Can You Scrap A Car Without A Title?

Scrapping your old car to turn a little profit may seem like the easiest option for your car. However, if you don’t have a valid title for the vehicle in hand, the process can become increasingly complicated.

But what do you do if you’ve lost your vehicle’s title?

Fortunately, you have a few options if you don’t have your vehicle’s title. The majority of junkyards will require you to have the title of your vehicle in your name before taking it off of your hands. There are, however, those that’ll take a title-less clunker without much hassle.

Is It Legal To Scrap A Car Without A Title?

The simplest answer is “No. It is not legal to scrap a car without a title.” One of the reasons for this is to prevent a practice known as “title jumping,” where cars were sold from one owner to the next without any record. This was often done to avoid paying taxes and/or title fees.

Title jumping is illegal in every state.

The risks posed to the person selling a vehicle without a title include: penalties, fines, and/or time behind bars.

Buyers of cars without titles expose themselves to issues at the DMV once it’s time to transfer a title into their name. They also lack any vehicle history, which leaves them vulnerable to vehicle issues they had no idea about.

That said, some states do allow junkyards to purchase cars without a title. While the state may not require you to have a title present, the junkyard may still require that you prove you’re the legal owner of the vehicle.

What Do I Do If I’ve Lost My Car’s Title?

In the event that you don’t have a title for a car you want to scrap, your best next course of action is to get your hands on a replacement. Fortunately, you don’t have to find a genie and wish for a new title. You can retrieve a replacement title from:

1. The Bank- If you haven’t paid off your car in full, it is still officially owned by the lienholder aka the bank. They will likely have the car title there and you can transfer it from them to the person (junkyard, scrap yard, etc.) buying your vehicle.
2. The DMV - Your local DMV will walk you through the process of declaring a title lost and applying for a duplicate.

There are, however, a few states that enable junkyards to buy cars without the title:

• California - Fill out this form REG 227 to transfer the title.
• Illinois - instead of renewing your registration, you can return it with a “scrap for salvage” memo.
• Oklahoma - Cars are allowed to be scrapped with a notarized copy of a vehicle information request form. You’ll need to remove the battery, drain and puncture the gas tank for your vehicle beforehand.
• Connecticut - If the vehicle is over 20 years old, a Connecticut title isn’t necessary.
• Florida - If the car is over ten years old and worth less than $1000.

Ultimately, whether or not you can scrap a car without a title legally often depends on the laws of the state you’re in.

How To Find A Junkyard That Buys Cars Without Titles

Finding a junkyard that purchases cars without titles is a tedious endeavor, but it’s not impossible. You’ll have to do quite a bit of due diligence in order to find one to take that title-less car off your hands.

Finding out whether it’s even legal to sell a car without a title in your state is crucial. You don’t want to stumble into any legal trouble because you didn’t do your research beforehand.

You’ll then need to call around and find a reputable junkyard that purchases junk cars in your area. Expect to hear a few “no” answers during this phase of the process, but don’t be discouraged. Just keep calling and you’ll eventually find one to satisfy your needs.

Make sure you know their process thoroughly; every junkyard has its own method for buying a junk car without a title. Understand it and follow that process carefully.

JunkCarMasters - Junking Made Easy

As you can see, junking a car without a title can be quite the headache. It requires research and action on your part that you may not have time for (or just don’t want to do). That’s okay; you’re a novice and this is an arena for masters.

JunkCarMasters specializes in everything regarding junk cars. Whether you have the title or not, contact us and one of our associate buyers can walk you through the process of getting a replacement title and selling that junk car.

In a hurry? That’s not a problem. Our nationwide network of junkyards and scrap yards is extensive. We can help you find a buyer for your junk car without a title quickly, but be warned: cars without titles typically fetch less money than cars with them.

Contact JunkCarMasters today and get your junk car without a title woes taken care of!