Guides index
Every problem and paperwork guide
Start with what is wrong with the car, or with the paperwork question that has you stuck. Each guide answers one question first, then covers how the problem changes the sale.
Updated
If more than one fits, read the paperwork guide first. A dead engine changes what the car is worth. A missing title can stop the sale until it's sorted.
Selling and value
- Selling a junk carHow do I sell a junk car?
- Who buys cars for partsWho buys cars for parts, and how do I check one is legitimate?
- Junkyard or scrap yardShould I sell my car to a junkyard, a salvage yard or a scrap yard?
- How to sell a car for partsHow do I sell a car for parts, step by step?
- Where to sell a car for partsWhere can I sell my car for parts?
- What a junk car is worthHow much is my junk car worth?
- After you sellWhat do I do with the plates, the DMV notice and insurance after I sell?
- Part it out or sell it wholeShould I part out my car myself or sell it whole?
- Cash for clunkers todayIs there a cash for clunkers program I can use for my old car?
- Junk car removalHow does junk car removal work, and is it free?
- Repairs cost more than it is worthMy car needs repairs that cost more than it's worth. Should I fix it or sell it?
- Selling as isWhat do I have to tell a buyer when I sell a broken car as is?
- Junk truck or SUVHow do I sell a broken pickup or SUV for parts?
- Trading in a broken carWill a dealer take a broken or non-running car as a trade-in?
- Keep the check, sell unrepairedCan I keep the insurance repair money and sell the car without fixing it?
- Settlements and payoutsIf I sell my car, do I lose a class-action settlement or recall reimbursement?
- Taxes on the saleDo I pay tax when I sell my junk car?
- Car property taxDo I still owe car property tax or excise on a car that doesn't run or that I sold?
- Old project carIs my unfinished project or classic car worth more than scrap?
- Wipe your dataHow do I clear my personal data from a car before I sell it?
- Several junk carsCan I sell several junk cars at once without a dealer license?
Title and paperwork
- Selling with no titleCan I sell or junk a car without a title?
- Salvage titleHow do I sell a car with a salvage title, and who buys them?
- Car not in your nameCan I sell a car whose title is in someone else's name?
- Inherited carHow do I sell a car I inherited when the owner has died?
- Still owe on the loanCan I sell a broken car that still has a loan on it?
- Leased carCan I sell a leased car that is wrecked or broken?
- Open recallCan I sell a car with an unrepaired recall?
- Rebuilt titleHow do I sell a car with a rebuilt or reconstructed title, and what is it worth?
- Nonrepairable or junk titleWhat can I do with a car that has a nonrepairable, junk or parts-only title?
- After a divorceCan I sell a car after a divorce if my ex's name is on the title?
- Lien still on the titleMy loan is paid off but the title still shows a lien. How do I sell?
- Facing repossessionShould I sell my car before the lender repossesses it?
- Out-of-state titleCan I sell a car titled in another state?
- Selling for a relativeCan I sell a car for a parent or relative who can't do it themselves?
- Tickets or registration holdCan I sell a car with unpaid parking tickets, tolls or a registration hold?
- Mistake on the titleI made a mistake filling out the title. Is it void, and how do I fix it?
- Bonded titleWhat is a bonded title, and can it help me sell a car with no title?
- Lemon or buybackCan I sell a car that is a lemon or was bought back under a lemon law?
- Title loan on itCan I sell a car that has a title loan against it?
- In bankruptcyCan I sell a junk car while I am in bankruptcy?
- VIN problemsHow do I sell a car whose VIN plate is missing, damaged or doesn't match the title?
- Bill of saleDo I need a bill of sale to sell a junk car, and what goes on it?
- Dealer never sent the titleThe dealer never gave me the title. Can I still sell the car?
- Titled to a businessHow do I sell a car titled to my business or a closed company?
- Held in a trustHow do I sell a car that is titled to a trust?
What's wrong with it
- Car doesn't runCan I sell a car that doesn't run or won't start?
- Wrecked or totaledHow do I sell a wrecked car, and when does a crash make it a total loss?
