Sell my car in California.
Won’t start, failed smog, or missing the title? Get one firm written offer in minutes, free pickup anywhere in California, and your check in hand at pickup. We walk you through the DMV paperwork first.
$0 towing across California One firm written offer Paid by check at pickup
Skip the repair bill
Whatever shape your car is in, we buy it as-is.
You don’t need to fix it, smog it, or pay a mechanic just to get it out of your driveway.
Won’t start or dead engine
Blown engine, bad transmission, electrical failure, or sitting with flat tires for months.
Failed smog
A car that can’t pass a Smog Check is hard to sell privately. We buy it as it is.
Wrecked or totaled
Collision damage, deployed airbags, or a car waiting at a body shop.
Expired registration or back fees
Lapsed registration doesn’t stop a sale. Tell us about any back fees when you request your offer.
Lost title or a loan
Missing title or a lender on it? See exactly what California requires before you book.
Inherited or unwanted
A relative’s car or one that has sat in the yard for years. Tell us the situation and we’ll point you to the paperwork.
California paperwork
How to sell your car in California, in order.
These are the California DMV’s steps when ownership changes. We walk you through them before pickup.
- 01
Sign the title
Sign the California Certificate of Title over to the buyer when the car is handed over. Never sign a blank title or hand one over before you’re paid.
- 02
Record the odometer
Write the mileage on the sale date. You’ll need it again for your release of liability.
- 03
Leave the plates on
Unlike some states, in California license plates generally stay with the vehicle.
- 04
File your release of liability
Submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) within 5 calendar days, online or on paper (see why it matters below).
- 05
Cancel your insurance
Once the car is gone and the release is filed, call your insurer.
- 06
Clear out the car
Remove your registration, insurance cards, toll transponder and anything else with your name or address on it.
After the sale
File your release of liability — within 5 days.
The California DMV requires the seller to file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) within 5 calendar days of the sale. You can do it online or mail the paper form. You’ll need the buyer’s name and address, the plate number, the last five digits of the VIN, and the odometer reading.
Filing it protects you from liability for parking tickets, abandonment and anything else that happens with the car after it leaves. Skip it, and those bills can come back to you. Keep a dated bill of sale and your filing confirmation.
Junk cars and smog
How to junk a car in California.
In a normal California sale, the seller must provide a valid Smog Check certification. The DMV makes an exception: a vehicle transferred for wrecking or dismantling is exempt from the smog requirement.
Before a car is dismantled, it must be recorded with the DMV as junk (Vehicle Code §11520), using the title or other ownership documents. When you request your offer, tell us whether the car runs and whether it passes smog, and we’ll tell you what you need.
Title questions, answered
Your situation, what you need.
California cares about ownership paperwork, not whether your car runs. Find your situation:
| Your situation | What it means in California |
|---|---|
| I have the title in my name | You’re set. Sign the title over, leave the plates on, and file your release of liability within 5 days. |
| I lost my title | Apply for a replacement with REG 227 first. The DMV fee is $28. |
| No title, car worth under $5,000 | The DMV accepts ownership documents plus a Statement of Facts (REG 256). |
| No title, car worth $5,000 or more | The DMV may require a vehicle bond. |
| There’s a loan or lien on it | Pay off the loan and get the lien released first, or involve the lender in the sale. |
| My registration has expired or I owe back fees | That doesn’t stop a sale. Back fees don’t disappear when a car is sold, so tell us about them upfront. |
Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ca.gov), selling a vehicle, release of liability, title transfer and handbook 19.030. Rules and fees can change, so confirm with the DMV before you file.
State program or selling?
California’s car retirement program vs selling to us.
Often called the “DMV junk car program”, it is actually run by the Bureau of Automotive Repair: its Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) pays some owners to retire a car. It’s worth checking first, but it has strict rules.
| State retirement (BAR CAP) | JunkStar | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | $1,350, or $1,500–$2,000 if you meet the income test | One firm written offer based on your car |
| Car must run | Yes, driven to a BAR dismantler | No, any condition |
| Registration | Current, or lapsed 120 days or less | Expired is fine |
| Title | In your name | We help with missing-title paperwork |
| Smog | Must meet BAR’s smog test rules | Failed smog is fine |
| Timing | Application and approval; subject to yearly funding | Pickup typically within a few days |
Source: Bureau of Automotive Repair (bar.ca.gov), Consumer Assistance Program, checked October 2026. If your car runs, is registered and qualifies, CAP may pay more. If it doesn’t run or isn’t registered, it won’t qualify, and that’s where we come in.
Know before you sell
How to tell a real offer from a bait-and-switch.
The biggest worry sellers have is a high quote that shrinks when the tow truck arrives. These are the common tricks and what JunkStar does instead.
| What to watch for | How JunkStar works |
|---|---|
| A high quote that drops at pickup | You get one firm written offer upfront. It stays firm at pickup as long as your description of the car is accurate. |
| Surprise towing, processing or “environmental” fees | Towing is $0 in California. The amount on your accepted offer is the amount you are paid. |
| Paid later, mailed, or after the car is gone | Payment is handed to you at pickup, in exchange for your signed title and keys. |
| “No title? No problem” promises | California needs ownership documents to transfer or junk a car. If yours is missing, start with a replacement title. |
| A buyer who won’t say who they are | Ask any buyer for their business name, and get the payout in writing. |
Comparing buyers? Ask each one: What exact amount do I receive at pickup? Is towing free, with no deductions? Will you put the quote in writing? How do you pay? What paperwork do you need from me?
What is it worth?
What affects your offer.
Your firm offer comes from your VIN and condition answers. For a rough idea first, here is the scrap-weight floor: vehicle weight times a scrap rate of $175–$195 per ton, the California range used in published 2026 estimates. A car with sellable parts, or a truck, can be worth more than its weight.
| Vehicle type | Typical weight | Scrap-weight estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 2,500–3,300 lb | $219–$322 |
| Mid-size sedan | 3,200–3,800 lb | $280–$371 |
| Full-size sedan | 3,800–4,500 lb | $333–$439 |
| Crossover or small SUV | 3,300–4,000 lb | $289–$390 |
| Large SUV | 5,000–6,000 lb | $438–$585 |
| Pickup truck | 4,800–7,000 lb | $420–$683 |
Estimates only, not a quote, and not specific to any city. Published California figures vary by source and buyer, so ask for a written quote. What also moves your offer: whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still on the car, whether it runs, the make and model, and your title or lien status. Leave the battery, wheels and catalytic converter attached so your offer stays locked.
Statewide coverage
Free towing across California.
Whether your car is in a Los Angeles driveway, a San Diego carport or out in the Central Valley, towing is always free.
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Jose
- San Francisco
- Fresno
- Sacramento
- Long Beach
- Oakland
- Bakersfield
- Anaheim
- Santa Ana
- Riverside
- Stockton
- Irvine
- San Bernardino
- Modesto
- Fremont
- Chula Vista
Don’t see your town? Enter any California ZIP code above to confirm pickup at your address.
Common questions