Before pickup

What you need to sell your junk car

Photo ID and proof of ownership. That is the short version. Most pickups take 15 to 30 minutes from the driver arriving to the car being on the truck. The sellers who get tripped up are almost always missing one document or left something valuable in the car, so work through the checklist below before you book.

Updated September 2026

What we require

Four things, and only one of them is always mandatory. Anything you cannot produce, tell us on the call and we will confirm what your state accepts before a driver is dispatched.

What	Do we need it?	Detail
Valid photo ID	Always	Driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID. The name has to match the name on the ownership document.
Vehicle title	Usually	Your proof of ownership, signed over at pickup. Workable without one in most states.
Registration	Sometimes	Even expired. It verifies ownership where a title is not available. Check the glove compartment first.
Lien release	Sometimes	Required whenever a loan was ever recorded against the VIN, even one paid off years ago.
Keys	Optional	Not a dealbreaker. We tow cars without keys daily. Missing keys rarely costs more than $10 to $25.

Four rules for signing the title

Do not sign until the driver is there and you have been paid
Blue or black ink only
Never use correction fluid, it voids the document entirely
Sign exactly as your name appears on the title, middle initial included

Remove it, or leave it?

The general rule: keep everything that came from the factory, take back everything you added. These are the cases people ask about most.

Part	Remove it?	Why
Aftermarket stereo or speakers	Yes	Easy to pull and sell on. Buyers put no value on aftermarket audio
Custom wheels	Maybe	Worth $500 or more, selling them separately may beat the offer credit
Recently bought battery	Maybe	Sells locally for $20 to $40. Buyers value it below replacement cost
Catalytic converter	No	The single highest-value part on most junk cars. Pulling it costs $100 to $400
Engine or transmission	No	Major components are most of what lifts the offer above scrap weight
Factory wheels and tires	No	Removing them costs more than selling them usually returns

Every buyer checks for the catalytic converter at pickup. Removing it before you sell almost always costs more than it gains.

What happens on pickup day

Fifteen to thirty minutes, start to finish.

1
The driver calls ahead
They arrive inside your scheduled window and normally call or text when they are 15 to 20 minutes out.
2
Quick inspection
About five minutes to confirm the car matches what you described: condition, what is still fitted, the title situation. If it matches, the quoted price holds.
3
Sign the paperwork
You sign over the title and any state forms. The driver brings them already prepared for your vehicle and state.
4
Get paid
Cash, before the car goes on the truck. Count it before you sign anything.
5
The car is towed
It is loaded and you are done.

What we handle

Free flatbed towing

Included in every offer, with no deduction at pickup.

The paperwork

The driver turns up with every required form already filled in for your vehicle and your state.

DMV notification

We file the transfer notification, so your liability ends when the car leaves.

Any condition

Running, non-running, accident-damaged, high mileage. All of it.

If you do not have the title

A missing title does not disqualify the sale in most states. What your state accepts, and what it costs you, is set out in the no-title guide, with dedicated pages for New York, Florida and California.

Got everything? Get your offer

Year, make, model and condition is all we need to price it. We confirm the paperwork on the call, before anyone schedules a truck.

Get my free offer