How we sell

We buy at auction and from local trades, put our own money and hours into the vehicle, and price it at what it's worth in this market. The number on the windshield is the number. There's no artificial markup built in so we can "come down" for you, and there's no separate price for people who negotiate hard.

What the price reflects: what we paid, parts and labor to recondition it, title brand, mileage, and what comparable vehicles are actually selling for around the south metro.

What's on top of the price: Minnesota sales tax, title, registration and plates, and the documentation fee, which is capped by state law. We show you the full out-the-door number in writing before you hand over anything.

We do the work ourselves rather than farming it out. On every vehicle:

• Full mechanical inspection — brakes, suspension, steering, drivetrain, leaks.
• Fluids and filters serviced, and tires and brakes replaced when they're near the end.
• Scan for stored codes, diagnose anything active, and repair or disclose it.
• Safety items — lights, wipers, seat belts, airbag system status.
• Body and paint repair where it's needed, and a real clean-up inside and out.

What we don't do is hide what's left. If a vehicle has a dent we chose not to chase, an A/C system that doesn't blow cold, or 40% of the brake pad left, that goes in the listing and we'll point at it in person.

Every listing states the title brand — clean, prior salvage, rebuilt, whatever the title says — in the specs and in a disclosure block on the vehicle page. We state it before you ask, in writing, on the listing, on the Buyers Guide in the window, and on the purchase paperwork.

A prior salvage title means the vehicle was totaled by an insurer at some point, repaired, and re-inspected by the state. It's cheaper for that reason and it stays on the title forever. It can affect insurance and resale. We'd rather lose the sale than have you find that out later. There's more on our about page.

Included with every vehicle we sell:

• The keys we have — usually two, and we'll tell you when it's one.
• A signed title, transferred properly, with the brand stated.
• An FTC Buyers Guide showing the warranty state of that specific vehicle.
• The repair history we have for our own work on it.
• A Carfax link when one is available for that vehicle.

Not included:

• A dealer warranty, unless the Buyers Guide on that vehicle says otherwise. Most of our vehicles are sold as is.
• Service contracts, gap products, paint sealant, or any other add-on. We don't sell them.
• Delivery. You pick the vehicle up here.

Call ahead so the vehicle is out front and warmed up, or just show up during business hours. Bring a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. We take a copy of the license before you drive.

Drive it on a real road, not just around the block — take it up to highway speed. You're also welcome to take it to your own mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection; arrange the appointment and we'll work out the timing. We'd rather you check.

We appraise a trade against a vehicle you're buying here — the trade knocks money off that purchase. We're not a we-buy-any-car service.

Send the details through the trade-in form and we'll give you a range based on year, miles, condition, and title brand. The firm number comes after we see it in person and drive it, because that's when we know what it needs. We'll show you how we got there: what it's worth retail, what it needs, what we'd have in it.

Bring the title and both keys. If there's still a loan on your vehicle, bring the payoff amount and the lender's information.

Blue Ox Auto Sales does not offer financing. We're not buy-here-pay-here, we have no lender relationships, and we will never ask you for a social security number, your income, or your credit history.

We take:

• Cash.
• Cashier's check or a bank draft.
• A loan you arranged yourself through your own bank or credit union — bring the check or have them wire it.

This isn't a limitation we're apologizing for. Financing a lot costs money to run, and that cost lands in the price of the cars. We don't carry it, so our prices are what they are. Your credit union will almost always beat a dealer's rate anyway.

Blue Ox Auto Sales is in the process of completing its Minnesota dealer licensing. Until that's finished and posted here, we won't claim licensed or bonded dealer status.

Blue Ox Auto Sales is not yet open for business. We're in the process of licensing. Nothing on this site is an offer to sell a vehicle.

How do you price your vehicles?

We price off what we have into the car — purchase, parts, labor, taxes and fees — plus a straight margin, checked against what comparable vehicles are actually selling for in the Twin Cities market. The listed price is a cash price. There is no doc fee surprise at signing.

What reconditioning do you do before a vehicle is listed?

Safety and mechanical items first: brakes, tires, fluids, suspension, lights, and any code or leak we find. Cosmetics come last and only where they matter. Anything we chose not to fix is described on the listing rather than left for you to find.

How do test drives work?

Call or send a request through the vehicle's page, bring a valid driver's license and proof of insurance, and drive the car on real roads including highway speed. We don't do a lap around the block.

How is my trade-in appraised?

We value a trade against a vehicle on our lot — this is not a we-buy-any-car service. Send year, make, model, mileage, condition and title status, and we'll give you a number in writing once we've seen the vehicle in person.

What forms of payment do you take?

Cash, cashier's check or bank draft, or a check from a loan you arranged with your own bank or credit union. We never ask for a social security number, income, or credit information.

Are your vehicles sold as is?

Unless the Buyers Guide posted in the vehicle's window says otherwise, vehicles are sold As Is — No Dealer Warranty. The Buyers Guide on each vehicle is the controlling document and we hand you a copy at the sale.