Nebraska title guide

Selling a junk car without a title in Nebraska

The short answer

In Nebraska, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Nebraska DMV before you book a pickup.

First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Nebraska sources on November 6, 2026 and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).

What does Nebraska ask of sellers?

In Nebraska, a replacement title costs $14.00, and you file the Notice of Transfer (the DMV's free Report Sale of Vehicle service online). Each card links to the official page it came from.

Replacing a lost title: Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title. Fee: $14.00.; Official source
After the sale: Notice of Transfer (the DMV's free Report Sale of Vehicle service online).; Official source

Nebraska's official guide to selling a vehicle

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?

Nebraska replacement titles come from the Nebraska DMV, using the Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, for a fee of $14.00. 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 Nebraska.

Where to find a car's VIN: (1) on the dashboard on the driver's side, read through the windshield, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration or insurance card — The 17-character VIN appears in the same places on almost every car made since 1981: (1) on the dashboard, read through the windshield on the driver's side, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration and insurance card.

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 Nebraska DMV can tell you which estate papers Nebraska accepts.

What do you do after the sale?

Report the sale to Nebraska (Notice of Transfer (the DMV's free Report Sale of Vehicle service online)), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
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 Nebraska DMV before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Can you junk a car without a title in Nebraska?

Usually not. In Nebraska you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Nebraska DMV. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Nebraska when you get your offer.

How do I get a duplicate title in Nebraska?

Apply to the Nebraska DMV with Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $14.00, according to the agency.

Can I sell a car in Nebraska 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.