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How to Sell a Car in Minnesota?
There are three main ways to sell your car in Minnesota:
Jump to: Sell Car Privately
Jump to: Sell Car to Car Buying Website
Jump to: Sell Car to Dealership
Turnaroud | Effort Needed | Best For | |
---|---|---|---|
Privately | 7-14 days | Most | Used cars |
Car Buying Website | 24-72 hours | Fill online form | Junk and old cars |
Dealership | 7-10 days | Visit office | Mostly new cars |
Sell Car Privately in Minnesota
Selling your car in Minnesota might seem impossible and tedious without the right steps and guidelines. However, this article covers the steps, rules, and regulations you should follow when selling your car privately in Minnesota.
Requirements for Selling Your Car in Minnesota
- Current Minnesota certificate of Title
- Your signature
- Buyers signature
- Bill f sale
- Proof of Insurance
- Odometer disclosure for vehicles less than 10 years
- Damage disclosure for cars less than 6 months
Step 1: Pre-sale Inspection
Most private car buyers in Minnesota always prefer to have a presale car inspection before the sale of the vehicle advances. Buyers contact qualified and licensed auto mechanics to assist with the inspection. Nonetheless, you must agree on a specific date and venue for the vehicle inspection.
Remember, a presale inspection in Minnesota is not required, but having the car checked is a good idea. Besides, you can also take your potential buyers for test drives to clear doubts on the buyer’s part that the vehicle might be in bad condition.
Step 2: Prepare the Car for Sale
To prepare your car for sale, follow the steps below:
- Thoroughly clean and vacuum clean the car to remove dust and debris from car seats and door mats.
- If the car has any mechanical, physical, or electrical damages, fix it before going forward with the sale of the vehicle. You can change car oil, and tires or adjust car brakes to ensure that the car is in good condition for sale.
- Take clear photos of the car, which you can share with your potential buyers.
Step 3: List Your Car for Sale on Different Marketplaces and Car Selling Sites
Once you have cleaned your car, create a listing for your car on different platforms to reach potential buyers. Some websites and platforms you can use to list your car include
When creating your listing, ensure you give detailed and comprehensive descriptions of your car to potential buyers. Include information like car model, make, color, and current condition. Additionally, you can also include if the vehicle has scratches or dents.
Step 4: Bill of Sale
Bill of Sale is not needed in Minnesota, but having it in your possession is important because it shows that the car was transferred legally. It also protects both parties in case of disputes.
According to Minnesota laws, a Bill of Sale should have:
- Vehicle Identification Number
- Date of sale
- Vehicle selling price
- Odometer disclosure
- License number plate
- Address, name, and signature of the seller
- Address, signature, and name of the buyer
Even if Bill of Sale is not recommended in Minnesota, both parties can complete and submit the Application to Title and Register Motor Vehicle (form PS 2000A).
In addition, private car sales in Minnesota attract a sales tax of 6.5% of the total purchase price of the vehicle. Furthermore, vehicles not complying with Minnesota traffic laws will be charged 10% flat on in-lien sales tax, provided the car is 10 years old.
Inherited vehicles, vehicle transfers upon death, or gifted cars do not attract sales tax. Moreover, to see a list of sales tax exemptions, you can visit the Minnesota DMV website for more information.
Step 5: Transfer of Title
If you’ve lost your title or it was stolen or damaged, you can fill out form PS2067A and submit your application to DMV to help you duplicate your vehicle title. You will be charged an $8.25 processing fee while duplicating your vehicle title. While completing the transfer title, you must include the following information on the back of the title.
- Purchase price of the vehicle
- Date of sale
- Odometer disclosure for vehicles less than 10 years
- Damage disclosure for vehicles 6 months and below
- Address, name, and signature of the seller
- Buyers name, address, and signature
- Date of birth of the seller and buyer
Minnesota law requires you and the buyer to make a copy of the documents and keep them in your records.
In case of death of one of the co-owners on the title, Minnesota laws state that a new title must be produced with the name of the surviving owner by completing a notarized Affidavit of Surviving Spouse (PS2071).
