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Junk Car FAQs: Virginia

Want to junk your vehicle in Virginia? Read our FAQ first! We’re here to help you find the answers to your burning questions. From getting the best price for your vehicle to navigating junking with liens, you’ll find it all below.


Junking a car in Virginia is simple – especially if you use a broker like Wheelsaway. Instead of liaising with multiple potential buyers yourself, we do the hard work. Simply fill out our instant quote form online, and we’ll give you a fair price. We’ll even tow it away for free!

To junk a car with us, you just need to provide a few quick snippets of information about your old ride, and we’ll connect you with a local junkyard in Virginia offering a competitive quote. Accept the price you want, and we’ll schedule pickup whenever it suits you.

The value of a junk car in the U.S. typically ranges from $150 to $700, depending on factors like weight, metal content, condition, and location. Vehicles with salvageable parts or heavier metals can fetch higher prices. Keep in mind that scrap metal prices fluctuate, so contacting local junkyards for a quote will give you the most accurate estimate.

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Good news – most junkyards won’t need the keys to junk your old ride! However, you’ll often need a valid title or a bill of sale to prove ownership. Check the requirements with your local junkyard.

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Yes – you can junk an out‑of‑state vehicle in Virginia, but you must prove ownership and meet Virginia DMV titling/branding requirements first.

Usually, this means providing the out-of-state title in your name. If the title is missing, you may need to complete an Affidavit in Lieu of Title or apply for a bonded/replacement title. Any liens must be cleared, and if the vehicle is branded salvage or non-repairable out of state, bring the branding documentation.

Wheelsaway makes it easy to salvage your old car. Provide us with a few details about your clunker, and we’ll tell you whether it has hidden salvage value! If it’s worth a few dollars, we’ll handle the rest for you, including pickup and fast payment.

A few junkyards will purchase vehicles with outstanding liens, provided the lien is cleared beforehand. This usually means paying off the lienholder, often using funds from the car sale, with their approval.

In most cases, removing and selling the most valuable, safe-to-remove parts, then selling the remaining shell to multiple dismantlers or scrap yards, and choosing the best net offer after fees and towing, is the way to go. Unfortunately, this is a pretty time-consuming process. That’s where we can help! We can support you to get the most value for your scrap car by determining its value for you and connecting you with the best buyers in town.

In Virginia, you can surrender your license plates online using the Online Plate Surrender section of the Virginia DMV website. You can also surrender them in person at any Customer Service Center.

In Virginia, a car can still be junked despite an expired registration, as long as you have proof of ownership and complete the necessary steps required by the DMV.

In most cases, no. A title loan places a lien on your vehicle, which must be resolved before a junkyard or buyer can legally take ownership. To junk the car, you’ll need to either pay off the loan, have the junkyard handle the payoff directly with the lender, or obtain written approval from the lender to scrap the vehicle. Trying to sell or junk a car with an active lien can result in legal or financial issues.

You’ll need to pay off the lien first. You’ll usually pay this directly to the lender, but in some cases, the junkyard can handle the payoff.

Do I Need a Bill of Sale to Junk a Car?

A bill of sale isn’t always legally required to junk a car, but it’s good to have one. A bill of sale is a way to prove the transaction that has taken place between you and the junkyard. In Virginia, a bill of sale can sometimes be used in place of the vehicle title.

What Happens to My Car After I Junk It?

When a car is junked, usable parts are removed and resold or recycled, hazardous fluids are safely drained, and the remaining metal is crushed and recycled. Non-recyclable materials are properly disposed of, so the car is broken down and reused rather than simply thrown away.

How Do I Tow a Car to a Junkyard?

The simplest way is to use a service like Wheelsaway that will handle the towing for you. Regardless of the vehicle’s condition or placement, we’ll have the tools to remove it and deliver it to the junkyard safely.

A Junk Vehicle Affidavit is a legal document used in the U.S. when someone wants to sell or dispose of a vehicle that is no longer operable or considered “junk.” It serves as proof that the vehicle is being sold or transferred for scrap, salvage, or recycling, rather than for use on the road. In Virginia, a Certificate of Disposal is used instead.


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FAQs

Our Virginia junk car FAQ explains how titles, liens and salvage rules work—so you don’t run into surprises.

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Junk Car Prices

A guide to junk car prices in Virginia – from valuation factors to environmental impact and the most profitable car components.

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Missing Car Title

How to junk a car without the title in Virginia – step-by-step guide on paperwork, DMV requirements, and how to get the best cash offer.

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How To Scrap A Car

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.