Skip to content
JunkStarNATIONWIDE JUNK CAR BUYER
(323) 503-4171Call usGet my offer

Sell my car in Pennsylvania.

Failed PA inspection, won’t start, rusted from winter salt, or a lost title? Get one firm written offer in two minutes, free towing anywhere in Pennsylvania, and your check in hand before the car leaves.

$0 towing in all 67 counties One firm written offer Paid by check at pickup

No obligation Free towing(323) 503-4171

Skip the repair bill

What’s wrong with your car? We buy it as-is.

You don’t need to fix it, clean it, or pay a mechanic just to get it out of your driveway.

  1. Failed PA inspection

    Won’t pass annual PA safety or emissions? Sell it as-is instead of pouring thousands into an old car.

  2. Won’t start or dead engine

    Blown engine, slipping transmission, electrical failure, or sitting with flat tires for years.

  3. Winter salt & frame rust

    Rotted subframes, rusted rocker panels, and seized brakes from Pennsylvania winter road salt.

  4. Wrecked or totaled

    Collision damage, deployed airbags, deer hits, or salvage cars sitting at a body shop.

  5. Inherited or unwanted

    A relative’s car, an expired registration, or a vehicle that has sat for years. Tell us the situation and we’ll tell you what paperwork applies.

  6. Lost title or a loan

    Missing title or a lender on it? See exactly what you need below before you book.

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 forHow JunkStar works
A high quote that drops at pickupYou 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” feesTowing is $0 in every Pennsylvania ZIP code. The amount on your accepted offer is the amount on your check.
Paid later, mailed, or after the car is gonePayment is handed to you at pickup, in exchange for your signed title and keys.
Pressure to sign a blank or incomplete titleNever sign early. We walk you through signing the title at a notary or authorized PennDOT agent.
An offer with no questions asked about the carWe ask about your car’s year, make, model, condition and title status first, because a real offer needs real details.

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 do you need if my title is missing?

How it works

From your driveway to paid in 3 steps.

  1. 01

    Tell us about your car

    Enter your VIN or year, make, model and PA ZIP code. Answer a few quick condition questions in about two minutes.

  2. 02

    Lock in one firm offer

    See your written offer upfront with zero obligation. No calling five junkyards, and no price drop at pickup as long as your description of the car is accurate.

  3. 03

    Free pickup & paid by check

    Pick a pickup window that fits your day. The driver confirms the car matches your description, hands you your check at pickup, and tows it for $0.

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 $165–$185 per ton, the Pennsylvania range used in published 2026 estimates. A car with sellable parts, or a truck, can be worth more than its weight.

Vehicle typeTypical weightScrap-weight estimate
Compact car2,500–3,300 lb$206–$305
Mid-size sedan3,200–3,800 lb$264–$352
Full-size sedan3,800–4,500 lb$314–$416
Crossover or small SUV3,300–4,000 lb$272–$370
Large SUV5,000–6,000 lb$413–$555
Pickup truck4,800–7,000 lb$396–$648

Estimates only, not a quote. Published Pennsylvania figures vary widely and differ by source and buyer. 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.

Title questions, answered

Your situation, what you need.

Pennsylvania cares about ownership paperwork, not whether your car runs. Find your situation:

Your situationWhat it means in Pennsylvania
I have the title in my nameYou’re set. The seller signs and handprints their name, and the signature must be notarized or verified. Don’t sign early; see the signing steps below.
I lost my title, or it’s damagedApply to PennDOT for a duplicate with Form MV-38O if you own the vehicle and any lien has been satisfied. The fee is $72, paid by check or money order with the mailed form. Tell us when you request your offer.
There’s a loan or lien on itAsk your lender for the lien release or the title before you book. PennDOT’s owner duplicate-title form applies once the lien is satisfied.
The owner has passed awayIt depends on how the title was held. If two people owned it jointly with right of survivorship, the survivor submits Form MV-39 with an original death certificate. Other cases follow PennDOT’s “Vehicle Transfer after Death of Owner” fact sheet, so tell us before you sign anything.
It won’t start, failed inspection, or the registration expiredWe buy it as-is and tow it for $0. The paperwork we need is about ownership, not whether the car runs or passes inspection.

Source: PennDOT (pa.gov): Get a Duplicate Title, Payments and Fees, and Vehicle Transfer after Death of Owner. Rules and fees can change, so confirm with PennDOT before you pay.

Do it right the first time

Signing your title and plate.

PennDOT says the buyer and seller should meet at a notary, tag service, or motor vehicle dealer so the title is completed correctly.

