Selling Your Car Should Be This Easy

Most people dread selling a car. The back-and-forth with strangers. The lowball offers. Driving to a dealership only to feel pressured or talked down. We built Tri-State Auto Buying Center to be the complete opposite of all that.

Our buyers come to you. We schedule a time, drive to your location, inspect your vehicle on the spot, and make you a real written offer backed by Kelley Blue Book. If you accept, you get a check. That's it.

We Come to Your Home

This is how 90% of our purchases happen. One of our buyers drives directly to you, inspects your vehicle in your driveway, and presents you with a written offer. No pressure to decide on the spot. If you're happy with the number, we handle all the paperwork right there and you get your check before we leave with the vehicle.

We Meet at Your Bank

Prefer the added security of your own financial institution? We'll meet you there. Many sellers feel more comfortable closing at their bank, and we accommodate that without question. We've done it hundreds of times.

You Come to Us

If you'd rather visit our Saginaw headquarters, we welcome that too. Stop by during business hours — Mon–Fri 8AM–6PM, Sat 9AM–5PM — and we'll have an offer ready for you, after a short 5-min vehicle evaluation.

From First Contact to Check — Here's Exactly What to Expect

1. We Reach Out — or You Contact Us

Our team actively monitors vehicle listings across Mid-Michigan. If we spotted your car, we've already reviewed the details and we're ready to talk numbers. You're also welcome to reach out to us directly — call (989) 321-8986. Either way, we respond fast.

2. We Talk Through Your Vehicle

1. We Reach Out — or You Contact Us

One of our inside agents will have a quick conversation about your car — year, make, model, mileage, overall condition, any known issues. This usually takes less than 10 minutes, done entirely over text/messaging. No appointments needed at this stage, no driving anywhere.

3. A Buyer Comes to You

4. You Get Paid — We Handle the Rest

Once we have your vehicle details, we schedule a time that works for your calendar. A buyer drives to your home, your bank, or another location of your choosing — anywhere in our service area. We do a brief in-person inspection and present you with a written offer backed by Kelley Blue Book. You can take time to think it over. No pressure.

4. You Get Paid — We Handle the Rest

Accept the offer and we take care of all the paperwork on the spot. You receive a check before we leave with your vehicle. Title transfer, documentation — all of it handled by our team. You're done in the same day.

We Buy Cars Across All of Mid-Michigan — and We Drive to You

Saginaw, MI - Headquarters

Bay City · Midland · Freeland · Birch Run · Frankenmuth · Chesaning · Alma · Mt. Pleasant

Flint, Southeast / Metro Detroit

Flint · Detroit · Pontiac · Auburn Hills · Troy · Sterling Heights · Macomb · Lapeer · Davison

Greater Lansing

Lansing · East Lansing · Okemos · Dewitt · St. Johns · Owosso · Ionia

The Thumb

Sandusky · Bad Axe · Caro · Cass City · Vassar · Pigeon · Harbor Beach · Imlay City

Northern Mid-Michigan

West Branch · Houghton Lake · Roscommon · Gladwin · Clare · Harrison · Standish

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find what you're looking for? Call us at (989) 321-8986 — Mon–Fri 8AM–6PM, Sat by appointment.

Do I have to come to your location to sell my car?

No — and that's exactly what makes us different. The vast majority of our purchases happen at the seller's home, their bank, or another location of their choosing. We drive to you. If you'd prefer to come to our Saginaw headquarters, that's always an option too.

Someone from Tri-State reached out to me about my listing. Is this legitimate?

Yes, completely. Our team monitors vehicle listings across Mid-Michigan and regularly contacts sellers whose vehicles fit what we're looking for. If you received a message from us, we are a real, licensed Michigan business headquartered in Saginaw. You're welcome to look us up on Google, check our reviews, or call our office directly at (989) 321-8986 to verify before agreeing to anything. We encourage it.

How do you determine my offer price?

All of our offers are built around Kelley Blue Book's Instant Cash Offer — the industry-standard pricing tool used by licensed dealerships nationwide. Your offer is based on your vehicle's year, make, model, mileage, condition, and current local market demand. We walk you through the number so it makes complete sense, and we put it in writing.

How quickly can I get an offer?

Often the same day you contact us. One of our inside agents will talk through your vehicle's details over the phone — usually less than 10 minutes — and we can often give you a preliminary number before a buyer even comes out. The final written offer is presented in person during the vehicle inspection.

How do I get paid?

You receive a check at the time of purchase — in hand, before we drive away with your vehicle. We do not mail checks after the fact or promise wire transfers. Payment happens on the spot.

What types of vehicles do you buy?

We buy most cars, trucks, and SUVs with clean titles that are in reasonable working condition. We work with all major makes and models. We are not currently able to purchase vehicles with salvage or branded titles, vehicles with over 200,000 miles, or commercial trucks and semis.

What do I need to have ready when your buyer arrives?

Have your vehicle title ready (if you own it outright), a valid photo ID, and any spare keys. If you have an outstanding loan, have your lender's contact info or a recent statement available. That's it — we take care of everything else on our end.

What areas do you serve?

We cover a large portion of Mid-Michigan — from Metro Detroit in the south to West Branch in the north, from Lansing in the west to The Thumb in the east. Key areas include Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Flint, Lansing, and many cities in between. See our full service area map on this page, or just call us if you're unsure.

Is there any fee or obligation involved in getting an offer?

None. Getting an offer from us is completely free and there is no obligation to accept. We'd rather you feel confident and comfortable with the deal than feel rushed into something. If you don't like the number, you don't owe us anything.

We're Michiganders. This Is Personal for Us.

Kate

Tiffany

Berta

Meet Kate, a proud third-generation member of the McDonald Auto family. Born and raised in Saginaw, MI—and still calling it home—she has grown up immersed in the automotive world right here in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Whether enjoying the outdoors with her loyal Goldendoodle by her side or helping local folks sell their vehicles quickl

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Berta

Tiffany

Berta

Berta brings over 20 years of automotive experience to Tri-State — from business development to the sales floor — and she's one of the first voices you'll hear when you reach out. She has a natural ability to make a complicated process feel simple, and by the time a buyer arrives at your door, she's already made sure everything is in ord

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Tiffany

With 7 years in the automotive industry across business development and sales, Tiffany knows how to cut through the noise and make things simple for sellers. At Tri-State, she keeps everything coordinated behind the scenes and makes sure you always know exactly what to expect from first call to final handshake. She's known for giving real answers — not a script — and for making the whole experience feel easy. When she's not working, you'll find her somewhere outdoors with a tent and a campfire.

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Frank

Tiffany

Frank has spent over 40 years in the automotive industry — which means he's seen just about every make, model, and market cycle there is. When he pulls up to your driveway, that depth of experience shows: he knows your vehicle, he knows the market, and he gives you a straight answer. When he's not working, he's with his grandchildren, wh

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Cary

Cary brings over 20 years of automotive experience to every transaction — and a way of working that makes sellers feel like they're in good hands from the first conversation. He's straightforward, efficient, and genuinely cares about getting the deal right. At home, his world revolves around his family and his two dogs, Thelma and Louise, who have very strong opinions about everything.