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Ready to junk your car in Indiana? From how the process works to junking with a lien, get your most common questions answered.
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Ultimate Guide
HOW TO JUNK A CAR IN INDIANA
Ready to junk your car in Indiana? Find all the forms, online portals, and addresses you need, sorted by circumstance. From transferring ownership to handling an inherited vehicle, choose your scenario and get everything you need at a glance.
WHAT SITUATION DO YOU NEED HELP WITH?
EXPERT SUPPORT
TOP 3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE JUNKING YOUR CAR IN INDIANA
Check for outstanding liens
Give the VIN a quick check with a vehicle history service like CARFAX to make sure there aren’t any outstanding liens on the car.
Check title brand
Not sure what brand is on the title? Use the same history checker to find out. Knowing the title brand means you can make sure you’ve got the right paperwork ready to sell.
Remove license plates
Before your car heads off to its next adventure, remove the license plate. Depending on your situation, you may need to either transfer it to another vehicle or keep it.
Indiana Pickup-Day Checklist
Before pickup, make sure:
- The title is printed and signed by every owner, with the odometer statement completed
- The license plate has been removed
- Personal belongings have been taken out of the vehicle
- You’re ready to cancel the vehicle insurance after the sale
- Form 55296 is submitted afterward if you’re claiming an excise tax credit
HOW TO TRANSFER A CAR TITLE IN INDIANA
When you junk your old ride, you’ll need to sign the title and transfer ownership to the buyer. Got your title? We give you the full lowdown on how to sign your car title in the next section.
No title? Apply for a replacement copy using Form 205. Download the PDF below to apply by mail or in person, or apply online using the myBMV portal. For more detailed instructions, view our guide to replacing missing car titles in Indiana.
Form 205
HAVE AN ELECTRONIC TITLE? REQUEST A PAPER COPY, THEN SIGN THE TITLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP.
Transfer car title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: Free ($25 for speed titling)
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
HOW TO SIGN YOUR CAR TITLE
Signing your title over to the junkyard? How you sign depends on whether you’re a single owner or a joint owner.
The seller’s printed name(s) and signature(s) must be placed on the back of the title on the designated lines, and the seller must also complete the odometer statement.
The buyer will add their printed name and signature on the title to complete the transfer.
Only hand over the signed title once payment has been confirmed.
KEY INSTRUCTIONS
See more detailed instructions for single and joint owner signing below, using the images to help.
SINGLE OWNERS
Single owners must sign their name once on the signature of sellers line, and print it once on the ‘printed name of sellers’ line.
JOINT OWNERS
Joint owners must sign their name once on the second signature of sellers line, and print it once on the second ‘printed name of sellers’ line.
Note: Older Indiana titles may look different from the example shown, but the seller information and signature lines are still located on the back of the title.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN ETITLE
If you have an electronic title, you’ll usually need to request a physical copy to junk your car. Most buyers, including Wheels Away, will only accept physical titles.
You can request a physical copy using the form below.
JUNKING WITH AN ELECTRONIC TITLE
If the buyer accepts electronic titles, the title transfer will be handled digitally. You’ll still need to sign the title, and may be asked for additional paperwork to prove ownership, depending on the buyer.
Form 205
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT USING FORM 205, THEN SIGN THE TITLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
JUNK A CAR WITH NO TITLE IN INDIANA
In Indiana, you need a title to junk any vehicle less than 15 model years old. No title? Apply for a duplicate using Form 205.
Form 205
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT USING FORM 205, THEN SIGN THE TITLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
VEHICLES 15 MODEL YEARS OLD OR OLDER
You can junk these vehicles without a title, as long as you have a Certificate of Authority from the BMV. The buyer will also ask for valid ID
Need more support? Get detailed guidance and support from our in-house experts in our guide to junking without a title in Indiana.
SURRENDER OR TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
In Indiana, plate surrender is voluntary. When you junk your car, you can either transfer your plate or keep it as a souvenir.
If you’re not replacing your old junker with a new set of wheels, check the next section for what happens to your registration.
Want to throw out your old plate? Just make sure it’s rendered unreadable, so no one can steal your info.
TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
Getting a new car?
You can submit a plate transfer request when you apply for a new title. This can usually be done through MyBMV, but some applications may need to be completed in person.
You can apply for a new title using Form 205, either in person, via mail, or online.
Form 205
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT USING FORM 205, THEN SIGN THE TITLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION
Once you’ve junked your car, there’s no formal process to cancel your registration.
Instead, you can apply for a credit or refund of part of the vehicle excise tax you’ve paid, using an Application for Vehicle Excise Tax Credit/Refund (State Form 55296). You’ll need proof the vehicle was sold, such as a bill of sale. Any credit you don’t use on another BMV transaction within 90 days is refunded by check.
