Junk a Car in Indiana: Title, No-Title & Plate Rules

How do I sign over a car title in Indiana?

All lienholders must release their interest first, either on the title or with a lien release letter. The seller completes the seller section of the title and the buyer the purchaser section. Federal and state law require the mileage to be stated at transfer, either on the title or on State Form 43230 (Odometer Disclosure Statement). Trailers, vehicles over 16,000 lbs and watercraft are exempt from the federal odometer statement. A bill of sale is State Form 44237. The buyer has 45 days to apply for a title, or pays a late penalty.

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

An owner whose title is faulty, lost or destroyed, or a person in possession of an abandoned vehicle, can apply to the BMV for a Certificate of Authority to sell, give away or dispose of the vehicle for scrap without a new title. Use State Form 55018 (R7/4-26), Application for Certificate of Authority - Disposal of a Vehicle (IC 9-22-5-3). The fee is $4.00. Include proof of ownership (such as current registration or an insurance settlement) and a lien release if there is a lien. If the vehicle has no VIN, a police officer completes State Form 39530. For an abandoned vehicle, include proof of the IC 9-22 notice: a certified letter to the owner and lienholder, or a certificate of mailing if the vehicle is worth under $1,000. Mail it to BMV, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N411, Indianapolis, IN 46204. A licensed automotive salvage recycler may apply for you (Sections 1A and 1B). Once approved, you can sell the vehicle to a licensed recycler for scrap, and the recycler accepts the certificate in place of a title. Under IC 9-32-9-29, a recycler may buy an untitled vehicle only if it is at least 15 model years old, is bought only for dismantling or scrap, and the seller presents a Certificate of Authority. The recycler records the seller's ID, a signed seller statement, the VIN, the price and a photo or video. Knowingly buying a vehicle under 15 model years old without a title or Certificate of Authority is a Level 6 felony.

How do I get a duplicate title in Indiana?

If nothing is changing (owner or lien), order online through myBMV, at a BMV Connect kiosk, at a branch, or at a Partial Service Provider, with an unexpired photo ID. By mail, send the Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle, State Form 205, with your photo ID, a lien release if needed, and payment to BMV, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N411, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The fee is $15.00, or $40.00 for a speed title. Issuing a duplicate voids the original.

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

Plates stay with the seller. The BMV says to remove them at the time of sale. They do not have to be returned to the BMV, and the seller can transfer them to another vehicle they own.

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

When a vehicle is junked through a Certificate of Authority, the licensed automotive salvage recycler completes Section 4 of State Form 55018 after destroying or dismantling it, certifying that it should be recorded as 'JUNK', and mails the form to BMV Document Management, 100 N. Senate Ave., Rm. 412, Indianapolis, IN 46204. After that, no title will be issued for the vehicle again. A salvage title (Salvage Title Affidavit, State Form 49891) is required for wrecked or damaged vehicles from the last seven model years; older vehicles may get one on request.

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

Under the state definition (IC 9-13-2-1), a vehicle left on private property for more than 48 hours without the property owner's or occupant's consent is abandoned. So is a vehicle at least 3 model years old that is inoperable and visible from public property for more than 20 days. An officer tags the vehicle under IC 9-22-1-11 and can have it towed. Many cities and counties have their own ordinances with different time limits. A possessor who wants to scrap an abandoned vehicle uses the Certificate of Authority after giving the IC 9-22 owner and lienholder notice.