New Jersey title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in New Jersey
The short answer
In New Jersey, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official New Jersey sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does New Jersey ask of sellers?
In New Jersey, a replacement title (form OS/SS-UTA) costs $60. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- After the sale
- Remove the plates and surrender them to a motor vehicle agency. The MVC's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- The seller removes the plates and surrenders them to a motor vehicle agency, unless moving them to another of the seller's vehicles; plates cannot be transferred to the new owner.
- 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?
New Jersey replacement titles come from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), using form OS/SS-UTA (Universal Title Application), for a fee of $60. 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 New Jersey.
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 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) can tell you which estate papers New Jersey accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Remove the plates and surrender them to a motor vehicle agency. The MVC's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Plates: The seller removes the plates and surrenders them to a motor vehicle agency, unless moving them to another of the seller's vehicles; plates cannot be transferred to the new owner.
- 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 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in New Jersey?
Usually not. In New Jersey you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in New Jersey when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in New Jersey?
Apply to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) with form OS/SS-UTA (Universal Title Application), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $60, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in New Jersey 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.