Step 3: Apply for a Car Title in Illinois

Cost:

• $50 title fee

Options:

• In person at an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility
• Online through the Illinois Secretary of State vehicle services portal

if you’re applying in person, make sure you bring the following to avoid a wasted trip:

• Completed Form VSD 190
• Valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID
• Your car’s VIN
• Payment for the $50 title fee
• For a transfer: the signed title or bill of sale, plus any RUT tax form if the transfer is taxable
• A lien release from your lender, if the car had finance on it

Have an abandoned vehicle? Illinois typically requires you to contact local law enforcement and the Illinois Secretary of State to resolve ownership before the vehicle can be sold or scrapped.

What is a Junking Certificate and What Does it Mean For You?

When you sell your car for junk, the buyer surrenders the title to the Illinois Secretary of State and applies for a Junking Certificate. This permanently closes the vehicle’s record, so it can’t be titled again or come back on you. The buyer handles it, at no cost to you.

To make sure it’s done properly, check that your buyer is licensed by the Secretary of State, and keep a receipt and a photo of the signed title for your records.

Costs and Timelines at a Glance

Service	Cost	Processing Time
Duplicate or Replacement Title	$50	3–6 weeks
Title Transfer (in person)	$165 + Additional taxes or processing fees may apply	3–6 weeks

How to junk your car: the full process

Step 1: Check your car’s title status online → National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

Step 2: Work out which title you need, a duplicate if yours is lost or a transfer if ownership is changing.

Step 3: Contact us for a free junk car quote.

Step 4: Provide your ID, the vehicle’s title (if required), or other relevant paperwork.

Step 5: Accept the offer you’re happy with and complete the sale – we’ll collect your vehicle free of charge!

Step 6: Take your license plates off the car. In Illinois, they stay with you, not the vehicle, so you can transfer them to another car you own or surrender them to the Illinois Secretary of State. File a Seller’s Report of Sale, Form VSD 703, with the Secretary of State, and make sure you cancel your car insurance.

Your Pickup Day Checklist

Before the driver arrives, make sure you’ve done the following things:

• Sign the title over to the buyer, with the odometer reading filled in.
• Take off your license plates. Return them to the Secretary of State or transfer them to your next vehicle.
• Clear out personal items, including the glovebox, trunk and under the seats.
• File a Notice of Sale with the Secretary of State, so the car is no longer linked to you.
• Cancel your insurance once the car has been collected.

FAQs

Q: Do I always need a title to junk a car in Illinois?
A: Yes. Illinois requires a title to junk a vehicle of any age or condition. If yours is lost, stolen or damaged, apply for a duplicate from the Secretary of State using Form VSD 190. Apply online through the vehicle services portal or in person at a Driver Services facility. It costs $50 and takes 3–6 weeks to arrive. Not sure what you need? Our team can help.

Q: Can I junk a financed car without a title?
A: Not until the loan is paid off. While a lender still has a claim on the car, it can’t be sold for junk in Illinois. Pay off the balance and get the lender to release the lien. If your title is also missing, apply for a replacement with Form VSD 190 ($50, 3–6 weeks). Once the title is clear, we’ll make you an offer and collect the car for free.

Q: Do I need my registration to junk my car?
A: No. In Illinois, you need the title to prove ownership. Your registration isn’t enough. If your title is missing, apply for a replacement with Form VSD 190.

Q: Can I junk a car that’s not in my name?
A: No. You’ll need to transfer ownership to your name first. Illinois requires the signatures of all owners listed on the title to junk a car. If you’re a co-owner, you’ll need to ensure all signatures are on the title before you can sell it.

Q: Will junkyards accept cars with no paperwork at all?
A: Not in Illinois. Because a title is required for every vehicle, a reputable junkyard or salvage buyer won’t take a car with no paperwork, even if it’s very old or worth very little. Be wary of any buyer who offers to; without a title, the car may not legally leave your name, and you could stay responsible for it.

Ready to Get Cash for Your Junk Car?