Selling or junking a car in Massachusetts, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) using Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title; 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 signs, hand prints their name and dates the transfer document along with the buyer, and must state the mileage at the time of transfer. If the old title has a sale price space, it has to be filled in. For vehicles exempt from titling because of age, the registration plus a bill of sale serves as proof of ownership.
- Deal with your plates. Plates stay with the owner and do not need to be returned; the owner cancels the registration (online in most cases) and then cuts up or recycles the plates.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
The seller signs, hand prints their name and dates the transfer document along with the buyer, and must state the mileage at the time of transfer. If the old title has a sale price space, it has to be filled in. For vehicles exempt from titling because of age, the registration plus a bill of sale serves as proof of ownership.
Official page: mass.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Massachusetts
Owners can order a replacement title online through myRMV using the VIN or title number and their license number, or mail the duplicate title application to the RMV Title Division. The replacement arrives by mail, which can take up to 10 business days.
- Form: Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: mass.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. Plates stay with the owner and do not need to be returned; the owner cancels the registration (online in most cases) and then cuts up or recycles the plates.
Source: mass.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Massachusetts
Whoever junks or scraps a vehicle has 10 days to surrender its title (or other ownership document) to the RMV, either with the junking/scrapping form or by stamping the title JUNKED. The record is then marked JUNK and the vehicle can never be titled or registered in Massachusetts again.
Official page: mass.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Massachusetts
Passenger vehicles from model year 1980 or older that were bought before November 26, 1990 are exempt from titling. The RMV's junk vehicle page says a copy of the last registration can stand in as proof of ownership for these title-exempt vehicles.
Official page: mass.gov
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Massachusetts title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Massachusetts?
Owners can order a replacement title online through myRMV using the VIN or title number and their license number, or mail the duplicate title application to the RMV Title Division. The replacement arrives by mail, which can take up to 10 business days. The form is Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title.
Do I need to notify Massachusetts when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Massachusetts. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Massachusetts?
Plates stay with the owner and do not need to be returned; the owner cancels the registration (online in most cases) and then cuts up or recycles the plates.
Can I junk a car without a title in Massachusetts?
Passenger vehicles from model year 1980 or older that were bought before November 26, 1990 are exempt from titling. The RMV's junk vehicle page says a copy of the last registration can stand in as proof of ownership for these title-exempt vehicles. Confirm the details with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
Official sources
- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) — homemass.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlemass.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title)mass.gov
- Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title formmass.gov
- License plates after a salemass.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesmass.gov
- Selling without a titlemass.gov
Summarized from official Massachusetts government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.