FAQs
Got questions about junking cars in Georgia? Our FAQ has answers! Learn more about junking with liens, no titles, and more with Wheelsaway.
Instant Cash Offer For Your Vehicle
Fair Quote, Free Pickup, Fast Cash, Gone Today.
4.5 Rating Trustpilot
Sell your car today
Free pickup
Best price offered
All vehicles accepted
Fair Quote, Free Pickup, Fast Cash, Gone Today.
4.5 Rating Trustpilot
Sell your car today
Free pickup
Best price offered
All vehicles accepted
Ultimate Guide
HOW TO JUNK A CAR IN GEORGIA
Time to junk your car? We’re here to help. Find the right forms, MVD portals, title tips, and step-by-step guidance for your exact situation, all in one place.
WHAT SITUATION DO YOU NEED HELP WITH?
EXPERT SUPPORT
TOP 3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE JUNKING YOUR CAR IN GEORGIA
Check for outstanding liens
Run the vehicle identification number (VIN) through a lookup tool like Carfax to check for outstanding liens.
Check title brand
Don’t know the title brand? Use the same history checker to confirm it. This ensures you have the right paperwork to sell your vehicle.
Remove license plates
Remove your plates before selling. Either surrender them to the DMV, transfer them to a new vehicle, or keep them, depending on your situation.
HOW TO TRANSFER A CAR TITLE IN GEORGIA
Ready to junk your old car? You’ll need to transfer ownership by signing the back of the car title. We break down the important steps in the next section on title signing.
No title? If you can’t find it in your old pile of magazines or between the couch cushions, apply for a replacement in person at your local county tag office using Form MV-1.
Need more information about replacing missing titles? Our in-house specialists give you the full low-down in our ultimate guide to replacing a missing title in Georgia.
FORM MV-1
NEED TO REPLACE A MISSING TITLE? DOWNLOAD FORM MV-1 BELOW AND APPLY IN PERSON AT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY TAG OFFICE.
REPLACEMENT/DUPLICATE TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: $8.00.
- Processing time: Usually same day
HOW TO SIGN YOUR GEORGIA CAR TITLE
Transferring your GA title to the buyer takes just a few minutes.
The seller should print their name and add their signature to the highlighted lines on the back of the title.
Then, the buyer fills out their section with the required details. That’s it- you’re all set!
KEY INSTRUCTIONS
Follow the signing instructions below, using the images to help.
SINGLE OWNERS
Single owners must sign their name once on the ‘transferor’s (SELLER’S) signature’ line, and print it once on the ‘Transferor’s (SELLER’S) printed name’ line.
joint OWNERS
Joint owners put their printed names and signatures on the additional lines below yours.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN ETITLE
Got an electronic title? In Georgia, this may mean that your vehicle has a lien on it, which must be cleared before you can junk the car.
If it doesn’t have a lien, not all buyers handle electronic titles. You’ll often need to request a physical copy through your local county tag office to use as proof of ownership when selling it to Wheels Away or other buyers/brokers.
It’s simple. Request a replacement using the form below, and get it printed same-day. Note: applications must be completed in person only.
FORM MV-1
USE THE FORM BELOW TO REQUEST A PHYSICAL COPY OF YOUR ETITLE.
REPLACEMENT/DUPLICATE TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: $8.00.
- Processing time: Usually same day
JUNK A CAR WITH NO TITLE IN GEORGIA
In Georgia, you’ll usually need a title to junk your old car. Wheels Away prefers titles for all ages and models because it means a faster, smoother transaction for you!
Models less than 12 years old must have a title, and those more than 12 years old and worth less than $850 can sometimes be junked without one, using Form MV-1SP.
No title? No sweat. Apply for a replacement by printing off the form below and taking it your local county tag office.
FORM MV-1
MISSING TITLE? GET A REPLACEMENT WITH FORM MV-1.
REPLACEMENT/DUPLICATE TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: $8.00.
- Processing time: Usually same day
Not using your title? If the buyer doesn’t need the title, you can provide them with the form below. They may also want to see a valid ID and/or bill of sale, depending on their preference.
FORM MV-1SP
OLD CAR WITH NO TITLE? IF THE BUYER ALLOWS, YOU CAN JUNK IT WITH THIS FORM INSTEAD (PLUS VALID ID).
CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR SCRAP/DERELICT VEHICLES
Must be submitted at your local county tag office when junking an older vehicle with no title.
SURRENDER OR TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
In Georgia, when you junk your car, remove your license plates and either keep them or transfer them to a new vehicle. Surrendering does not apply.
Need to cancel your registration? You can do this in person at your local county tag office using Form MV-18J, or online with Georgia DRIVES e-services.
SURRENDER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
Surrendering your plates isn’t necessary when you junk your car, and is only required in certain situations.
If you’re not getting a new car, you can keep your plates as a souvenir. They make for some pretty cool wall art!
TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
Getting a new car? Transferring plates between vehicles of the same class is easy. Transfers must be completed within 30 days of sale.
Just head to your local county tag office with the paperwork for the new vehicle (application for certificate of title) and the old plates/old registration slip. The transfer will be processed as part of your title application for the new vehicle.
FORM MV-1
APPLY FOR A NEW TITLE FOR YOUR NEW VEHICLE USING FORM MV-1. BRING YOUR REGISTRATION SLIP FOR YOUR OLD CAR, AND THEY’LL HANDLE THE PLATE TRANSFER FOR YOU.
TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: Vary by county.
- Processing time: Usually same day.
CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION
Junking your car in Georgia? Remember to cancel your registration within 30 days of selling or junking.
