Can I sell my car in Arizona if I lost the title?

For a normal sale, get a duplicate first. Arizona Revised Statutes §28-2008 lets the person entitled to the title apply for a duplicate by giving MVD the information it asks for. The exception is an older, low-value car sold for scrap to a licensed automotive recycler or registered scrap metal dealer under §28-2098.

How old does a car have to be to scrap it without a title in Arizona?

At least 12 model years old, under §28-2098. The transaction value also can't exceed $1,200, the car can't have a lien on it, and the owner must have lost the title, never titled it in their name, or returned it to the state.

Will a scrap yard pay cash for a car with no title in Arizona?

Not under the no-title rule. Section 28-2098 says the dealer or recycler must pay with a check, not cash, and must photograph the owner, the car and the VIN at the time of the sale.

What do I do with my Arizona license plate after selling?

Under §28-2058, the registration expires when you transfer the car. Within 30 days you have to transfer the plate to another vehicle, surrender it to MVD or an authorized third party, or file an affidavit that it was destroyed.

How to Sell a Car Without a Title in Arizona

Sometimes. You can sell a car without a title in Arizona if it's an old junk car going for scrap. The car has to be at least 12 model years old and worth $1,200 or less, and the buyer has to be a licensed automotive recycler or registered scrap metal dealer. For any other sale, the usual route is to get a duplicate title from ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) first, then sign it over.

Everything here comes from the Arizona Revised Statutes. Where a form name or fee matters, we send you to MVD rather than guess.

How do I get a duplicate title in Arizona?

Arizona Revised Statutes §28-2008 says that if a paper title is lost, damaged or illegible, the person entitled to it may apply for a duplicate "by furnishing information satisfactory to the department." The statute leaves the procedure to MVD, so the current form, the fee and whether you can do it online are on ADOT's site or at an MVD office.

If a lender is still on the title, deal with that first (see below). A duplicate won't make an unpaid lien go away.

How does a normal sale work in Arizona?

Section 28-2058 sets out what a seller does:

Sign the assignment, with the warranty of title, on the title or title transfer form.
Hand the title or transfer form to the buyer when you hand over the car.
Give the buyer an odometer disclosure statement, unless the car is old enough to be exempt. The cutoff is 10 model years for 2010 and older models, and 20 years for 2011 and newer.
Deal with your plate within 30 days (more on that below).

The buyer then has 15 days to apply for a title. If the car is going for scrap, §28-2094 still has you assign the title to the buyer. The buyer applies for a dismantle certificate of title and sends MVD the title, the registration card and the plate.

Can I sell a junk car without a title in Arizona?

Yes, within limits. Section 28-2098 lets a registered scrap metal dealer or licensed automotive recycler buy a car without a title if all of these are true:

the transaction value is $1,200 or less,
the car is at least 12 model years old,
the car isn't subject to a lien, and
the owner doesn't have the paper title because it was lost, because the owner (or their agent) never titled it in their name, or because it was returned to the state.

The buyer has duties too. At the time of the sale it has to:

photograph you, the car and the VIN or federal sticker,
pay by check, not cash,
have you sign a statement that the car won't be titled again and will be scrapped or dismantled, with your name, address and ID number, and
keep a copy of your driver license or other accepted photo ID.

The statute also requires the buyer to check that the car hasn't been reported stolen and to look for liens. It has to hold the car for at least three business days after reporting the purchase before crushing it, and report it to the federal NMVTIS system within 48 hours.

Read the statement before you sign it. Knowingly giving false information, or knowingly selling a car with an unpaid lien, is a class 1 misdemeanor with a $2,500 fine.

If a buyer offers cash for a no-title car, or skips the photos and the statement, it's not following §28-2098. Walk away. Our Arizona junk car buyers page lists businesses that appear to buy cars, and the Arizona salvage yard directory has more. We don't check licenses, so ask each one whether it's a licensed automotive recycler or registered scrap metal dealer.

What if the title is in someone else's name?

The no-title exception covers an owner who never got a title in their own name. That's the case where you bought a car and never transferred it. It still only applies to a scrap sale that meets every condition above.

For any other sale, the car needs to be titled in your name before you can sign it over to someone else. Start with the person whose name is on the title, then MVD.

What if there's a lien on the car?

A car with an unpaid lien can't be sold under the no-title rule at all. For a regular sale, pay off the loan and get the lien released before you sell. The no-title statute refers to §28-2134, which requires a lender to release a satisfied lien. When a licensed recycler files a title showing no liens, or a valid lien release, §28-2094 lets it start dismantling five days after mailing the paperwork, or three days after delivering it.

Which paperwork do I need for my situation?

Situation	What we recommend	Where to get it
Title lost, car in your name, regular sale	Duplicate title	ADOT MVD
Junk car, 12+ model years old, worth $1,200 or less, no lien	Signed no-title statement plus your photo ID; buyer pays by check	The licensed recycler or registered scrap metal dealer
Junk car that doesn't meet those limits	Title assigned to the buyer, who applies for a dismantle title	ADOT MVD
Car still in a previous owner's name	That owner's signed title, then a title in your name	Previous owner, then MVD
Lien on the car	Lender's lien release	Your lender
Any sale	Signed title or statement, bill of sale, plate dealt with within 30 days, notice to MVD	MVD

What do I do after the sale?

Keep a bill of sale and photos of everything you signed. For a no-title sale, ask for a copy of the statement.

Then tell MVD you sold the car. Section 28-2058 requires MVD to explain in its materials how you notify it when you transfer a vehicle. We couldn't confirm the current method on ADOT's site, so check there for the form and any deadline.

What happens to my license plate?

Under §28-2058, your registration expires when you transfer the car. Within 30 days you have to do one of three things: transfer the plate to another vehicle, surrender it to MVD or an authorized third party, or submit an affidavit that the plate was destroyed. If the car is going for scrap with a title, §28-2094 has the buyer send the plate to MVD with the dismantle application, so ask the buyer how it handles plates.

What should I avoid?

Signing a title or a no-title statement for a car you don't own.
Using the no-title route for a car with a lien, or one that's newer than 12 model years.
Selling to anyone who pays cash for a no-title car or doesn't take photos and a signed statement.
Treating a phone quote as a price. It's an estimate until the buyer sees the car and your papers.

To get a rough number first, our junk car value estimator shows an estimated scrap and parts value with the arithmetic. It's an estimate, not an offer, and no buyer is bound by it.

Florida has a similar rule for old, low-value cars, with different limits. See our Florida guide, or the California guide for a state that uses a single form instead.