Selling or junking a car in Indiana, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) using Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205); it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller and buyer sections of the title must be filled in completely before anyone goes to a branch. Every owner signs and prints their name as seller and fills in the odometer statement, sale date, price and buyer details. The seller should take the plate off at the time of sale.
- Deal with your plates. The BMV does not take back plates from sold vehicles. The seller removes them and may move them to another vehicle they own.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Indiana has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Indiana
The seller and buyer sections of the title must be filled in completely before anyone goes to a branch. Every owner signs and prints their name as seller and fills in the odometer statement, sale date, price and buyer details. The seller should take the plate off at the time of sale.
Official page: in.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Indiana
A duplicate is issued when the title is lost, stolen, damaged or unreadable. You can apply online through myBMV, at a branch or kiosk, or by mail. A duplicate cannot change owners or liens and is not available for electronic titles.
- Form: Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205) — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: in.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. The BMV does not take back plates from sold vehicles. The seller removes them and may move them to another vehicle they own.
Source: in.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Indiana
Damaged or wrecked vehicles from the last seven model years need a salvage title, and older vehicles can get one on request. The BMV posts application packets for salvage titles and for restoring a salvage vehicle.
Official page: in.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Indiana
An owner whose title is lost, destroyed or faulty can apply to the BMV for a Certificate of Authority (State Form 55018) to sell, give away or scrap the vehicle. A licensed salvage recycler then accepts it in place of a title. The BMV also has an Affidavit of Ownership process for titling vehicles worth $5,000 or less when the seller's title cannot be obtained.
Official page: in.gov
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Indiana title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Indiana?
A duplicate is issued when the title is lost, stolen, damaged or unreadable. You can apply online through myBMV, at a branch or kiosk, or by mail. A duplicate cannot change owners or liens and is not available for electronic titles. The form is Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205).
Do I need to notify Indiana when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Indiana. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Indiana?
The BMV does not take back plates from sold vehicles. The seller removes them and may move them to another vehicle they own.
Can I junk a car without a title in Indiana?
An owner whose title is lost, destroyed or faulty can apply to the BMV for a Certificate of Authority (State Form 55018) to sell, give away or scrap the vehicle. A licensed salvage recycler then accepts it in place of a title. The BMV also has an Affidavit of Ownership process for titling vehicles worth $5,000 or less when the seller's title cannot be obtained. Confirm the details with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Official sources
- Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — homein.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlein.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205))in.gov
- Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (State Form 205) formforms.in.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesin.gov
- Selling without a titlein.gov
Summarized from official Indiana government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.