Sell a junk car with no title in Miami

Can you junk a car without a title in Florida?

Yes, in many cases. Section 319.30 of the Florida Statutes lets a salvage dealer or registered secondary metals recycler accept a derelict motor vehicle without a title. The seller completes a derelict motor vehicle certificate application with the buyer and shows a valid driver license or ID.

The certificate is form HSMV 82137, the Application for Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate and Request to Cancel Title. It is filled in at the time of sale by you, the transporter and the buyer. Once it is filed, the car's title is cancelled and the car can only be dismantled or scrapped. It cannot go back on the road.

Which cars count as a derelict motor vehicle?

Florida defines a derelict motor vehicle as one valued under one thousand dollars that is at least 10 model years old, counting the model year as year one, and whose main value is as scrap or parts for a salvage dealer or recycler.

So a 2014 sedan with a seized engine probably qualifies. A five-year-old car does not, however bad it looks, and neither does an older car that is still worth more than one thousand dollars. For those you need the title, and if it is lost you apply for a duplicate first.

What does the buyer have to do with a no-title car?

The buyer must report the car to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and send the certificate to the state within 24 hours. The car is then held for 3 full business days before it can be dismantled. With an active lien under 3 years old, the hold is 10 days.

Those holds exist so an owner or lender can come forward. They do not delay your pickup or your payment, since they happen at the buyer's yard after the car has left.

If you are selling a car that is not in your name, expect two more steps: the buyer takes a thumbprint on the application, and payment has to be a check or money order made out to you.

How do I replace a lost Florida title instead?

Apply for a duplicate with form HSMV 82101, the Application for Duplicate or Lost in Transit/Reassignment Title, at a tax collector's office or license plate agency. You need ID and the vehicle identification number. A car with a title in hand is simpler to sell and can be worth more.

If you are not sure which route fits your car, call (786) 284-6998 with the year and the VIN. The buyer can tell you whether it can go on a derelict certificate or needs the duplicate title.