Impound Lot auctions
Auctions open to the public
Vehicle sale and inspection
Once you pay for your vehicle
- You'll get a receipt and a notarized Bill of Sale.
- A vehicle safety checklist is on the back of your Bill of Sale.
Required inspections
- Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) requires salvaged or rebuilt vehicles to be inspected.
- The nearest inspection station is in St. Paul.
Visit Driver and Vehicle Services
Towing your auction vehicle
You cannot drive the vehicle out of the lot. It must be towed.
- You must arrange to tow the vehicle out of the lot.
- You can tow the vehicle once you pay for it.
- Vehicles sold at auction do not have license plates.
See rules for more information
Vehicle title and license plates
There are things you must do before you can get a title and license plate for your vehicle.
What to do
- The vehicle safety checklist is on the back of the Bill of Sale.
- A mechanic must inspect the vehicle and validate the checklist.
- You must complete the checklist before arriving at DVS.
- With this paperwork, you can apply for a title and new license plates.
Auctions open to dealers only
We hold auctions for dealers
We hold dealer auctions on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
They occur at the Impound Lot after the public auction.
Who can attend
You can attend a dealer auction only if you're a licensed:
- Parts dealer
- Scrap metal salvage dealer
- Salvage dealer
Get paid for your auctioned vehicle
Collect the money from Impound Lot sale
If your vehicle was sold in an auction, you may be able to collect money from your vehicle sale.
Options for recovering proceeds
The City will reimburse you if we made extra proceeds.
To get reimbursed, you must:
- Submit a claim on time
- Have been the owner of the vehicle at the time of sale
The City will not reimburse you if your vehicle was sold for less than the City’s recoverable costs.
How to file a claim
You must mail us your claim form.
You may also:
- Contact the Impound Lot to have a form mailed to you.
- Pick up a claim form at the Impound Lot.
Contact us
Minneapolis Impound Lot
Regular operating hours
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Monday – Saturday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday