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What Paperwork Is Needed To Sell A Junk Car? Your Ultimate Guide!

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If you're asking yourself what paperwork is needed to sell a junk car, here is the potential list:

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  1. Car title
  2. If you don't have a title, a title replacement
  3. Car registration
  4. Bill of sale (depends on your state requirements)
  5. Disclosure of odometer reading
  6. Release of liability
  7. Any details on warranty
  8. Records of maintenance

Getting the top dollar for your junk car is not complicated as you have everything set up properly. However, one of the things you need to put together before even reaching the buyers is the list of the needed paperwork.

The paperwork needed for selling junk cars can differ from one state to another. Therefore, you must review your state's regulations by visiting your local DMV website. However, this article should give you a general idea of what to expect regarding the paperwork needed to sell a junk car.

The article should help you answer the question, what paperwork is needed to sell a junk car? Let's read on for more details!

What paperwork is needed to sell a junk car?

When you're ready to sell a junk car, you want to ensure that all the paperwork is compiled so you don't miss great opportunities.


Remember that you were trying this little vehicle which means that your choices and potential buyers are limited. So, you want to do all you can to avoid missing out on these opportunities and ensure you're ready and your vehicle is ready for sale.

1.   Car title

When you sell a junk vehicle, you want to make sure you have the right document to prove that you're the vehicle's legal owner. This way, the buyer confirms that he's purchasing the vehicle from the right person, and the process should be good to go with having this proof.

Because you're trying to sell a junk car, you most likely don't know where the title is located. In other words, many people lose the title or misplace it by mistake. Therefore, check your important documents and confirm that you can find the vehicle title.

It's critical that many people might end up without the title. In other words, you might end up in a situation where you have to sell the vehicle without the title. However, that's not the end of the world because many companies and John carriers might accept your vehicle even if it doesn't have a title. Still, you must confirm that you're the legal owner by showing other paperwork.

If you want more details about a company that might accept your vehicle without a title, you can always consult our company at 773-791-4363. If you're at, just let the team know that your vehicle doesn't have a title and get a sense of how much your vehicle is worth.

2.   If you don't have a title, a title replacement

When trying to solve a vehicle without a title, it's critical to note that you won't get the best offer you're looking for. Therefore, if you're looking for the top-dollar paid-for junk vehicles in your area, that won't be possible as long as you don't have a title.

That being said, there is still a chance for you to get the maximum money paid for similar vehicles to yours in your area. First, you can obtain a title replacement from your local DMV office. Once you visit their office, they should provide you with a list of other documentation they need to prove that you're the vehicle's legal owner, and they might ask you for a certain fee.

Remember that obtaining a new title can take a long time, depending on your life status. Therefore, you might want to sacrifice the offer and start selling the vehicle fast. It's all depending on your goals of selling this junk vehicle.

Sell Your Junk Car without a Title

3.   Car Registration

Another important document you might need to have when selling your vehicle is vehicle registration. This should be another important piece of paperwork that you should have. The vehicle registration proves that your car can officially drive on public roads. In addition, this is a good confirmation to your buyer that the vehicle is in good shape, and he shouldn't be concerned about any problems.

If your Registration is expired, you can also talk to the DMV office and check with them about the process of renewing it or what to do when selling a vehicle, and you don't want to renew the Registration. Again, every state might be different, and some states might be more strict than others, but there always is a way to sell the vehicle.

4.   Bill of sale (depends on your state requirements)

In some states, the DMV might require using a specific form as a bill of sale. You should find this form on the local DMV website and download it. However, this is not the case in every state, and some states might be more flexible by allowing you to download your copy as proof of the car-selling process.

If this is your first time trying to sell a junk car or even any type of car, you must be careful about what form you're using as a bill of sale. If your state doesn't have a specific form, it will be your responsibility to confirm that it includes the pertinent information.

According to experts, the bill of sale should, at the minimum, include the following information:

  • The names of the seller and the buyer
  • The date when the vehicle was sold
  • Basic information about the vehicle
  • Agreed on price
  • Information about the agreed vehicle condition

The last piece of information is very critical and has to do with how you both agreed on selling the vehicle in terms of condition. You can mention that you're planning to sell the vehicle as is, which means it's not your responsibility if anything happens after the sale.

This gives you Peace of Mind and avoids getting you into further complications after selling the vehicle. So many people get into legal problems because the vehicle broke down or the buyer scanned them and decided to return it.

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5.   Disclosure of odometer reading

One more piece of information that's typically optional is the disclosure of the odometer reading. As the name suggests, this document proves how much your vehicle had in terms of mileage when it was sold. Again, remember that not every state requires this information, but it's an optional and important document you might want to include.

6.   Release of liability

In some states, you might need to include a form known as the release of liability. This document is typically submitted to the DMV, not the buyer. We highly encourage you to review the state requirements to understand what this document looks like, where it should be submitted, and when to submit it after the sale.

In general, a release of liability should include the following information:

  • Your name and contact information
  • The buyer's name and contact information
  • The date for sale and title transfer
  • Information about the vehicle includes the VIN, the license plate number, the make, model, year, color, etcetera.
  • The odometer reading

Remember that this is just basic information, and you might have a specific form to download from your local DMV website. Check with them and confirm that you're following the requirements so you don't deal with any complications after selling the vehicle.

Rebuilt Titles

7.   Any details on the warranty

Sometimes, your junk vehicle might have a remaining Time in the warranty. In that case, collect the paperwork and share these with the junk car buyer because it could improve the provided offer for your vehicle.

8.   Records of maintenance

Finally, even if you're trying to sell junk vehicles, having it proved that you've been taking good care of the vehicle is very important. One way to do that is by providing them with some receipts or records of maintenance confirming that you've been doing all the regular maintenance on time and never missed an oil change, for example.

The more information you provide, the higher your chances of receiving the maximum dollar paid for pooled vehicles in your area. Of course, this depends heavily on your vehicle type and condition and what the buyer is willing to offer you, but proving that the vehicle is in good shape is important.

Who Buys Cars Without Titles

Final thoughts

If you plan to sell your junk car soon, you need to ask yourself, what paperwork is needed to sell a junk car?

This article provided you with a detailed summary of what paperwork to expect. However, we still encourage you to review your state DMV website and confirm that you didn't miss any important item.

Suppose you would like to get your vehicle removed as soon as possible and don't want to deal with all the hassle related to the paperwork. In that case, you can always consult our team, who can provide step-by-step recommendations about what needs to be done and get your vehicle removed first and for the most money.

Are you looking for more details? Call our team at 773-791-4363!

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