Print and sign a copy of Form MV-18J below at your local county tag office, or do it online using the Georgia DRIVES e-service.
Once you’ve cancelled your registration, remember to cancel your insurance.
FORM MV-18J
COMPLETE FORM MV-18J BELOW AND HAND IT IN TO YOUR LOCAL COUNTY TAG OFFICE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF SELLING YOUR VEHICLE.
CANCEL REGISTRATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: None.
- Processing time: Usually same day.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PRIVATE PROPERTY)
If a vehicle has been left on your property for 30 days or more, it’s considered abandoned.
In Georgia, you can report abandoned vehicles to your local police department’s non-emergency line. You can also get a removal company like Wheels Away to tow it off your property for you – free of charge.
When reporting the vehicle, make sure you have:
- It’s exact location
- Make and model
- VIN
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PUBLIC PROPERTY)
If you’ve spotted a vehicle that’s been parked on a highway, public street, or road for 5 days or more, it can be considered abandoned and reported to your local police department. Law enforcement will determine whether the owner intends to return or not, as dispose of the vehicle.
Some vehicles may qualify as derelict after 3 days.
Note: removal companies like Wheels Away can’t tow away abandoned vehicles in public places.
JUNK AN INHERITED VEHICLE
If you’ve inherited the vehicle as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship (JTWROS), junking it is easy.
IF YOU HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
If you’re a joint tenant with rights of survivorship, you can junk the vehicle by signing the seller’s section of the title and attaching a copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate.
If you’ve lost the title, you should use Georgia’s survivorship procedure to apply for a copy of the title in your name before you junk it using the form below. .
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Sign the car title (sellers signature and seller’s hand-printed name sections) as the surviving owner
- If you don’t have the title, apply for a copy of the title in your name using Form MV-1, a death certificate, and valid ID. Exact requirements may vary by county tag office.
FORM MV-1
LOST THE ORIGINAL TITLE? AS THE JOINT TENANT, YOU CAN APPLY FOR A NEW TITLE IN YOUR NAME AND USE IT TO JUNK THE VEHICLE.
NEW TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: $8.
- Processing time: Usually same day.
JUNK A CAR THAT’S REGISTERED OUT OF STATE
Want to junk a car in Georgia that was registered out of state? You can still junk it.
Have the title? Great. Sign and print your name in the seller section, and you’re ready to roll. Misplaced it somewhere between the glove box and the Bermuda Triangle? Don’t panic. You’ll usually need to request a replacement title from the state that originally issued it before you can sell the vehicle.
Not sure where to begin? Enter your state in the replacement title tool below. We’ll show you the right forms, fees, processing times, and where to apply – so you can skip the MVD maze and get back to more important things.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION
No registration? No sweat. You can still junk a vehicle in Georgia without current registration. In most cases, the title is what matters – it proves you’re the legal owner. An expired registration just means the vehicle needs to stay off public roads.
Title gone missing? Happens to the best of us. Use the form below to request a replacement and get one step closer to saying goodbye to that four-wheeled headache.
FORM MV-1
MISSING TITLE? APPLY FOR A COPY USING THE FORM BELOW BEFORE YOU JUNK IT.
REPLACEMENT TITLE APPLICATION
- Application method: In person only.
- Fee: $8.
- Processing time: Usually same day.
JUNK A CAR WITH A LIEN
Auto loan paid off? Now you just need to make sure you’ve got a lien-free title in your name, and you’re ready to send that old car off to its next adventure.
This is usually done automatically when the lien is paid off. If it’s an e-title, everything will be handled online through Georgia’s Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program.
If the lien was recorded on a physical title, the lender should complete the lien-release section of the title for you. Talk to your lender for more information.
Still making payments? You’ll need to deal with the lien before a junkyard or car buyer – including Wheels Away – can buy the vehicle.
That means:
- Paying off the remaining loan balance.
- Getting your lender’s approval to sell the vehicle before the loan is fully paid off.
Once the lien is cleared and your lender gives you a lien release, you’re good to go. One less piece of paperwork standing between you and getting rid of that unwanted car.
NOT SURE IF IT HAS A LIEN? RUN THE VIN.
Not sure if your car has a lien? Finding out is pretty easy.
Run your VIN through an NMVTIS-approved provider or a vehicle history service like CARFAX to check whether there are any liens recorded against it.
Can’t find the VIN? It’s usually hidden in one of several places.
We’ve rounded up the most common spots below. Exact location can vary depending on your vehicle’s age, make, and model.
HELP CENTRE
We understand that cars have a remarkable talent for making simple things unnecessarily complicated.
That’s why our Georgia Help Center is full of straightforward answers to the junking-related questions drivers ask most. MVD requirements. Paperwork. What happens next. All the fun stuff.
No jargon. No bureaucratic maze. Just clear, useful guidance to help you figure out what to do next.
Junking a car in GA? Get all the forms and tips you need, organized by situation. Transferring titles, junking inherited vehicles, and more. Understand junk car pricing in Georgia, why recycling makes a difference, and the components that can boost your payout. No title? No problem. Learn how to junk a car in Georgia legally and still walk away with cash for your vehicle with Wheelsaway! Many people struggle with the question, ‘How to junk a car?’ Don’t worry—you don’t need to be an expert to make the process simple, profitable, and stress-free.
How To Junk A Car
Junk Car Prices
Missing Car Title
How To Scrap A Car
Ready to Get Cash for Your Junk Car?
Get a free, instant quote in minutes!
✔ Top-dollar offers for your junk car
✔ Free same-day pickup & towing
✔ No paperwork hassle—we handle everything!
