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How to Junk Your Car With No Title in Florida
Step 1: Check the title brand
Check the car title status for your car. Here you can find an electronic version of the title before confirming whether you require a duplicate, or brand new title.
Step 2: Check requirements
Junking a car in Florida but don’t have the title? Before you begin replacing the title, make sure you need one.
- Cars less than 10 model years old, or worth $1,000 or more: A title is required before you can junk or sell them to a salvage yard.
- Cars at least 10 model years old and worth less than $1,000: A title is not required to junk the vehicle in Florida.
The following guide explains Florida’s requirements, and what to do if you’re missing your title and your car is less than 10 model years old.
Florida law makes a clear distinction on needing a title based on the vehicle’s age, but there are some other special circumstances where a title isn’t needed.
Step 3: Special Situations
- Derelict Vehicle Certificate (Form HSMV 82137): Vehicles 10 years old and worth less than $1,000 may be junked with this form instead of a title.
- Certificate of Destruction (Form HSMV 82363): Salvage yards can sometimes handle cars with this certificate once you transfer ownership.
Once the Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate is issued, the buyer must hold the vehicle for three business days. If the vehicle has a lien on it, it must be held for longer.
What the three-day hold means for you
Once the Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate is issued, Florida requires the buyer to keep the car intact for three business days (weekends and holidays don’t count) before it can be crushed or dismantled. This gives the state time to check the vehicle’s record and lets any lender be notified. If there’s a lien less than three years old, the hold is 10 calendar days instead.
The hold is the buyer’s job, not yours. Once you’ve signed the paperwork and the car is collected, you don’t need to do anything while it waits. Keep a copy of your documents, return your plates, and cancel your insurance as you would with any sale. One thing to know before you sign: the derelict certificate permanently cancels the car’s title record, so it can never be titled or registered again.
If you fall into either of these groups, call us today. We can confirm your documents and arrange a specialist buyer for your car for you free of charge.
Step 4: Apply for a Car Title in Florida
If your car is under 10 years old and you’ve lost or never had a title, you’ll need to request a new or duplicate one before junking it. Download the PDF form below, fill it out, and submit it either by mail or in person.
Apply for a Duplicate Title
- Use Form HSMV 82101.
- Cost: $75.25 + $10 for same-day processing
- Options:
- By mail – 2-3 weeks
- In person at your county tax collector’s office (same day processing) – instant
- Online – 5-7 business days
- By mail – 2-3 weeks
Apply for a New Title (if the vehicle was never titled in your name)
- Use Form HSMV 82040.
- Cost: $75.75 + $10 for same-day processing
- By mail – 3 – 4 weeks
- In person at your county tax collector’s office (same-day processing) – instant
- Online – 5-7 business days
Step 5: Junk an abandoned vehicle
According to 2025 Florida Statutes, you must report abandoned vehicles to local law enforcement.
- Once reported, law enforcement will contact the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to find the name and address of the owner (or any person who has filed a lien on the vehicle).
- If it’s easy to move, the vehicle is taken into custody. If it’s not, it’s left temporarily.
- If the owner is successfully located, the owner will be notified and given the opportunity to dispute the case.
- If the owner is not located or does not respond to the notice, the car is towed and put into storage. The owner can still claim the vehicle back, but must pay the appropriate fees.
- Law enforcement publishes a final public notice. If the owner does not respond, the authorities dispose of the car via an auction sale, junking, or scrapping.
Costs and Timelines at a Glance
| Service | Cost | Processing Time |
| Duplicate title | $75.25 | 2-3 weeks (for printing and mail delivery) |
| New title | $75.75 | 3-4 weeks (for printing and mail delivery) |
| Fast Title Service (in-person) | +$10 | Same day |
| Online Application | $75.25 | 5-7 business days |
How to junk your car: the full process
Step 1: Check your car’s title status online → FLHSMV Title Check
Step 2:
- If the car is less than 10 model years old, apply for a duplicate or new title (Form 82101 or 82040).
- If the car is at least 10 model years old and worth less than $1,000, you can junk it without a title.
Step 3: Get a free junk car quote from Wheels Away.
Step 4: Provide your valid ID, the title (if required), or other paperwork such as a derelict certificate.
Step 5: Complete the sale — our collection is always free.
Step 6: Step 6: Surrender your license plates at your county tax collector’s office, or transfer them to your next vehicle, and cancel your car insurance.
FAQs
Q: Do I always need a title to junk a car in Florida?
A: Sometimes. Cars less than 10 years old require a title. Cars at least 10 model years old and worth less than $1,000 can be junked without a title.
Q: Can I junk a financed car without a title?
A: No. Any lien on the car must be paid off and released first.
Q: Do I need my registration to junk my car?
A: Not always. If your car is 10+ years old, a junkyard may still ask for registration or proof of ownership.
Q: Can I junk a car that’s not in my name?
A: Only if you have a properly signed-over title or legal proof of ownership.
Q: Will junkyards accept cars with no paperwork at all?
A: Sometimes, if the vehicle is 10+ years old. For newer cars, paperwork is required.
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