus $2.25 tech surcharge and $12 filing fee. For older vehicles, Minnesota has an exception: Vehicles registered before July 1, 1972 and never titled can be transferred on the registration card.
Can I junk a car without a title in Minnesota?
Sometimes. Without a title, licensed dealers may buy vehicles 10+ model years old, unregistered 7+ years; parts dealers may buy for dismantling with a 7-day hold. Seller gives ID and sworn statement (Minn. Stat. 168A.1501). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Minnesota title, apply to the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) with Application for Duplicate Title, Registration, Cab or Lien Card, PS2067A. The fee is $7.25 plus $2.25 tech surcharge and $12 filing fee.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, the license plates stay with the car when you sell it. Standard plates stay with the vehicle. Personalized plates can be moved to another vehicle the owner has.
How do I tell the Minnesota DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Sale (report vehicle sold) with the state within 10 days of the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Minnesota?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Minnesota a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Minnesota DVS: Report vehicle sold, donated or removed from state
- Minn. Stat. 168A.10 (seller notice within ten days)
- Minn. Stat. 168.12 (license plates)
- Minnesota DVS: Vehicle title transfer
- Minnesota DVS: Vehicle titles (duplicate title fees)
- Minn. Stat. 168A.1501, scrapped, dismantled, or destroyed vehicle (subdivisions 7 to 10)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.