How to Sell a Car Privately in Minnesota
Selling your car yourself in Minnesota comes down to a signed title, the right paperwork, and a few steps people often miss. This guide summarizes what the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services and state law say, so you and the buyer can finish the transfer cleanly.
Transferring the title
- When an owner transfers a vehicle, the owner must sign an assignment and warranty of title for the buyer at delivery and state the actual selling price on the certificate. revisor.mn.gov
- The seller hand-prints their name and signs in the assignment area of the title, lists the sale price and enters the date of sale. assets.dps.mn.gov
- The owner must deliver the certificate and assignment to the buyer immediately. revisor.mn.gov
- When titles list joint owners with OR, both owners must sign to sell, and older titles with AND also require both signatures. assets.dps.mn.gov
Odometer disclosure
- Odometer disclosure is required for 20 years for model year 2011 or newer vehicles, with exemptions for vehicles over 16,000 pounds GVWR and vehicles that are not self-propelled. assets.dps.mn.gov
- Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt from odometer disclosure. assets.dps.mn.gov
- The reading must be the same as or higher than the printed reading and one box must be checked: actual, exceeds mechanical limits, or not actual. assets.dps.mn.gov
- Cross-outs or erasures void the disclosure, which is corrected with form PS2025A signed by all buyers and sellers. assets.dps.mn.gov
Taxes and fees the buyer pays
- The motor vehicle sales tax rate is 6.875 percent of the taxable sales price, and it applies to private individual sales as well as dealer sales. revenue.state.mn.us
- The buyer pays the tax to a deputy registrar or DVS when the title is transferred. revenue.state.mn.us
- Typical title fees are an $8.25 title fee, a $12 filing fee, a $10 transfer tax, a $3.50 Public Safety Vehicle fee and a $2.25 technology surcharge. dps.mn.gov
- A $2 late transfer penalty applies if the transfer is not submitted within 20 calendar days of the sale date. dps.mn.gov
- A lien recording fee of $2 per lien applies. dps.mn.gov
Loans and liens
- Each recorded lien needs its own release. assets.dps.mn.gov
- Acceptable releases are a lien card, a letter on the lienholder's letterhead, or a notarized form PS2017. assets.dps.mn.gov
- If an electronic lien has been released electronically, no lien card is needed. assets.dps.mn.gov
Easy-to-miss rules in this state
- Damage disclosure is required for all vehicles. assets.dps.mn.gov
- The purchase price is always required on the title, and any trade-in value, year, make and plate number must be recorded. assets.dps.mn.gov
- For a cancelled sale, the title, PS2025B and PS2511 must be submitted within 90 days of the initial sale date to qualify for a sales tax refund. assets.dps.mn.gov
Frequently asked questions
Is an odometer disclosure required when selling a car in Minnesota?
Odometer disclosure is required for 20 years for model year 2011 or newer vehicles, with exemptions for vehicles over 16,000 pounds GVWR and vehicles that are not self-propelled. Model year 2010 and older vehicles are exempt from odometer disclosure.
Official Minnesota resources
- DVS: Report vehicle sold, donated or removed from state
- DVS: Buying or Selling a Motor Vehicle (Just the Facts)
- DVS: Minnesota Titles and Transfers booklet
- DVS: Vehicle fees
- Minnesota Statutes 168A.10: Transfer of interest by owner
- Minnesota Statutes 168.301: Vehicle transfer deadline
- Minnesota Revenue: Motor vehicle sales tax
Next steps
Once you know the rules, create a free listing and print a QR code sign for the car window. For the general process, see our step-by-step private sale guide, the paperwork checklist, and how to get paid safely. Need paperwork? Use our free bill of sale generator.