What Do I Need to Junk My Car? 2026 Documents Checklist

Before a scrapper can hand you cash for your car, they need specific documents. Show up with the wrong stack and the pickup either gets postponed or your payout takes a hit. Show up with the right stack and the whole transaction closes in 15 minutes. This post is the definitive checklist for Illinois and Indiana — what you absolutely need, what you optionally need, what you do not need, and what changes if you are in specific situations like owing a lien, inheriting the vehicle, or selling without a title.

If you already know what applies to you and just want to sell, call Cash For Junk Cars LLC at (773) 939-3333 and we will confirm your specific checklist over the phone.

The Core Checklist — Standard Sale, Illinois

For a standard junk car sale in Illinois where you have the title, here is everything you need at pickup.

Required Documents

• Illinois Certificate of Title — the physical paper document, not a photo. Signed on the back in the seller’s assignment block only at the time of pickup (not in advance).
• Government-issued photo ID — Illinois driver’s license, Illinois State ID, US passport, or military ID. The name on the ID must match the name on the title.
• Signed bill of sale — the buyer normally provides this on their letterhead; read it before signing.

Strongly Recommended

• Current or most recent vehicle registration card. Helps verify VIN and ownership if there is any ambiguity on the title.
• License plates — remove them before or at pickup. Do not let them leave on the vehicle.
• Keys — ignition keys for running vehicles, key fob for keyless systems. Missing keys are not a deal-breaker but many buyers deduct $25–$75 because ignition replacement adds cost at dismantling.

Optional But Helpful

• Service records or major repair invoices (for higher-value running cars, these can boost offers).
• Previous purchase bill of sale if you recently bought the car.
• VIN verification letter if the dashboard VIN plate is obscured.

The 10-Year No-Title Pathway (Illinois)

If your vehicle is 10 or more model years old — meaning model year 2016 or earlier in 2026 — and you do not have the title, Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/3-117.2) lets a licensed recycler buy it without one. The checklist changes.

Required for 10+ Year No-Title Sale

• Government-issued photo ID in your name.
• Recycler’s affidavit or sworn bill of sale provided by the buyer. You sign it attesting you own the vehicle and have authority to transfer it.
• At least one piece of supporting documentation tying you to the vehicle:
  • Old registration card (even expired).
  • Insurance card (current or recent).
  • Emissions test notice.
  • Repair invoice or tow receipt in your name.
  • The old Illinois license plates from the vehicle.
  • A property tax or utility bill for the address where the car is parked (useful for abandoned-vehicle cases).

The more supporting documents, the smoother the pickup. A photo ID plus three pieces of supporting documentation is nearly always sufficient. See the sell car without title Illinois post for the legal framework in depth.

If Your Car Is Less Than 10 Years Old and the Title Is Missing

You cannot use the 10-year pathway. You have two real options.

Option A: Apply for a Duplicate Title (Recommended)

File Illinois SOS Form VSD-190 (Application for Vehicle Transactions), check the “Duplicate Title” box, pay the $50 fee, and submit in person at a facility or by mail. In-person applications at select SOS locations (Chicago West, Downers Grove, Naperville) can be issued same-day. Mail-in applications take 4–6 weeks. If there is no lien, you can also apply online.

Once you have the duplicate title, proceed with the standard checklist above.

Option B: Wait Until the Car Is 10 Model Years Old

Not practical for most sellers, but worth mentioning. Some owners of 9-year-old cars choose to wait out the calendar rather than pay $50 and wait 4–6 weeks for a duplicate.

Special Situation: There Is Still a Lien

A lien is a recorded security interest by a lender. If you financed the car and have not paid it off, there is likely still a lien — even if you finished paying months ago, the bank may not have recorded the release.

Required for Lien Situations

• Lien release letter on the lender’s letterhead, signed by an authorized representative, stating the loan is paid in full.
• Corrected title without the lienholder listed (apply via Form VSD-190 with the lien release attached).
• Or, if the bank holds the title, a title transfer issued to you before you can transfer to the buyer.

You cannot legally sell a vehicle with an active lien without the lienholder’s consent. A reputable junk buyer will refuse the pickup if a lien shows on the title.

Special Situation: Inherited Vehicle

If the titled owner has passed away and you are the heir, you need paperwork proving you have legal authority to sell.

Required for Inherited Sale (Illinois Small Estate)

• Small Estate Affidavit (for estates under $100,000 with no probate) — available from the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
• Certified death certificate — original, not a photocopy.
• Your photo ID (as the heir signing).
• The vehicle’s title (or supporting documents if the vehicle is 10+ years old under the no-title rule).

Required for Inherited Sale (Probate)

• Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued by the probate court.
• Your photo ID as executor or administrator.
• The vehicle’s title.

Most Illinois junk buyers accept the small estate affidavit pathway for 10+ year old vehicles without requiring formal probate. Call first to confirm.

Special Situation: You Cannot Be Present at Pickup

If you need someone else to sign paperwork and hand over the vehicle on your behalf, Illinois requires a notarized Power of Attorney.