  1. 01

    Don’t sign at home

    The seller’s signature must be notarized or verified, so sign only in front of a notary or authorized PennDOT agent. A notary or tag service may charge its own fee. We’ll walk you through it when you book.

  2. 02

    Sign, print and add mileage

    The seller signs and handprints their name on the title and enters the mileage. If more than one owner is listed, plan for each owner to be there.

  3. 03

    Take your plate off

    After the title is transferred, remove the plate. Transfer it to another vehicle you own, or return it to PennDOT, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597.

  4. 04

    Then call your insurer

    Keep your coverage until the car has been picked up and the plate is dealt with, then ask your insurer to remove the car or move the policy to your next vehicle.

Statewide coverage

Free pickup across all 67 PA counties.

Whether your car is parked on a tight Philly block, a sloped Pittsburgh street, or a rural driveway, towing is always free.

  • Philadelphia
  • Pittsburgh
  • Allentown
  • Reading
  • Erie
  • Scranton
  • Bethlehem
  • Lancaster
  • Harrisburg
  • York
  • State College
  • Wilkes-Barre
  • Altoona
  • Chester
  • Norristown
  • Bensalem
  • Upper Darby
  • Levittown
  • King of Prussia
  • West Chester
  • Easton
  • Hazleton
  • Lebanon
  • Williamsport
  • Chambersburg
  • Johnstown
  • Cranberry Township
  • Monroeville

Don’t see your town? Enter any Pennsylvania ZIP code above to confirm instant pickup at your address.

Common questions

Pennsylvania seller questions

How much will you pay for my junk car in Pennsylvania?
It depends on your car’s weight, make and model, condition, and whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still on it. As a rough floor, scrap weight alone works out to about $206–$648 across common vehicle types at $165–$185 per ton; trucks and cars with sellable parts can bring more. Enter your VIN and PA ZIP code above for one firm written number in about two minutes.
Is JunkStar legit? How do I know the offer is real?
You see one firm written offer before you commit, towing is $0, and the check is handed to you at pickup before the car is loaded. The price holds at pickup when your description of the car is accurate. If any buyer won’t put the exact payout in writing or adds fees at pickup, walk away.
Can I sell a junk car without a title in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania treats the title as the legal proof of ownership; PennDOT also accepts a certificate of salvage, an out-of-state title, a manufacturer certificate of origin, or a court order. If you can’t find your title, request a duplicate (Form MV-38O) first. Tell us when you request your offer and we’ll explain what applies to your car.
How do I get a duplicate title in Pennsylvania, and what does it cost?
If you own the vehicle and any lien has been satisfied, complete PennDOT Form MV-38O and mail it to the address on the form with a check or money order. PennDOT’s fee schedule lists the duplicate title fee at $72. Fees can change, so check pa.gov before you send payment.
Does my Pennsylvania title need to be notarized?
The seller’s signature on a Pennsylvania title must be notarized or verified by an authorized PennDOT agent. Don’t sign ahead of time. Meet at a notary, tag service or motor vehicle dealer, and we’ll explain the simplest way to complete it when you schedule pickup.
Who pays for the notary?
Notaries and tag services set their own fees for verifying your signature, and that cost is usually the seller’s. It is separate from your offer, which has no towing or hookup deductions. Ask about the fee when you book your notary or tag service.
What do I do with my license plate after I sell?
Remove the plate once the title is transferred. Either transfer it to another vehicle or return it to PennDOT: Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Return Tag Unit, P.O. Box 68597, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597. Keep your insurance until the car is picked up, then contact your insurer.
Can I sell a car that still has a loan on it?
Start with your lender. PennDOT’s owner duplicate-title process applies once the lien is satisfied, so ask for the lien release or the title before you book pickup. Tell us what’s on your title and we’ll tell you what’s needed.
Can I sell a car that belonged to a family member who passed away?
Usually yes, but the steps depend on how the title was held. For a joint title with right of survivorship, PennDOT’s fact sheet has the survivor submit Form MV-39 with an original death certificate. Other situations follow PennDOT’s “Vehicle Transfer after Death of Owner” fact sheet. Don’t sign the title until you’ve confirmed the right path.
Will you buy a car that failed PA inspection, won’t start, or has an expired registration?
Yes. Failed inspections, dead engines and expired registrations are common reasons Pennsylvania drivers sell to us. We buy as-is and tow for free.
Are there any towing or hookup fees in Pennsylvania?
Never. Towing is 100% included across every Pennsylvania ZIP code. The dollar amount on your accepted offer is the exact amount on the check handed to you at pickup.

Keep reading