Short answer: Some states accept a specific state form in place of a title when an old, low-value car is going to be dismantled or scrapped. Florida, Georgia, New York and Indiana each publish one. The forms have age and value limits, they work only with licensed yards, and the car can never be titled again. Rules change and the yard decides whether to accept the car, so call first.
If you want to sell the car and not only scrap it, start with cash for cars with no title.
Last checked: September 29, 2026. Every rule below is from a state website: flhsmv.gov, dor.georgia.gov, dmv.ny.gov, in.gov, scdmvonline.com, ilga.gov and ilsos.gov. We list only the states we could verify. This article replaces a 2025 version.
Which states publish a form to use in place of a title?
| State | Document | Vehicle age | Value limit | Who can take the car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate, form HSMV 82137 | At least 10 model years old | Worth less than $1,000 | Licensed salvage motor vehicle dealer or registered secondary metals recycler |
| Georgia | Cancellation of Certificate of Title for Scrap Vehicles, form MV-1SP | 12 model years or older | Worth less than $850 | Licensed used parts dealer, secondary metals recycler or scrap metal processor |
| New York | Statement of Vehicle Owner Who Does Not Have a Valid Title, form MV-35 | At least 8 model years old | Worth $1,250 or less | Registered vehicle dismantler, itinerant vehicle collector or certified scrap processor |
| Indiana | Certificate of Authority, State Form 55018 | No age limit stated | None stated | Automotive salvage recycler |
| South Carolina | Affidavit of Disposal of Vehicle to a Demolisher or Secondary Metals Recycler | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | Demolisher or secondary metals recycler |
In all of these the owner signs a statement, shows identification, and gives up the right to title the car again. Florida's and New York's forms print it in capital letters: the vehicle may never be titled again and must be dismantled or scrapped.
What are the conditions in each state?
Florida counts the model year as year one when it measures the ten years. The owner certifies there are no undisclosed liens and attaches a copy of a driver license or ID. If the seller is not the owner of record, the yard must take a thumbprint. The yard then holds the car for three business days before dismantling it, or 10 calendar days when there is a lien less than three years old.
Georgia's form has the owner certify that there are no liens and that the title was never obtained or has been lost. The buyer has to send the form to the Department of Revenue within 72 hours.
New York limits form MV-35 to the owner. It covers two cases: you bought the car from the titled owner and never titled it yourself, or your title was lost or stolen. It cannot be used to transfer a car to a private buyer, a tow truck driver or a charity.
Indiana works differently. You apply to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for authority to dispose of the vehicle for scrap, with proof of ownership such as a current registration, a lien release if there is a lien, and a $4 fee. A salvage recycler may apply on your behalf. The approved certificate goes to the recycler with the car.
South Carolina says a demolisher may not dispose of a vehicle without a valid title, a magistrate's order of sale or a sheriff's disposal authority certificate. When none of those is available, the affidavit may be submitted, and the recycler must check whether the vehicle was reported stolen.
Where does a substitute not exist?
Illinois is the example people get wrong. The Secretary of State publishes a form called Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Title for a Salvage or Junk Vehicle, but it is written for insurance companies that have paid a claim and cannot get the title from the owner. It is not a form for a private owner. Illinois law says a person who possesses a junk vehicle must surrender the title or a similar ownership document and apply for a junking certificate within 15 days.
In the states we have not listed, we could not find an owner's form on the state website when we checked. That does not prove none exists. The safe route there is a duplicate title, which we cover in how to replace a lost title.
A general video on selling a car without a title from the Bumper channel, published July 2021. It is not specific to any state, so check it against your state page.
Is a registration and an ID enough?
Sometimes, and it is the yard that says so. No state page we read tells a yard it must accept a registration. Indiana lists a current registration as proof of ownership for its certificate. Among yards, Pull-A-Part says a copy of the registration with a driver's license will suffice in some cases. Pick-A-Part Jalopy Jungle in Idaho says it cannot buy on a registration at all.
So the order of steps matters. Find the yard, ask what it accepts for your car's year and your state, and get the answer before a tow truck is sent. A buyer who does not ask for any proof of ownership is a warning sign. Our list of junkyard scams and red flags explains why.
