Remove personal belongings, gather your title and paperwork, and take off the license plates if your state requires it. You don’t need to clean the car or make repairs. Junk car buyers take vehicles as-is. Preparation takes about 30 minutes.
Steps to prepare your car:
- Remove all personal items from the cabin, trunk, and glove box
- Check under seats, in door pockets, and in storage compartments
- Locate your title (or gather alternative ownership documents)
- Remove license plates if required by your state
- Cancel or transfer your insurance after the sale
- Take photos of the odometer and VIN for your records
You don’t need to drain fluids, remove the battery, or fix anything. The buyer handles all of that. However, if you have valuable aftermarket parts (stereo, wheels, accessories), you can remove them before pickup to sell separately.
Keep one set of keys if possible. Some buyers pay slightly more for vehicles with keys, even if the car doesn’t run. If you’ve lost the keys, most junk car buyers will still purchase the vehicle.
After the sale, there are a few more steps to complete. Notify the DMV, cancel insurance, and keep your receipt.
