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

Sell my car in Seattle.

Parked on a hilly street, in an apartment garage, or sitting past the 72-hour limit? Get one firm written offer in minutes, free towing anywhere in Seattle, and your check in hand at pickup.

$0 towing across Seattle One firm written offer Paid by check at pickup

No obligation Free towing(323) 503-4171

Skip the repair bill

Whatever shape your car is in, 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 spot.

  1. Won’t start or dead engine

    Blown engine, bad transmission, electrical failure, or sitting with flat tires for months.

  2. Parked on the street too long

    Tired of moving it every few days? Tell us where it’s parked and we’ll take it from there.

  3. Wrecked or totaled

    Collision damage, deployed airbags, or a salvage car waiting at a body shop.

  4. Stuck in a garage or lot

    Apartment garage, tight stall, or a lot with a gate? Tell us about it so the pickup goes smoothly.

  5. Lost title or a loan

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

  6. Expired registration or inherited

    Washington lets you sell with an expired registration. Tell us the situation and we’ll tell you what paperwork applies.

Hill, tight street or garage?

Tell us about the spot, step by step.

Seattle cars end up on steep blocks, on narrow streets and in apartment garages. Here is what to tell us, and what to expect.

  1. 01

    Describe where it’s parked

    When you request your offer, say whether the car is at the curb, on a slope, on a narrow street, in a driveway, or in an apartment garage or lot. For a garage, note the posted clearance, the level, the stall number and any gate or building contact. Also tell us whether it rolls, steers and has keys. Accurate details keep your offer firm.

  2. 02

    Schedule your pickup

    After you accept, a driver contacts you to set a pickup window. From offer to payment typically takes a few days, and same-day pickup is sometimes possible depending on your location and driver availability. If the spot is hard to reach, the driver can confirm the details with you then.

  3. 03

    Be reachable at pickup

    The title paperwork and your payment happen at pickup, so plan to be there. If you can’t be, arrange it with the driver in advance.

Parked on a Seattle street

Mind the 72-hour rule before it costs you.

Seattle doesn’t allow a vehicle to stay on the same block of a city street for more than 72 consecutive hours, whether or not a sign is posted. The city says to move the car off the blockface at least once every 72 hours. Temporary no-parking signs can also go up with as little as 24 hours’ notice, and a car left past the deadline can be cited, towed and impounded.

The city’s first enforcement step is an official warning notice that gives the owner time to move the car. If your car has already been towed from a public street, the city says to start with Lincoln Towing at (206) 364-2000. A scheduled pickup doesn’t extend a parking limit, so get your offer early, and tell us if there’s a notice on the windshield.

Source: City of Seattle Department of Transportation, “72-Hour On-Street Parking Ordinance” (seattle.gov). City rules can change, so check seattle.gov for the latest.

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 Seattle. The amount on your accepted offer is the amount you are paid.
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 a blank or incomplete title. We walk you through the title paperwork before pickup.
A buyer who won’t say who they areIn Washington, a business that buys wrecked vehicles to dismantle must hold a state wrecker license. Ask any buyer for their business name and license, and get the payout in writing.

Comparing buyers? Ask each one: What exact amount do I receive at pickup? Is towing free, from this exact spot, with no deductions? Will you put the quote in writing? How do you pay? What do you need if my title is missing?

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 $160–$180 per ton, the Washington range used in published 2026 estimates. A newer car, a truck, or a car with sellable parts can be worth far more than its weight.

Vehicle typeTypical weightScrap-weight estimate
Compact car2,500–3,300 lb$200–$297
Mid-size sedan3,200–3,800 lb$256–$342
Full-size sedan3,800–4,500 lb$304–$405
Crossover or small SUV3,300–4,000 lb$264–$360
Large SUV5,000–6,000 lb$400–$540
Pickup truck4,800–7,000 lb$384–$630

Estimates only, not a quote, and not specific to Seattle. Real offers vary widely: scrap-only cars land near the weight floor, while newer cars and ones with sellable parts can be worth much more, 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.

Title questions

Title, plates and Report of Sale: same rules statewide.

Seattle follows Washington’s rules. After a sale, remove your license plates (you can transfer them to the same kind of vehicle you own, or surrender them at a vehicle licensing office) and file a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing within 5 days of the sale date; weekends and state holidays don’t count. Lost your title? DOL accepts an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest or an Affidavit in Lieu of Title, and a replacement title can take 4 to 8 weeks.

For the full steps, a loan or lien, a deceased owner and other title situations, see our Washington paperwork steps and situation-by-situation guide. Tell us about your title when you request your offer and we’ll explain what you need before pickup.

Seattle and beyond

Free towing across the city and King County.

Towing is $0 anywhere in Seattle. Enter your ZIP code above to confirm pickup at your address.

  • Capitol Hill
  • Ballard
  • Fremont
  • Queen Anne
  • West Seattle
  • Beacon Hill
  • Rainier Valley
  • Northgate
  • Bellevue
  • Kirkland
  • Redmond
  • Renton
  • Kent
  • Federal Way
  • Shoreline
  • Burien
  • Auburn
  • Issaquah
  • Sammamish
  • Tacoma
  • Everett

Outside the Seattle area? See our Washington page for statewide coverage.

Common questions

Seattle seller questions

Who buys junk cars in Seattle, and how much will I get?
Enter your VIN and ZIP code above for one firm written offer. 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 scrap-weight floor, common vehicle types work out to about $200–$630 at $160–$180 per ton; newer cars, trucks and cars with sellable parts can bring much more.
Is JunkStar legit? How do I know the offer is real?
You see one firm written offer before you commit, towing is $0, and payment is handed to you at pickup. 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.
My car is on a steep hill or a narrow street. Can you still pick it up?
Tell us when you request your offer: whether the car is at the curb, on a slope or on a narrow block, how much room there is around it, and whether it rolls, steers and has keys. The driver contacts you to schedule a pickup window and can confirm the details with you then.
My car is in an apartment garage. What should I tell you?
Tell us the posted clearance, the garage level, the stall number, any gate or access code, and how to reach the building contact. Also say whether the car rolls, steers and has keys. The driver can confirm the details with you when scheduling.
What is Seattle’s 72-hour parking rule?
Seattle doesn’t allow a vehicle to stay on the same block of a city street for more than 72 consecutive hours, with or without a posted sign. Move the car off the blockface at least once every 72 hours. The city’s first enforcement step is a warning notice, and a car left past a deadline can be cited, towed and impounded. A scheduled pickup doesn’t extend the limit, so get your offer early.
What is the Report of Sale, and do I file one when I junk a car?
Yes. Washington requires the seller to submit a Report of Sale within 5 days of the sale date; weekends and state holidays don’t count. DOL lists giving a vehicle to a wrecking yard and disposing of it among the cases that need one. It protects you from towing charges and other liability from the new owner.
What do I do with my license plates?
Remove them. DOL says sellers are legally required to take the plates off the vehicle. You can transfer them to the same kind of vehicle you own, or surrender them at a vehicle licensing office. The buyer can’t use them.
Can I sell a junk car without a title in Seattle?
A vehicle must have a valid title before it can be sold, but DOL also accepts an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest or an Affidavit in Lieu of Title if yours is lost. A replacement title can take 4 to 8 weeks. Tell us when you request your offer and we’ll explain what applies to your car.
How fast can you pick up my car, and do I need to be there?
From offer to payment typically takes a few days. Same-day pickup is sometimes possible depending on your location and driver availability, so don’t plan around it. Plan to be there: the title paperwork and payment happen at pickup. If you can’t be, arrange it with the driver in advance.

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