Required for Third-Party Pickup

• Notarized Power of Attorney authorizing the named person to sell the vehicle on your behalf. Illinois has a specific Form VSD-332 for vehicle-specific POA that simplifies the process.
• Your photo ID (copy) attached to the POA.
• The agent’s photo ID presented at pickup.
• The vehicle’s title (signed by you in advance on the back assignment, with the POA attached).
• Any supporting documents.

Notarization is non-negotiable. An unnotarized POA will be rejected by licensed recyclers.

Indiana Checklist — Key Differences

If your car is titled in Indiana or is located in an Indiana zip code, the rules change.

Indiana Standard Sale

• Indiana Certificate of Title.
• Government-issued photo ID.
• Bill of sale from the buyer.

Indiana No-Title Pathway

Indiana does not use a 10-year rule. Instead, Indiana uses BMV Form 43399 (Affidavit of Ownership of an Abandoned Vehicle / Vehicle for Scrap), which is required by a licensed Indiana scrap processor regardless of vehicle age.

• BMV Form 43399 completed and signed (the buyer typically provides the form).
• Government-issued photo ID.
• Supporting ownership documentation (registration, insurance, prior bill of sale, tow invoice).
• Keys — Indiana’s Form 43399 pathway is more commonly used for abandoned vehicles, and providing keys helps establish your control.

See our Indiana service area pages — Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, East Chicago, Munster — for Indiana-specific pickup details.

Quick IL vs. IN Comparison

What You Do NOT Need

Sellers regularly show up with paperwork we do not need, or delay the sale because they think they need something they actually do not. You do not need:

• Emissions test. Emissions apply only to on-road registration. Once the car is going to scrap, emissions status is irrelevant.
• Running engine. We take non-running, non-starting, and completely stripped vehicles.
• All four tires. Flat or missing tires are fine — we bring a wheel-lift or flatbed.
• Original keys (though they help). We can dismantle without keys.
• A clean title. Salvage titles, rebuilt titles, and junked-status titles all work.
• Proof of insurance at the time of sale. You should cancel insurance after the sale, but we do not need to see a current card to buy the car.
• A working catalytic converter. Missing cat usually reduces the offer $150–$400 but does not block the sale.
• A battery. Dead or missing batteries are normal on junk cars.
• Registration that is current. Expired registration is fine. Lapsed registration is fine.
• A certified check or cashier’s check from us. We pay in cash, Zelle, or cashier’s check at your preference — you do not need to provide any banking information.
• Your Social Security number. Legitimate Illinois and Indiana recyclers never ask for an SSN on a junk car transaction. If a buyer asks, walk away.
• Vehicle history report (Carfax). We do not care about service history for scrap pricing.

How to Assemble Your Document Stack Before the Pickup

Thirty minutes before the tow truck is scheduled to arrive, assemble everything into a single folder:

1. Title (if you have it) — kept in its protective sleeve, unsigned.
2. Photo ID — in your wallet.
3. Any supporting documentation — registration cards, old insurance cards, repair invoices.
4. License plates — removed from the vehicle, placed in the folder or a bag.
5. Keys — all sets you have.
6. A pen for signing.

Take a photo of every document before handing it over. If something goes wrong post-sale, you have a record.

Common Document Mistakes

• Pre-signing the title. A signed title with a blank buyer field is effectively a bearer instrument. Never sign until the driver is physically present.
• Showing up with only a photo of the title. Licensed recyclers need the physical document (or the 10-year pathway for older vehicles).
• Forgetting notarization on POA. An unnotarized POA is worthless under Illinois vehicle law.
• Using an expired ID. Expired driver’s licenses are generally not accepted. Renew first.
• Name mismatch between ID and title. If your driver’s license shows a different name than the title (maiden name, nickname, etc.), bring supporting documentation showing the name change.
• Missing lien release. A title with a lien recorded on it cannot be transferred without a release, regardless of how long ago the loan was paid off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a notarized title to sell a junk car in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not require notarization of the title assignment for standard vehicle transfers. Only the Power of Attorney requires notarization if a third party is selling on your behalf.

What if I lost my title AND the car is less than 10 years old?

File Form VSD-190 with the Illinois Secretary of State to obtain a duplicate. The fee is $50 and most Chicago-area facilities can issue a duplicate same-day in person.

Can my spouse sell the car if it is titled in my name?

Only with a notarized Power of Attorney specifically authorizing your spouse to transfer the vehicle. Marriage alone does not authorize either spouse to sell a vehicle titled solely in the other’s name.

Do I need to provide a VIN check?

Not typically. The recycler runs the VIN at their facility after pickup. If the VIN plate is missing from the dashboard, the sale may require a law enforcement VIN verification before closing.

What if my registration is expired by several years?

Expired registration is fine for scrap sales. An old registration card still serves as supporting documentation for the 10-year no-title pathway. For newer vehicles, the expired registration does not block a sale if you have the title.

Can I use a digital copy of my title on my phone?

No. Licensed Illinois and Indiana recyclers need the physical title document at pickup. Digital copies are not accepted because the assignment block on the back of the title must be physically signed.

Have a specific situation not covered above? Call Cash For Junk Cars LLC at (773) 939-3333 and we will walk through your exact paperwork needs on the phone. You can also request a free quotation, or read the how to junk a car in Illinois complete guide for the full sale process. Pickup available across Chicago, Cicero, Oak Lawn, Joliet, Hammond, and every town in between.