# How to sell a car that doesn't run > Junkyards, auto recyclers, car-buying services and mechanics all buy cars that don't run, and many arrange the tow, so ask. The offer depends on the car's parts, weight and completeness, not on whether it starts. You still need the title or your state's approved substitute, a bill of sale and a release of liability, exactly as with a running car. Reviewed 2026-10-12 by the Junk Cars Nation editorial team. Canonical: https://junkcarsnation.com/guides/sell-car-that-doesnt-run/ ## The short answer A car that doesn't run is still worth money to the right buyer. Your main options: - **Junkyards and auto recyclers,** which buy cars for parts and scrap. - **Car-buying services** that buy cars in any condition. - **Mechanics or private buyers** who want a project or a parts car. Many of these buyers tow the car themselves or include towing in the offer, but not all do, so ask before you agree. The full process is in [how to junk a car](/guides/how-to-junk-a-car/). ## Is it worth a quick check first? "Doesn't run" can mean anything from a flat battery to a dead engine. If you don't know why it stopped, a few things are worth ruling out before you sell: - **Dead battery.** A jump start or a charged battery is a cheap test. - **Out of fuel,** or old fuel after the car sat for a long time. - **Simple no-start causes** a mobile mechanic can check in one visit. If a small fix gets it running, you'll widen your pool of buyers. If the cause is serious or unknown, don't sink money into it: buyers of non-running cars expect to deal with the problem themselves. For bigger failures, see our guides to [blown engines](/guides/sell-car-with-blown-engine/) and [bad transmissions](/guides/sell-car-with-bad-transmission/), and [junk or repair](/guides/junk-or-repair-car/) for the decision. ## What affects the price Buyers of non-running cars work out an offer from: - **Year, make and model,** and demand for its parts. - **Which parts are good.** A car that stopped because of one failure may have a lot of reusable parts. - **Completeness.** Missing wheels, battery or catalytic converter all lower the offer. See [catalytic converters and junk cars](/guides/catalytic-converter-and-junk-cars/). - **Weight,** for the part that becomes scrap metal. - **Location and access.** A car in a garage, a backyard or a ditch, with flat tires or no wheels, takes more work to tow. - **Paperwork.** A clean title in your name reaches the most buyers. Buyers set their own prices, and we can't quote one. See [how junkyards price cars](/guides/how-junkyards-price-cars/) and [junk car value](/guides/junk-car-value/). ## Paperwork: the same as a running car The car's condition doesn't change what the law asks for. - **Title.** In Texas, for example, the seller gives the buyer a properly signed title with the date of sale and odometer reading.[^1] See [how to sign over a car title](/guides/how-to-sign-over-a-car-title/). - **No title?** Some states let licensed recyclers buy older cars without one. North Carolina allows it for vehicles 12 model years old or older, with a signed seller statement, photo ID and a stolen-vehicle check.[^2] Other states have no such rule. See [selling a car without a title](/guides/sell-car-without-title/). - **Bill of sale** stating the car is sold as-is and doesn't run. See [bill of sale for a junk car](/guides/bill-of-sale-for-junk-car/). - **Lien release** if a loan was ever recorded. See [selling a car with a lien](/guides/sell-car-with-lien/). - **Release of liability.** California requires notice to the DMV within 5 calendar days of the sale.[^3] In Texas, filing a vehicle transfer notification within 30 days protects you from the buyer's later tickets and tolls.[^1] See [release of liability](/guides/release-of-liability/). A car that has sat for years often has expired registration. That's fine for a sale; buyers want the title. If you're unsure where the title is, find out before pickup day. When a junkyard or salvage yard takes the car, federal rules require it to report the car's VIN and where it came from to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.[^4] That's one reason a legitimate yard will want your ID and paperwork. ## What to tell buyers Many offers for non-running cars are made over the phone or online, sight unseen. A vehicle history report typically won't list mechanical problems,[^5] so the details you give are what the offer is based on: - **Year, make, model and mileage,** or the VIN. On passenger cars the VIN is readable through the windshield from outside, by the driver's side.[^6] Our [VIN decoder](/vin-decoder/) confirms the details. - **Why it doesn't run,** or "unknown." - **Whether it cranks, starts, or does nothing.** - **Whether it rolls and steers,** whether the tires hold air, and whether all wheels are on. - **Where it is** and how a tow truck reaches it: driveway, backyard, garage, tight street. - **Missing parts** and any damage. - **Title status.** Getting the access details right matters as much as the mechanical ones. If the driver arrives and the car is behind a locked gate with four flat tires, the pickup or the price can change. ## Steps to sell a car that doesn't run 1. **Rule out cheap fixes** if you don't know why it stopped. 2. **Find the title** and any lien release. Apply for a duplicate if needed. 3. **Write a short description** using the list above and take a few photos. 4. **Get two or three offers,** and ask each buyer whether towing is included and what's needed at pickup. 5. **Prepare the car:** remove personal items and, where your state requires it, the plates. See [preparing a car for the junkyard](/guides/prepare-car-for-junkyard/). 6. **Make it reachable:** clear a path and have keys ready if you have them. See [selling a car without keys](/guides/sell-car-without-keys/) if not. 7. **At pickup,** sign the title and bill of sale, get paid, and keep copies. 8. **Afterward,** file your release of liability and [cancel insurance and registration](/guides/cancel-insurance-and-registration-after-selling/). Title and release rules vary; look up your state on our [junk car laws](/junk-car-laws/) page, such as [North Carolina](/junk-car-laws/north-carolina/) or [California](/junk-car-laws/california/). To find buyers near you, browse [junkyards by state](/junkyards/), or [get an offer for your car](/cash-for-junk-cars/). [^1]: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, "Buying or selling a vehicle", https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle [^2]: North Carolina General Statutes § 20-62.1, "Purchase of vehicles for purposes of scrap or parts only", https://ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-62.1.pdf [^3]: California DMV, "Notice of transfer and release of liability (NRL)", https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/titles/title-transfers-and-changes/notice-of-transfer-and-release-of-liability-nrl/ [^4]: 28 CFR § 25.56, "Responsibilities of junk yards and salvage yards and auto recyclers", https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-28/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-B/section-25.56 [^5]: Federal Trade Commission, "Buying a used car from a dealer", https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buying-used-car-dealer [^6]: 49 CFR § 565.13, "General requirements" (vehicle identification number), https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-565/subpart-B/section-565.13 ## Questions people ask **Will a junkyard buy a car that doesn't run?** Yes. Non-running cars are a normal part of a junkyard's business. They're priced on parts and scrap value, and many yards include towing in the offer, so ask. **Should I fix it before selling?** Only if the fix is cheap and certain, like a dead battery. If the cause is unknown or expensive, you'll usually come out ahead selling as-is. **Can I sell a non-running car with expired registration?** Usually yes. Registration lets a car be driven on public roads; the title is what proves ownership. Buyers care about the title. **Do I need to be there when it's picked up?** Usually, because you sign the title and bill of sale and receive payment at pickup. Some buyers allow other arrangements, so ask in advance.