What tax do I pay on an auction car in Michigan?

Generally 6%, paid when you title it through the Secretary of State.

Where are salvage auctions in Michigan?

IAA has branches near Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids; Copart has yards near Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, among others.

Michigan Auctions: Surplus, Cars, Storage & Estate Sales

Michigan sells state surplus through MiBid, its own online auction site, plus periodic in-person surplus store sales in Lansing. Detroit and Grand Rapids each have IAA and Copart yards, and Michigan's car culture means plenty of vehicles at every level. Start with the statewide sources below, then open a city page for verified local links.

City guides

Detroit
Wayne County: 7 verified local sources Grand Rapids
Kent County: 6 verified local sources

Statewide sources

Government surplus

MiBid (State of Michigan surplus auctions): The State of Michigan's online surplus auction site.
GovDeals: Michigan listings: Every Michigan agency selling on GovDeals in one search, filterable by city and seller.

Estate sales and local auction houses

AuctionZip: Michigan auctions: Statewide calendar of auctioneers' upcoming estate, farm, equipment and consignment sales in Michigan.

Michigan rules worth knowing

General information only, not legal or tax advice. Check with the agency before you rely on it.

Sales tax and reselling. Michigan's sales tax is 6%, with no local sales taxes. If you buy to resell regularly, you generally need to register with the Michigan Department of Revenue. With a sales tax license, you can give qualifying sellers a Michigan exemption certificate (Form 3372) for items bought for resale. Government auctions may still charge tax unless you provide the paperwork they ask for.
Vehicles: titles and taxes. Make sure you get a properly assigned title (or the documents the auction specifies). Michigan generally collects 6% tax when you title a vehicle through the Secretary of State. Title and register through the state motor vehicle agency. Salvage-branded vehicles need extra steps before they can be driven on the road again.
Storage auctions. Facilities must follow the state's notice and advertising rules before a lien sale, and tenants can often pay and pull a unit right up to the sale.
Buying across state lines. The selling state's tax and pickup rules usually apply at the time of sale.

Haul it, store it, ship it

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uShip: Marketplace for shipping furniture, equipment and vehicles.
Montway Auto Transport: Door-to-door car shipping quotes.
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SpareFoot: Compare and reserve self-storage units near you.

Frequently asked questions

How does Michigan sell state surplus?: Through MiBid, the state's online auction site, plus periodic in-person surplus store sales in Lansing.
What tax do I pay on an auction car in Michigan?: Generally 6%, paid when you title it through the Secretary of State.
Where are salvage auctions in Michigan?: IAA has branches near Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids; Copart has yards near Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, among others.

All locations →