Auctions at the Minneapolis Impound Lot

The Impound Lot hosts public and dealer auctions each month.

Public auctions

We hold public auctions on the first Thursday of each month at the Impound Lot.

  • 8 a.m. – Registration begins
  • 9 a.m. – Inspection begins
  • 10:30 a.m. – Auction begins

Friedrichs Auctions handles the City's vehicle auctions. Friedrichs Auctions is solely responsible for the accuracy and appropriateness of the information on its website. 

See vehicles and upcoming auction schedule

Auction rules

  • You must be at least 18 years old to attend.
  • Only people with bidding numbers ($5, nonrefundable) will be allowed in.
  • There's a minimum bid of $10 unless otherwise specified.
  • You must pay for the vehicle in full at the auction.

Accepted forms of payment

You can pay with cash, preapproved business checks, American Express, Visa or MasterCard.

License plates

  • Vehicles sold at auction do not have license plates.
  • Please refer to vehicle titles (below) for details on how to drive vehicle out of Impound Lot.
  • You can always tow vehicles out of the lot with the notarized Bill of Sale.

Vehicle titles

Upon vehicle sale, the customer will receive a receipt and a notarized Bill of Sale. On the back of the Bill of Sale is a vehicle safety checklist. You must complete the checklist before arriving at Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). With this paperwork, you can apply for a title and new license plates.

Driver and Vehicle Services requires salvaged or rebuilt vehicles to be inspected. The nearest inspection station is in St. Paul.

Visit Driver and Vehicle Services or call 651-282-2173.

Dealer auctions

Only licensed parts, scrap metal or salvage dealers may attend dealer auctions, which are held at the Minneapolis Impound Lot on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. On the first Thursday of the month, the public auction is held at 10:30 a.m., and the dealer auction follows it.

Recovery of proceeds 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 pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 168B.08, Subd. 3, if any extra proceeds were collected and you

  1. Submit a claim on time
  2. Were 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 under Minn. Stat. § 168B.08, Subd. 3. 

How to file a claim

File a claim form

You may also contact the Impound Lot and ask us to mail you a claim form.

You can also pick up a claim form at the Impound Lot.

Contact us

Minneapolis Impound Lot

Address

50 Van White Memorial Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55405

Get directions

Regular operating hours

8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday

Snow Emergency hours

Open 24 hours. On Day 3, plowing ends at 8 p.m. and we stay open until 1 a.m. (the next day). We then go back to our regular operating hours.

Holiday hours

We are closed on City holidays that fall on Monday-Friday. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, but is observed on Friday or Monday, the Impound Lot is closed on the Saturday or Sunday, and open on the Friday or Monday.