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How to Sell a Junk Car Without a Title in Florida
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The Short Answer
In Florida, you can sell a junk car without a title if the vehicle is at least 10 model years old and worth less than $1,000. The sale must go to a licensed salvage motor vehicle dealer or a registered secondary metals recycler, and it is documented on a state form called the Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate application (form HSMV 82137). A derelict motor vehicle, in this context, simply means an older, low-value vehicle that will be dismantled or scrapped rather than driven again.
If your car is newer or worth more than $1,000, the derelict route does not apply, and you will need a duplicate title first. This guide explains both paths. To get an offer now, call our Lake Worth Beach yard at (561) 203-8970 or request a quote online.
Who Qualifies for the Derelict Vehicle Route
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) sets two tests on the HSMV 82137 form. The vehicle must be at least ten model years old, counting the model year itself as year one, and it must be valued under $1,000. Trailers have a higher threshold of $5,000. Both tests come from Section 319.30 of the Florida Statutes, which defines a derelict motor vehicle in the same terms.
Counting model years matters. A 2017 model counts 2017 as year one, so it reaches year ten in 2026. When a vehicle passes both tests, a licensed buyer can accept it without a title, without a salvage title, and without a certificate of destruction. The trade-off is permanent: the form states that the vehicle may never be titled again and must be dismantled or scrapped.
The official form is available from FLHSMV as a PDF: HSMV 82137, Application for an Original/Duplicate Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate.
What the Seller Must Provide
Section 1 of HSMV 82137 is completed by the owner or seller, Section 2 by the transporter, and Section 3 by the licensed salvage dealer or recycler. As the seller, expect three things.
- A copy of your ID. The buyer must attach a legible copy of your driver license or state identification card.
- A thumbprint if you are not the owner of record. When the person selling is not the titled owner, the buyer must take a right thumbprint.
- Payment to you by name. Under FLHSMV procedure TL-35, when the seller is not the owner of record, payment must be made by check or money order to the seller, never to the tow driver or transporter.
A buyer who asks you to skip the form, or who offers to pay a third party, is not following Florida procedure. That is a reason to stop the sale.
What the Buyer Must Do After Pickup
Florida places most of the paperwork burden on the licensed buyer, which protects the seller. According to FLHSMV Procedure TL-35, the buyer must submit the derelict application within 24 hours of receiving the vehicle, and late applications are rejected. The buyer must also hold the vehicle for three full business days before dismantling it, or ten days when a lien less than three years old is on record. Finally, the buyer must report the vehicle to NMVTIS (the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, a federal database of junk and salvage vehicles) and keep the records for three years.
These steps are why a legitimate buyer will ask for your ID and the vehicle identification number (VIN) before pickup. They are also why you should sell only to a licensed dealer. Our guide on how to verify a junk car buyer in Florida explains how to check.
When You Need a Duplicate Title Instead
If the vehicle is less than ten model years old or is worth $1,000 or more, it does not qualify as derelict, and the sale requires a title. Florida issues replacement titles on form HSMV 82101 through the county tax collector. FLHSMV Procedure TL-05 adds several rules that often catch sellers off guard.
- When a lien is on record, only the lienholder may apply for the duplicate.
- When the title is held electronically, a duplicate cannot be processed; the electronic title must be printed instead.
- Issuing a duplicate voids the original certificate of title, so an old paper title found later is no longer valid.
In Palm Beach County, the Tax Collector’s service centers handle duplicate titles and plate surrenders. If your loan was paid off but the lien still shows, ask your former lender for a lien satisfaction first.
What It Costs
The derelict route is inexpensive. FLHSMV’s Schedule of Motor Vehicle and Mobile Home Title and Lien Fees lists the Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate at $2.50 under Section 320.04(1)(a) of the Florida Statutes, $5.50 in total, and TL-35 states that no title fee is required for junk and title-cancellation transactions. The same schedule lists a duplicate title without a lien at $77.75 for an electronic record or $85.25 for a printed paper title.
When we buy a qualifying vehicle, we handle the derelict paperwork as part of the purchase. You do not pay a towing fee, and you are paid at pickup by cash, Zelle or check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a car without a title in Florida if it is less than ten years old?
Not through the derelict process. A vehicle under ten model years old, or worth $1,000 or more, needs a title. Apply for a duplicate on form HSMV 82101 at a tax collector office before selling.
Do I need to be the owner of record to sell a derelict vehicle?
No, but the buyer must take your right thumbprint, attach a copy of your ID, and pay you by check or money order in your name, as FLHSMV procedure TL-35 requires.
Can the car be put back on the road after a derelict sale?
No. HSMV 82137 states that the vehicle may never be titled again and must be dismantled or scrapped.
How long does the buyer have to report the purchase?
Twenty-four hours. Under Section 319.30 of the Florida Statutes and FLHSMV procedure TL-35, the licensed buyer must submit the derelict application within 24 hours of receiving the vehicle.
Related Guides
- How to Verify a Junk Car Buyer in Florida
- What to Do With Your Plates and Insurance After Selling a Junk Car
- NMVTIS and Title Washing: Why Your Junk Car Is Reported
See every topic on our Junk Car Selling Guides page, or find your town on Areas We Serve.
Sources
- FLHSMV, HSMV 82137 Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate application (Rev. 07/2013)
- FLHSMV Procedure TL-35 (Rev. 06/2021)
- FLHSMV Procedure TL-05, Duplicate and Lost in Transit Titles (Rev. 05/2020)
- FLHSMV Schedule of Title and Lien Fees (Rev. 11/2014)
- Florida Statutes, Section 319.30
About the Data on This Page
The fee amounts on this page come from the FLHSMV title and lien fee schedule, which is dated November 2014; current fees may differ, so confirm them with the Palm Beach County Tax Collector. The posted HSMV 82137 form is a 2013 revision, though its requirements match the current statute. Information here is a plain-language summary for consumers, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.