- Blown engineShould I fix a blown or seized engine or sell the car as is?
- Bad transmissionIs a car with a bad transmission worth fixing, or should I sell it?
- Flood damageCan I sell a flood-damaged car, and what will its title say?
- Failed inspection or rustCan I sell a car that failed safety inspection or is rusted out?
- Sitting for yearsCan I sell a car that has sat for years with expired registration?
- Missing partsCan I sell a car that is missing its engine, wheels or other parts?
- Old or high mileageWho buys an old, high-mileage car, and what is it worth?
- Insurer totaled itMy insurer totaled my car. Should I keep it, and can I sell it?
- Maker warranty extensionsIs my failed engine or transmission covered by a maker's extended warranty?
- Failing CVTMy CVT is failing. Is it covered, or should I sell the car?
- Hybrid battery failedIs a hybrid with a failing battery worth fixing, or should I sell it?
- EV battery failedWhat can I do with an electric car whose battery has failed?
- Fire damageCan I sell a car damaged by fire, and what happens to its title?
- Airbags deployedCan I sell a car after the airbags went off, and is it worth fixing?
- Stolen and recoveredMy stolen car was recovered. Who owns it now, and can I sell it?
- Converter stolenMy catalytic converter was stolen. Should I replace it or sell the car?
- No keysCan I sell a car if I lost all the keys?
- Head gasket or overheatingShould I fix a blown head gasket or sell the car?
- Burning oilMy car burns oil. Is a fix covered, or should I sell it?
- Broken timing beltMy timing belt or chain broke. Is the engine ruined, and is it worth fixing?
- Check engine light onCan I sell a car with the check engine light on, and do I have to tell the buyer?
- Diesel DPF or DEF troubleCan I sell a diesel with a clogged DPF, failed DEF system or EGR trouble?
- Electrical problemsShould I sell a car with electrical problems I can't trace?
- Frame damageCan I sell a car with frame damage, and what must I tell the buyer?
- Rotted frameIs a car with a rusted-out frame worth anything?
- Hail or storm damageIs a hail- or storm-damaged car worth fixing, and does it get a branded title?
- VandalizedMy car was vandalized. Should I claim, repair or sell it?
- Failed emissionsCan I sell a car that failed its emissions or smog test?
- Bad catalytic converterMy catalytic converter failed. Is it covered, and is the car worth fixing?
- Failed turboIs a car with a failed turbo worth fixing?
- Engine sludgeMy engine has oil sludge. Is there a maker program, or should I sell?
- Dual-clutch troubleMy dual-clutch transmission shudders and slips. What are my options?
- Worn-out clutchShould I replace a worn-out clutch or sell the car?
- Rodent-chewed wiringMice or rats chewed my car's wiring. Will insurance pay, or should I sell?
- Kia or Hyundai theft damageMy Kia or Hyundai was damaged in a theft or break-in. Can I sell it?
- Broken suspensionIs a car with a broken suspension safe to tow and worth fixing?
- Bad or seized brakesIs a car with bad or seized brakes worth fixing, and can it still be towed?
- Mold or hoarder damageCan I sell a car full of mold or one that sat packed full of stuff?
- Broken odometerHow do I sell a car with a broken odometer or a "not actual mileage" title?
- Modified or deletedCan I sell a car with removed emissions parts or heavy modifications?
Special situations
- Car abandoned on your propertySomeone abandoned a car on my property. How do I get rid of it legally?
- Towed or impoundedMy car was towed or impounded. Can I sell it from the lot?
- Stuck at a repair shopThe repair shop has my car and I don't want to pay for the repair. What can I do?
- Notice to remove a carI got a city or HOA notice to remove an inoperable car. What are my options?
- Military deploymentHow do I sell a car before or during a military deployment?
- Moving abroadHow do I get rid of a car that doesn't run before I move abroad?
- Car in another stateHow do I sell a car that is sitting in another state from me?
- Ignition interlockCan I sell a car that has an ignition interlock device installed?
- Accident claim still openCan I sell my wrecked car while the insurance or injury claim is still open?