Maryland title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Maryland
The short answer
In Maryland, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Maryland sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Maryland ask of sellers?
In Maryland, a replacement title (form VR-018) costs $40. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Form VR-018, Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title. Fee: $40.
- Official source
- After the sale
- Return the plates to the MVA, which ends the registration and the insurance requirement. The MVA's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- Plates stay with the seller: remove them before the buyer takes the vehicle, then return them to the MVA (or transfer them) and keep the plate return receipt.
- 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?
Maryland replacement titles come from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), using form VR-018 (Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title), for a fee of $40. 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 Maryland.
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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) can tell you which estate papers Maryland accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Return the plates to the MVA, which ends the registration and the insurance requirement. The MVA's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Plates: Plates stay with the seller: remove them before the buyer takes the vehicle, then return them to the MVA (or transfer them) and keep the plate return receipt.
- 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Maryland?
Usually not. In Maryland you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Maryland when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Maryland?
Apply to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) with form VR-018 (Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $40, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in Maryland 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.