Worried you won't get a fair number, and not sure who to trust?
A family name in Mid-Michigan since 1929
Sell your car with local people who make it easy. A fair offer, a check in your hand the same day and real people who handle the hard parts for you.
No pressure. No games. Come see us in Saginaw, or we’ll come to you.
We buy cars across Michigan - Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Flint and Metro Detroit. Sell your car for a fair price with same-day payment and no pressure.
Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer Participating Dealer · ★★★★★ 4.8 from 31 local sellers · Family-owned
Two things that stop most people from selling:
“I won’t get enough for it”
You’ve heard the lowball stories. You don’t want to be the person who left money on the table and have no easy way to know what your car is really worth
“I don’t know who to trust”
The car business doesn’t have the best name for it. Pushy sale tactics, fine print, strangers from the internet. It’s enough to make anyone put it off
Both are fair objections.
Here’s how we put them to rest, step by step:
We’re a Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer Participating Dealer and every number is reviewed in person by people who’ve known this market for decades. There are two ways to start and we’ll always walk you through the offer so you know exactly how we got there
How we get your number
1. Start Online
Get a Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer
We'll Buy Your Car Hassle-Free.
Find out how much your car is worth in minutes and we’ll extend an offer to buy it.
Get cash, or use it for a replacement vehicle
2. Talk to us Directly
A fair offer, priced by our team
Walk in, or have us come to you
We’ll meet you at home or work and tell you how much your car is worth
At no extra fee, we’ll coordinate drivers & pickup and hand you a check
You get paid within 24 hrs
Still owe money? We handle the payoff
Loan or lease, we’ll deal with your lender directly and take the hassle off your plate, including all Secretary of State forms
Facing repair bills?
As part of the McDonald Auto Family, we can run your car through our service driver for a real estimate and factor it into your offer, so you don’t pay to fix a car you’re about to sell
If a replacement vehicle makes more sense than a straight sale, we’ll show you that math too
Need another vehicle?
Your place, your pace. We’re here for you
Same-day Payment
Accept the offer and you get a check in your hand. No waiting a week or two for funds
Our drivers are retired folks from the community. They’ll meet you at your home, work or bank to facilitate
We Come to You
We Handle Everything
Title, paperwork and your loan or lease payoff, all handled for you. We work with every bank and credit union
No Appt. Needed
In-person, 10 min Inspection
Free Shuttle
No pressure
All banks & Credit Unions
Why Us?
We’re the newest part of the McDonald Auto Family, serving Mid-Michigan since 1929. Four generations, the same name on the building. No board, no out-of-state shareholders.
A Real Family. A Real Name.
Sell to a national company, and that money leaves the state. Sell to us, and it stays right here in local paychecks, families and the causes this community is built on.
McDonald GMC ca. 1990’s
McDonald’s Nursery ca. 1940s
Kate McDonald
Honest. Easy. And kind when it counted. Here’s a little of what our neighbors have told us.
What our clients say
“Honest and straightforward, which was refreshing.”
- Lacey A. ★★★★★
“So much easier than selling on Marketplace.”
- Susanna S. ★★★★★
“Informative yet not pushy. I got a good feeling early.”
- Paul S. ★★★★★
“It was a pleasure to work with Tiffany and the rest of the team…as easy as it could’ve been”
- Thomas P. ★★★★★
Before you sell anything, read this:
7 Costly Mistakes People Make When They Sell a Car
A short, plain-English guide from Kate. No sales pitch, just the things we path people get wrong every week and how to avoid everyone. Yours for free, whether you ever call us or not.
Public Auction Prices
A few hand-picked vehicles every week, priced at what a dealer pays at auction. Because we’re a Buying Center, not a showroom, there’s no lot markup, no doc fees and no padded warranties. Every car is safety-inspected. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
New! Updated every Tuesday
Looking for something specific, or thinking a trade might make more sense than selling outright?
We’re part of the McDonald Family’s local stores, and we’re glad to point you to the right people. Explore McDonald Auto. No pressure either way
We’re Michiganders
This is personal for us
Kate McDonald
Kate is 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 quickly and fairly, Kate is passionate about making the car-selling process simple, honest, and hassle-free.
Buyer
Richard Coombs
Rick has spent 30 years in the car business including 11 as a top salesman and has run the used car side as manager. There isn’t much about a vehicle that he hasn’t seen. What really sets Rick apart is how connected he is in the community. After three decades, half of Mid-Michigan feels like family, friends, neighbors and folks he’s done right by for years. When you work with Rick, you’re working with someone this community already trusts.
Buyer
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.
BuyerCary Woodward
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 Auto Buying Center, 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 and for making the whole experience feel easy.
CoordinatorTiffany Briggs
We buy cars across Mid-Michigan
Want to sell your car fast for a fair price? Tri-State Auto Buying Center buys cars, trucks, and SUVs throughout Mid-Michigan - from Metro Detroit to the Thumb. Wherever you are, we’ll come to you
Saginaw • Bay City • Midland • Freeland • Birch Run • Frankenmuth • Chesaning • Alma • Mt. Pleasant
Saginaw (HQ) & Bay Area
The Thumb
Sandusky • Bad Axe • Caro • Cass City • Vassar • Pigeon • Harbor Beach • Imlay City
Flint & Metro Detroit
Flint • Detroit • Pontiac • Auburn Hills • Troy • Sterling Heights • Macomb • Lapeer • Davison
Northern Mid-Michigan
West Branch • Houghton Lake • Roscommon • Gladwin • Clare • Harrison • Standish
Greater Lansing
Lansing • East Lansing • Okemos • DeWitt • St. Johns • Owosso • Ionia
Not on the List?
If you’re anywhere in the region and don’t see your town, just call. Odds are we’ll come to you.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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Not at all. Coming to our Saginaw office is the quickest way, but a big part of what we do is come to you: your home, your work, your bank, wherever’s easiest. Your choice.
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Fast. A quick chat about your car takes about ten minutes. If you’re here in Saginaw, we’ll get you paid on the spot. If we come to you, we’ll coordinate payment and pickup within 24 hrs.
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No. No fee, no obligation and no pickup charge. Get your number take your time and only sell if it’s right for you.
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It’s based on your car’s specific details, condition and options plus what the local market is doing. Depending on how you start, your number may come from a Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer that we verify in person, or be priced directly by our team. Either way, we walk you through it so it’s never a mystery.
Ready When You Are
Let’s find out what your car is worth!
Come see us in Saginaw or we’ll come to you. Get a Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer or just call and talk to a real person.