Form 56154
APPLY FOR A CREDIT OR REFUND OF YOUR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX USING FORM 55296.
Excise Tax Credit/Refund
- Application method: Mail
- Processing time: Instant.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PRIVATE PROPERTY)
In Indiana, any vehicle that’s been parked on private property without consent for 48 hours or more is considered abandoned.
Need to get rid of an abandoned vehicle? Once you have a Certificate of Authority from the BMV, which means writing to the owner and any lienholder first, you can ask a brokerage or removal service like Wheels Away to tow it for you.
Alternatively, report it using your local police department’s non-emergency line or 311 service.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PUBLIC PROPERTY)
If a vehicle is abandoned on public property, such as a highway or street, removal services like Wheels Away can’t tow it for you.
Instead, report it to the local police using 311 or the non-emergency line. Provide law enforcement with:
- The vehicle’s exact location
- License plate
- Make and model or a close description
Law enforcement will then tag it with an official notice and tow it within 24-72 hours.
JUNK AN INHERITED VEHICLE
Inherited your car through survivorship rights? Junking is simple.
IF YOU HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
If you’re the surviving co-owner and you have a copy of the title, you’re permitted to junk the car. Make sure you explain the situation to the buyer and supply the additional information below.
If you inherited the vehicle through a Transfer on Death (TOD) designation, use the title and death certificate to apply for a new title through the Indiana BMV.
If the estate was settled without probate, State Form 18733 may be used if the estate qualifies.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Sign the car title (sellers’ printed name and signature sections) as the surviving owner.
- Give the buyer a copy of the death certificate and additional ID (if requested) to prove ownership of the vehicle.
If you’ve lost the title, you can apply for a replacement copy using Form 205. You may need to provide a copy of the death certificate and an unexpired photo ID. Check the exact requirements with your BMV, as they may vary by location.
Form 205
NO TITLE? APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT AS THE SURVIVING OWNER. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BMV FOR EXACT REQUIREMENTS.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
JUNK A CAR THAT’S REGISTERED OUT OF STATE
Need to junk a vehicle that’s registered out of state? You can still junk it in Indiana by either signing the title and transferring it to the buyer or requesting a duplicate from the state it was registered in (if you don’t have the title).
Lost your title? Type its registered state into our replacement title finder below and get everything you need to apply for a replacement: forms, fees, processing times, and more.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION
You don’t need a valid registration to junk your car. You’ll just need to prove ownership with the title and a form of ID, like your driver’s license.
Expired reg and no title? We recommend applying for a new title using Form 205.
Remember: if it has an invalid registration, you can’t drive your vehicle on public roads.
Form 205
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT USING FORM 205, THEN SIGN THE TITLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
VEHICLES 15 MODEL YEARS OLD OR OLDER
If it’s at least 15 model years old, you can junk your car without a title using the documents below.
Photo ID
Like your driver’s license or passport.
Bill of sale
Certificate of Authority / You’ll need this as well as your photo ID.
JUNK A CAR WITH A LIEN
Still got a lien on your vehicle?
Most buyers, including Wheels Away, won’t buy cars with active liens. You can clear the lien by:
-Paying it off in full
-Getting the lender’s permission to junk the car, and using the cash to pay off the lien
You must get the lender’s permission before junking your car. If you don’t, you could face serious legal and financial consequences.
Once the loan is paid off, you’re free to sell and put the cash toward a fresh set of wheels – or maybe that grill you’ve had your eye on…
Once the lien is released, your title will be issued in the format you chose when you titled the car, paper or electronic. If the buyer doesn’t accept e-titles, apply for a physical copy using the form below before you sell.
Form 205
LIEN RELEASED? CHECK IF YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A PHYSICAL COPY OF YOUR E-TITLE BEFORE JUNKING.
Replacement/physical title
- Application method: Online, mail or in person
- Fee: $15 + $25 for speed titling
- Processing time: Up to 3 weeks
NOT SURE IF IT HAS A LIEN? RUN THE VIN.
Inherited a car? Dealing with an abandoned one? Before you send it to the junkyard, make sure it doesn’t have a lien.
The easiest way to check is by running the VIN through an NMVTIS-approved provider or a vehicle history service like CARFAX. Not sure where to find the VIN? No stress. We’ve rounded up the most common spots to look – locations can vary depending on the car’s age, make, and model.
HELP CENTER
Need more support? We’ve got you. Whether you’re trying to junk a car without a title, wondering what your car is worth, or just figuring out where to start, our Indiana help center has the answers you need to get it sorted – straight from the experts.
Junking a car in IN? Find the forms, tips, and expert guidance you need in one place- organized by situation. Looking to junk a car without a title in Indiana? Learn what paperwork is required and how Wheels Away can guide you every step of the way. Discover junk car values in Indiana with Wheels Away! Learn how recycling pays off and which parts of your old vehicle are most valuable.
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