Selling your old car to junkyards is one way to get rid of a junk car, especially if you have a valid title. But what if you don’t have the title or had to leave it behind when you went to sell the car? Fear not! There still exists junk yards that buy cars without titles and are more than happy to accept your vehicle as long as you’re able.
Generally, people forget to renew their license, and that’s why some junkyards do not require a title. But most American states will require you to have a valid identification before selling a car. If you sell your junked car, a junkyard or junk car company might want a sign of ownership, regardless of the state of possession of the vehicle’s title, to help you get rid of your mangled or useless car. Still, it is better to clarify things with them than to assume things. They can help you better. At the same time, they need to know honest details because, after all, they will pay you in cash for your junked item and help you make money.
When you sell a junk car without a title, you must be ready for a few things. For example – the cash amount can be lower because they cannot resell or re-title it. Then, some would ask for other documents to prove your ownership. It can include registration details and identification. They need these things to be clear of any legal trouble. Here is some more information in this context to help you assess your scenario.
Possible solutions for the issue of car title
Even if you don’t have a title, you can explore other ways to solve this problem. You can drop in at the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for a duplicate title in case of the lost car title. Or, you can also check with your bank from where you took your car loan. If it is still under debt, the car essentially belongs to the bank, and they can have the car title. You can request them to transfer the title to the new buyer. However, junking a car is a different situation. So you would want to confirm its application in this case.
Finding the right place for selling a junk car without a title
You can look for a local junk car buyer in your area and ask them if they deal in these. Some companies may accept these cars and offer a decent sum for them in exchange. As hinted above, they may require some documents of proof. For an idea, you can check the option of Junk Car Genie cash for cars. Before proceeding in this direction, it will be better to know if it is legally safe to sell a vehicle without ownership in your state. If yes, you can select a company and learn about the selling process specific to your type of car.
Since getting rid of a junked car without a title is not easy, you will want to follow their system and process diligently. You must not hesitate and cooperate with them. If they ask you to verify your identity, you should not show any hesitancy. You may have to submit proofs like registration, insurance details, driver’s license, etc. Since having a valid certificate of ownership can always be the easiest solution, you should try to secure it. There can be either of the two scenarios facing you:
- Lack of car title or ownership due to debt payment
You may not claim ownership because you still have a debt running on it. So as mentioned earlier, you can talk to a bank or lending company to understand the process of title transfer through a sale.
- Lack of car title or ownership due to lost title
In this case, you can drop in at the DMV office for a duplicate title for a small fee. But there will be an application process that you would need to follow.
Things to know about junking an abandoned car
Although some takers will be there, reputable junk car companies may not encourage this due to legal complications. You may not claim the car’s ownership because it doesn’t belong to you and someone abandoned it on your property, or you came across it somewhere near your street. You must take a safe path to avoid getting embroiled in unpleasant scenarios. According to junkyards, the best way to deal with this is to visit your local vehicle authorities for help. If you didn’t find its rightful owner after putting in all types of effort, you can try to own it and then junk the same. But it will be a whole lot of process.
You may have to get approval for a lien sale. The documents go to the DMV for the new title issue during this process. They contact the old owner to inform them about the development, in which they can do either of the two things – pay money for leaving your car on your property or transfer its ownership to you. If they opt for the second, you will finally have the car title and sell your vehicle.
Sometimes, it can be tempting to keep an abandoned car if it seems reasonably okay from outside. But this can be risk as you don’t know about its record. Or, there can be some hidden defects potential to cause dangerous accidents. So the best option can be to sell it to a junk car company. Since you own the title now, you also don’t have to worry. If you provide them with the documents, a good company with a credible background will be more than willing to buy it for a good value.
Junking a car for cash can be a brilliant idea, whether you own a car title or not. But before deciding, you should consider all the aspects and understand the challenges. For example, not having a car title or selling an abandoned vehicle can be a problem. However, if you can fix these issues, you will not have to worry about anything.