Sell a junk car without a title in Louisiana
No title is often not a dead end in Louisiana. There is a no-title route for older cars and another for cars that only have value as parts or scrap. When neither fits, a duplicate title from the OMV is the fallback. Tell the yard what you have and it tells you which route it uses before anyone hooks up the car.
How selling a car without a title works
- Find whatever you do have: an old registration, a bill of sale, an insurance card, the VIN from the dashboard or door jamb
- Tell the yard the year and how long since the car was last registered anywhere
- Say whether the car still runs or is only good for parts or scrap
- Say whose name the car is in, and if that person has died, say so
- The yard tells you which route it uses and what you sign
- Bring your ID and the papers it asks for to the pickup
When does this fit?
- The title is lost and the car is old and has not been registered in years
- The car is a hulk that only has value as parts or scrap
- The car was never titled in your name
- The owner on the title has died
- You do not want to pay for a duplicate title on a car you are scrapping
Common questions
Can I junk a car in Louisiana without a title?
Often, yes. A car more than fifteen years old that has not been registered in any state for three straight years can get a permit to dismantle without the title, under R.S. 32:717(B). A car that is only worth parts or scrap can be sold as an auto hulk on a signed owner affidavit, under R.S. 32:718 and OMV Policy 120.00. The no-title guide walks through both.
How much is a duplicate title in Louisiana?
A duplicate title is $68.50 plus an $8 handling fee at the OMV, per OMV Policy 69.00. Check the two no-title routes before you pay for one on a car you are junking.
The title is in my late parent’s name. Can I still sell the car?
Yes, but it takes its own paperwork. Louisiana allows an affidavit of heirship for some vehicles instead of a court succession, under OMV Policy 18.02. The guide to selling a parent’s car covers who signs and what to bring.
Which parts of Greater New Orleans?
Each part of the metro has its own junk and abandoned car rules. Pick yours.
Ready for selling a car without a title?
Call or text with the year, make, model and where the car sits. The yard gives you its number.