New Mexico title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in New Mexico
The short answer
In New Mexico, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official New Mexico sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does New Mexico ask of sellers?
In New Mexico, a replacement title (form MVD-10901) costs $5, and you file the Notice of Vehicle Sold (Form MVD-10048). Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Form MVD-10901, Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title. Fee: $5.
- Official source
- License plates
- Plates stay with the owner: the seller removes the plate at the sale and, within 30 days, takes it to MVD to be destroyed or applies to assign it to another vehicle of the same class.
- 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 Mexico replacement titles come from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, using form MVD-10901 (Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title), for a fee of $5. 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 Mexico.
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 Mexico Motor Vehicle Division can tell you which estate papers New Mexico accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to New Mexico (Notice of Vehicle Sold (Form MVD-10048)), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: Plates stay with the owner: the seller removes the plate at the sale and, within 30 days, takes it to MVD to be destroyed or applies to assign it to another vehicle of the same class.
- 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 Mexico Motor Vehicle Division before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in New Mexico?
Usually not. In New Mexico you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in New Mexico when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in New Mexico?
Apply to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division with form MVD-10901 (Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $5, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in New Mexico 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.