Selling or junking a car in Arkansas

How do I sign over a car title in Arkansas?

The seller fills in the bill of sale and odometer statement on the back of the title. For Arkansas titles with control number 3003001 or higher, that back section is enough if it is fully completed. Older titles and out-of-state titles need a separate bill of sale and odometer statement, available at any state revenue office. DFA says vehicles under 20 years old need the odometer statement signed by both buyer and seller.

Can I sell or junk a car without a title in Arkansas?

An owner who sells a vehicle for scrap or dismantling must assign the title to the buyer, and the title goes to the Office of Motor Vehicle with a Notice of Intent to Dismantle. If the vehicle is at least 25 years old and no title is available, a bill of sale showing year, make, model and VIN can be sent instead. For newer vehicles, get a replacement title first.

How do I get a duplicate title in Arkansas?

The replacement title fee is $10, paid by check to the Department of Finance and Administration. The last titled owner signs the Application for Title or Replacement Title (if owners are joined by 'and', both sign; if 'or', either). Apply at any state revenue office or online. Out-of-state applicants can also mail it to the Special License Unit, P.O. Box 1272, Little Rock, AR 72203. If a lien is still in effect, the lienholder can use form 10-315. Allow at least three weeks.

Do I need to file a release of liability in Arkansas?

Filing is optional. Under Ark. Code §27-14-911, a seller who has made a genuine sale and handed over the vehicle is not liable for the buyer's later negligent driving. The seller may file the Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle by mail or in person with the Office of Motor Vehicle, or notify the state of the sale through DFA's online services. No deadline is set.

What do I do with the plates after selling a car in Arkansas?

You can move your plate to a replacement vehicle by bringing your current registration certificate when you register that vehicle.

What happens to the title when a car is junked or salvaged in Arkansas?

File the Notice of Intent to Dismantle a Motor Vehicle with the assigned title, or with a bill of sale for a vehicle 25 years or older with no title, to DFA, Office of Motor Vehicle, Records Unit, P.O. Box 1272, Little Rock, AR 72203. DFA cancels the title and records the vehicle as dismantled. A title won't be issued again unless the filer certifies within 90 days that the notice was filed in error. Afterward, the vehicle can be transferred only on a bill of sale that says the dismantling notice was filed.

What can I do about an abandoned vehicle on my property in Arkansas?

A towing firm may remove a vehicle from private property only with a written statement from the property owner or agent, and must notify local police within 2 hours of taking it. A vehicle is abandoned if left unattended for 30 days with no sign the owner intends to reclaim it. The tow firm must notify the owner and lienholders by certified mail no sooner than 2 and no later than 8 business days after receiving the vehicle. If it is not claimed within 45 days of that notice, it can be dismantled, destroyed or sold at public sale (Ark. Code §§27-50-1208 to 27-50-1210).

Official sources

1. DFA Notice of Intent to Dismantle a Motor Vehicle
2. DFA Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Motor Vehicle
3. DFA Replacement Titles
4. DFA DSMV FAQs (duplicate title $10)
5. DFA Vehicle Tag Renewal (bill of sale/odometer on back of title; plate transfer)
6. DFA Online Services (notify state of sale; replace title)
7. Arkansas Dept. of Labor and Licensing: Title 27 Towing Law compilation

This guide summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Motor Vehicle before you sell.