Selling or junking a car in Pennsylvania, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services using MV-38O.
- 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 and prints their name on the title, which must be notarized or verified for Pennsylvania titles, and records the mileage. The seller also shows ID to the PennDOT agent and removes the license plate after the transfer.
- Deal with your plates. After the transfer, the seller removes the plate and either mails it to PennDOT's Return Tag Unit or keeps it to move to another vehicle.
- File the Notice of a transferred vehicle (title or bill of sale). Owners who sold, transferred or traded a vehicle can send PennDOT a copy of the title or bill of sale as proof by email or fax. No specific form number is listed.
How to sign over a title in Pennsylvania
The seller signs and prints their name on the title, which must be notarized or verified for Pennsylvania titles, and records the mileage. The seller also shows ID to the PennDOT agent and removes the license plate after the transfer.
Official page: pa.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Pennsylvania
Vehicle owners request a duplicate title by mailing form MV-38O to PennDOT with payment. Lienholders and dealers use different forms.
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Notice of a transferred vehicle (title or bill of sale)
Owners who sold, transferred or traded a vehicle can send PennDOT a copy of the title or bill of sale as proof by email or fax. No specific form number is listed.
- Official page: pa.gov
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
Plates generally need to be returned or surrendered to the state. After the transfer, the seller removes the plate and either mails it to PennDOT's Return Tag Unit or keeps it to move to another vehicle.
Source: pa.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Pennsylvania
PennDOT's buying and selling fact sheet says that when a vehicle is sold for salvage, the seller signs the title over to the buyer and removes the plate. The plate goes back to PennDOT unless the seller moves it to another vehicle.
Official page: pa.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Pennsylvania
We didn't find an official Pennsylvania page describing a no-title option, so the safest route is to request a duplicate first. Our guide to junking a car without a title covers the general options buyers may accept.
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Pennsylvania title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Pennsylvania?
Vehicle owners request a duplicate title by mailing form MV-38O to PennDOT with payment. Lienholders and dealers use different forms. The form is MV-38O.
Do I need to notify Pennsylvania when I sell or junk my car?
Pennsylvania uses the Notice of a transferred vehicle (title or bill of sale). Owners who sold, transferred or traded a vehicle can send PennDOT a copy of the title or bill of sale as proof by email or fax. No specific form number is listed.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Pennsylvania?
After the transfer, the seller removes the plate and either mails it to PennDOT's Return Tag Unit or keeps it to move to another vehicle.
Can I junk a car without a title in Pennsylvania?
It depends on the car and the buyer. The simplest route is usually to request a duplicate title first. Our guide to junking a car without a title explains the general options.
Official sources
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services — homepa.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlepa.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (MV-38O)pa.gov
- MV-38O formpa.gov
- Notice of a transferred vehicle (title or bill of sale)pa.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclespa.gov
Summarized from official Pennsylvania government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.