Selling or junking a car in New Jersey, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) using Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA).
- 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 the seller's section on the back of the title and gives it to the buyer together with a bill of sale showing the buyer's name and address, the sale date, the odometer reading and the price. The seller also removes the plates and surrenders them unless they are moving them to another vehicle.
- Deal with your plates. The seller removes the plates and turns them in to the MVC unless they are moving them to another vehicle they own; plates cannot be passed to a different owner.
- Tell the state and your insurer. New Jersey 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 New Jersey
The seller signs the seller's section on the back of the title and gives it to the buyer together with a bill of sale showing the buyer's name and address, the sale date, the odometer reading and the price. The seller also removes the plates and surrenders them unless they are moving them to another vehicle.
Official page: nj.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in New Jersey
Request a duplicate title in person at a Vehicle Center by appointment (the quickest option) or by mail, providing the application, registration, insurance proof and ID copies for every owner.
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates generally need to be returned or surrendered to the state. The seller removes the plates and turns them in to the MVC unless they are moving them to another vehicle they own; plates cannot be passed to a different owner.
Source: nj.gov
Junk and salvage titles in New Jersey
Vehicles an insurer finds uneconomical to repair have to get a New Jersey salvage title, which can be cleared after repairs and an inspection. The page covers salvage titles, not scrapping.
Official page: nj.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in New Jersey
Someone who buys a vehicle without an existing New Jersey title can use the MVC's Improper Evidence of Ownership procedure, a multi-step mail-in process handled case by case.
Official page: nj.gov
Ready to sell your car in New Jersey?
Get a free offer. We'll explain exactly what paperwork to have ready.
New Jersey title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in New Jersey?
Request a duplicate title in person at a Vehicle Center by appointment (the quickest option) or by mail, providing the application, registration, insurance proof and ID copies for every owner. The form is Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA).
Do I need to notify New Jersey when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for New Jersey. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in New Jersey?
The seller removes the plates and turns them in to the MVC unless they are moving them to another vehicle they own; plates cannot be passed to a different owner.
Can I junk a car without a title in New Jersey?
Someone who buys a vehicle without an existing New Jersey title can use the MVC's Improper Evidence of Ownership procedure, a multi-step mail-in process handled case by case. Confirm the details with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
Official sources
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) — homenj.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlenj.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA))nj.gov
- Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA) formnj.gov
- License plates after a salenj.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesnj.gov
- Selling without a titlenj.gov
Summarized from official New Jersey government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.