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Selling or junking a car in District of Columbia

What District of Columbia requires when you sell or junk a car: signing the title, selling without one, duplicate titles, release of liability and plates. Each answer links to the official source.

Checked against official sources in October 2026 · District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV)

How do I sign over a car title in District of Columbia?

Give the buyer a properly signed title. The buyer then visits a DC DMV service center to get a temporary DC registration so the vehicle can go through inspection. Under federal rules, model-year 2011 and newer vehicles need an odometer disclosure until they are 20 model years old.

Can I sell or junk a car without a title in District of Columbia?

If the title is lost, get a duplicate title before selling (see duplicate title). If the vehicle is junk, the owner must apply for a Junk Vehicle Certificate before transferring ownership and within 30 days of the damage (D.C. Code §50-1331.02(b)). A vehicle with a Junk Vehicle Certificate can't be titled or registered and can change owners only once (§50-1331.07).

How do I get a duplicate title in District of Columbia?

Submit the Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application signed by all owners, with photo ID and a vehicle identifier. The fee is $30. Apply online if nothing else on the title is changing, by mail to DC DMV, PO Box 90120, Washington, DC 20090, or at a service center. Titles are mailed within 10 business days and are not issued over the counter.

Do I need to file a release of liability in District of Columbia?

DC uses tag surrender instead of a notice of sale. Remove your tags and surrender or cancel them (see plates); you may be liable for traffic violations while your tags remain on the car. Keep the surrender receipt.

What do I do with the plates after selling a car in District of Columbia?

Plates stay with the seller. Remove the tags and, if you won't transfer them to another vehicle, surrender them. Individuals who are the primary owner can cancel tags online and then mark through and dispose of the tags; others surrender by mail or in person (certified mail is recommended). Don't cancel insurance before surrendering your tags, or you may owe an insurance lapse fee.

What happens to the title when a car is junked or salvaged in District of Columbia?

An owner must apply for a Junk Vehicle Certificate before transferring a junk vehicle, and within 30 days of the damage. Salvage vehicles need a Salvage Title before repair and can change owners only through a Salvage Title. When a vehicle is flattened, baled, shredded or otherwise destroyed, the title or Junk Vehicle Certificate must be surrendered to DC DMV within 30 days (D.C. Code §50-1331.07).

Official sources

  1. DC DMV: Selling a Vehicle
  2. DC DMV: Tag Surrender
  3. DC DMV: Vehicle Title Replacement/Duplicate
  4. DC DMV: Vehicle Title and Excise Tax Fees
  5. D.C. Code §50-1331.02 Duty to apply for Salvage Title, Junk Vehicle Certificate
  6. D.C. Code §50-1331.07 Restrictions on use and transfer of Junk Vehicles
  7. D.C. Code §50-1331.05 Restrictions on Salvage Vehicles
  8. NHTSA Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements

This guide summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) before you sell.

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