Delaware title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Delaware
The short answer
In Delaware, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Delaware sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Delaware ask of sellers?
In Delaware, a replacement title (form MV213) costs $50.00, you file the Seller's Report of Sale, and the title doesn't need a notary. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- License plates
- When selling to an out-of-state buyer, the seller removes the plate and returns it to a DMV office.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Delaware replacement titles come from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, using form MV213 (Application for Duplicate Title), for a fee of $50.00. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Delaware.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles can tell you which estate papers Delaware accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to Delaware (Seller's Report of Sale), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: When selling to an out-of-state buyer, the seller removes the plate and returns it to a DMV office.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Delaware?
Usually not. In Delaware you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Delaware when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Delaware?
Apply to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles with form MV213 (Application for Duplicate Title), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $50.00, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in Delaware with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.