Step 6: Signing of Title
Minnesota laws suggest that if the title is co-owned, only one person can sign the title. Additionally, the title signing must be done in the presence of a notary at the local Motor office.
Step 7: Don’t Remove the Plates
Unlike most states, Minnesota laws suggest that after completing the sale of your vehicles, you should not remove the plates because the information will be transferred to the buyer’s name. Taxes and vehicle registration documents will also be transferred and assigned to the buyer.
You can only remove a plate license if it is personalized or specialized.
While you must have Minnesota Dealer License to sell cars, Minnesota Motor Vehicle laws allow you to sell up to 5 vehicles per year without a dealer license, provided that the cars are registered under your name.
Step 8: Report the Sale
After completing the sale of your vehicle, Minnesota law recommends that you notify them within 10 days that you’ve sold your car. You can also manually fill out a report of sale and email it to the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Service offices.
Sell Car to Car Buying Website in Minnesota
Peddle
Get your free offer instantly via online form or call on (855) 925 4302
$0 fees + you don’t have to pay for towing – Peddle will take care of it
Get paid in check during the pick up for any car (damaged, junk, wrecked)
Wheelzy, CarBrain and Peddle are car-buying companies that can buy your car within 72 hours.
Visit one of the websites and fill in the quote with the details about your car – make, model, year, mileage and condition of the car.
Once you get a quote, you have 7 days to accept or decline the offer. If you accept the offer, respective company agents will contact you and schedule a free pick-up date for your car.
Peddle
How Much Peddle Will Pay for Your Car in Minnesota?
The table below shows few of the cars Peddle has recently purchased in Minnesota:
Make | Year | Offer Value |
---|---|---|
Ford (F150) | 1992 | $500 |
Jeep (Commander) | 2007 | $600 |
Cadillac (Fleetwood) | 1995 | $500 |
Wheelzy
How Much Wheelzy Will Pay for Your Car in Minnesota?
Here are a few examples of Wheelzy’s recent purchases:
Make | Mileage | Year | Offer Value |
---|---|---|---|
Ford (Expedition) | 250000 | 2005 | $535 |
Dodge (Charger) | 250000 | 2006 | $600 |
Pontiac (G6 Sedan) | 300000 | 2009 | $300 |
CarBrain
How Much CarBrain Will Pay for Your Car in Minnesota?
Here are a few examples of CarBrain’s recent purchases:
Make | Mileage | Year | Condition | Offer Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet (Silverado) | 170,000 | 2004 | Collision damage: Roof | $1030 |
Toyota (Highlander) | 169,000 | 2005 | Mechanical damage: Transmission | $1540 |
Honda (CR-V) | 227,971 | 2008 | Mechanical damage: Engine | $845 |
Sell Car to Dealership
If you don’t want to sell your car privately, you can opt for dealerships. But before using dealerships to sell your vehicle, you need to do a background study to determine your car’s worth.
Most dealerships will offer you quotes depending on your vehicle’s mileage, condition, make, and current condition. Furthermore, the prices quoted by dealers might differ from the vehicle’s original retail price.
Once dealerships inspect your car, they will offer you an offer. If you accept the quote, you will drop your vehicle and receive your payment instantly.
Best dealerships in Minnesota
Sell Car in Minnesota FAQs
Does Minnesota charge sales tax on car sales?
Vehicle sales in Minnesota attract a sale tax of 6.5 of the total purchase price of the vehicles.
How long should I take before filling out a Report of Sale in Minnesota?
According to Minnesota laws, you must fill out a Report of Sale within 10 days after the sale of the vehicle is finalized.
What other cost will I incur besides sales tax when selling my car in Minnesota?
Apart from sale tax, other costs include;
- Title transfer fee is $8.25
- The public safety vehicle fee is $3.50
- Filing fee is $10
- Transfer fee $10
What do Minnesota laws recommend about Notice of Transfer?
Minnesota laws suggest that completing a Notice of Transfer is not mandatory for sellers. However, you might apply for it and keep it in your records.
Where can I get vehicle history reports in Minnesota?
You can purchase vehicle history reports from AutoCheck, CarFax, or National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) official website.