FAQs
Junking a car in Louisiana is easier when you know the rules. Our FAQ covers titles, salvage certificates, and more!
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Ultimate Guide
HOW TO JUNK A CAR IN LOUISIANA
Ready to junk your car in Louisiana? Not sure what paperwork you need? We’ve made it simple. Select your situation to find the forms, online services, title requirements, and step-by-step guidance you need to get your vehicle ready for the junkyard.
WHAT SITUATION DO YOU NEED HELP WITH?
EXPERT SUPPORT
TOP 3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE JUNKING YOUR CAR IN LOUISIANA
Check for outstanding liens
Check the VIN with a vehicle history service like CARFAX, and confirm that the vehicle doesn’t have any unpaid liens attached to it.
Check title brand
Unsure if the vehicle has a title brand? Use the VIN to check its history and identify the brand. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can figure out the right paperwork get to junking.
Remove license plates
Before the tow truck pulls up, remember to remove the plate. Depending on what you’re doing next, you may be able to transfer it to another vehicle or simply keep it for the memories!
HOW TO TRANSFER A CAR TITLE IN LOUISIANA
Ready to say goodbye to your old car? To transfer your Louisiana (LA) title to the buyer, you’ll need to sign the car title in front of a notary. Make sure you give the dismantler or broker (like Wheels Away) that’s buying your vehicle a physical copy of the title. You’ll also need to complete a Notice of Vehicle Transfer on the OMV website.
Got your car title? We cover how to sign and notarize your Louisiana title in the next section.
If you’ve lost it, don’t worry. Apply for a replacement/duplicate title using Form DPSMV 1799, including the duplicate title affidavit section. Download the form below to apply by mail or in person at your local OMV office.
For more in-depth guidance on replacing missing car titles straight from the specialists, read our guide to replacing missing car titles in Louisiana.
Form DPSMV 1799
LOST YOUR LOUISIANA CAR TITLE BUT READY TO TRANSFER? DOWNLOAD FORM DPSMV 1799 AND APPLY BY MAIL OR IN PERSON.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
HOW TO SIGN YOUR CAR TITLE
How you sign your LA title to the buyers depends on whether you’re a single owner or a joint owners.
On your Louisiana title, sign your printed name (s) and signature (s) on the back of the title in front of a notary.
The buyer and notary will fill in their relevant sections to complete the transfer.
KEY INSTRUCTIONS
Find more detailed instructions on single and joint owner signing below, using the annotated images to help.
SINGLE OWNERS
Single owners must sign their name once on the ‘signature (s) of seller(s) line’, and print it once on the ‘printed name (s) of seller(s) line.’
joint OWNERS
Joint owners must sign their name once on the ‘signature (s) of seller(s) line’, and print it once on the ‘printed name (s) of seller(s) line’ next to the first owners printed name and signature.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN ETITLE
If your LA title is electronic, you probably have a lien against the vehicle. You must pay off the balance before junking your vehicle. Clearing the lien will also trigger a physical print of the clean title. You’ll usually need the physical title to junk the vehicle, as most buyers and brokers like Wheels Away prefer physical titles as proof of ownership.
If the title was printed when the lien was released but you’ve lost it, apply for a duplicate with the form below. If the title still has a lien attached to it, contact your lienholder for more information.
Form DPSMV 1799
LOST YOUR LOUISIANA CAR TITLE BUT READY TO TRANSFER? DOWNLOAD FORM DPSMV 1799 AND APPLY BY MAIL OR IN PERSON.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
JUNK A CAR WITH NO TITLE IN LOUISIANA
If your car is more than 10 years old, some buyers will let you junk it without a title.
Requirements are usually at the buyer’s discretion, though, so we always recommend having a physical copy of yours before you junk your car. At Wheels Away, we also prefer to use titles to prove ownership – it makes the process faster, smoother and safer for you.
If you’ve lost yours, getting a duplicate is easy. Download Form DPSMV 1799 and apply by mail or in person.
Need more support? Our guide to replacing missing car titles in Louisiana breaks down the process even further – with guidance from our in-house experts.
Form DPSMV 1799
NO TITLE? GET A NEW ONE WITH DPSMV 1799.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
SURRENDER OR TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
In Louisiana, formal surrender isn’t required when you junk your car.
However, LA plates are specific to the vehicle and the owner, so the plate must be cancelled or destroyed. Only special prestige plates are exempt from this rule and can be transferred to other vehicles of the same class.
If you’re not getting a new car, you’ll also need to cancel your registration. It’s recommended that you do this before removing your plates.
You can cancel your plates using the OMV’s online service, by mail, or in person at any OMV location.
TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
This guidance applies to special prestige plates only.
If you’re buying a new ride from a dealership, tell them you want to transfer your old plates to your new car. They’ll handle the paperwork for you.
If you’re buying a new car from a private buyer, transfer the title from the seller’s name to yours. You’ll need to request the plate transfer through Louisiana’s Special & Personalized Plate Service.
CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION
In Louisiana, cancelling your plate also cancels your registration.
You can cancel your plate online using the OMV’s vehicle plate cancellation service. You won’t need to formally surrender the plate, but you should return it to the OMV with your title if you’re junking it. If you’re selling, donating, or trading the vehicle, you can just remove the plate and either keep it or destroy it.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PRIVATE PROPERTY)
If an old vehicle has been left on your property without permission for more than 3 days, Louisiana law considers it abandoned. You can report it to your local law enforcement to arrange for the vehicle to be taken into custody.
You can also arrange for Wheels Away to tow it for you. Keep in mind that parishes and municipalities can have their own rules for dealing with junk or abandoned vehicles on private property, so check local requirements before arranging a pickup.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR (PUBLIC PROPERTY)
Spotted an abandoned car on public property?
If it’s inoperable and left unattended for more than 24 hours, or if it has been left illegally on public property for more than 24 hours, it’s considered abandoned. This also applies to inoperable vehicles left on the shoulder or right-of-way of an interstate or four-lane highway for more than 24 hours.
Report these vehicles to your local police department, sheriff’s office, or other local law enforcement agency. An officer can post a notice giving the owner 24 hours to remove the vehicle. If it isn’t moved, the municipality or parish can have it towed and disposed of. Wheels Away can’t remove a vehicle abandoned on commercial or public property.
JUNK AN INHERITED VEHICLE
If you’re listed as the joint owner on the title, you can usually junk the vehicle yourself.
IF YOU HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
If you’re the surviving co-owner and your names are joined by ‘and‘ on the title, you can junk the vehicle yourself if you have the original title. You’ll just need to provide some additional paperwork.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Sign your Louisiana car title with your printed name and signature as the surviving owner.
- Show the buyer a copy of the death certificate and your valid ID when junking the vehicle.
Lost the original title? Apply for a replacement using Form DPSMV 1799 and provide a valid ID and a death certificate.
Form DPSMV 1799
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A DUPLICATE USING THE FORM BELOW.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
JUNK A CAR THAT’S REGISTERED OUT OF STATE
Have a vehicle registered in another state but want to junk it in Louisiana? It’s simple. Just make sure you properly sign over the out-of-state title. If the title is missing, you’ll need to get a replacement from the state where the vehicle is titled.
Not sure how to replace it? Use our replacement title finder below and select the state where the vehicle is registered. We’ll point you to the right forms, fees, processing times, and other requirements.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION
Invalid registration? You can still junk your car. Just provide proof of ownership with the title and any additional documents, like ID and a bill of sale (if requested).
If your reg has expired and you’ve lost your title, just apply for a new one using Form DPSMV 1799.
Note: if your reg has expired, you can’t drive the car on public roads.
Form DPSMV 1799
LOST YOUR TITLE? APPLY FOR A DUPLICATE USING THE FORM BELOW.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
JUNK A CAR WITH A LIEN
Still making payments on your car? You’ll need to pay off the lien before you can junk it. Most buyers, including Wheels Away, won’t buy vehicles with liens.
You typically have two options:
- Pay off the the lien
- Speak with your lender and get their approval to sell or junk the vehicle, with the sale proceeds going toward the outstanding balance.
Don’t junk the vehicle without speaking to your lender first. Until the lien is cleared or the lender has approved the transaction, you may not have the legal right to sell the vehicle.
Once you’ve paid off the lien, you’ll get a new e-title with the lien released. If your buyer requires a paper title, apply for a copy below. Remember to complete the duplicate title affidavit section.
Form DPSMV 1799
NEED A PHYSICAL COPY OF YOUR ETITLE? REQUEST A COPY BELOW.
Duplicate car title
- Application method: In person or by mail (to your local public tag agent office).
- Fee: $68.50 + $8 state handling fee.
- Processing time: In person: 7-10 days. Mail: up to 30 days.
NOT SURE IF IT HAS A LIEN? RUN THE VIN.
Before you junk your ride, check for liens. A quick way to do this is to search the VIN using an NMVTIS-approved provider or a vehicle history service such as CARFAX.
Need help tracking down the VIN? Its location can vary depending on the vehicle’s make, model, and age. Check the list below for the most common places you’ll find it.
HELP CENTRE
Need a little more guidance? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re figuring out how to junk a car without a title, wondering what your vehicle could be worth, or just unsure where to start, our Louisiana Help Center has you covered. Find clear, expert-backed answers to the questions that come up along the way, so you can tackle the process with confidence and know what to do next.
Junking a car in Louisiana? Find the forms, steps, and guidance you need – all in one place, organized by situation. No title? No problem. Learn how to junk a car in Louisiana legally and still walk away with cash for your vehicle with Wheelsaway. Get insights into junk car pricing in Louisiana with Wheelsaway! Explore benefits of recycling, and the most valuable pieces inside your old vehicle. 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.
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