Selling a car in San Francisco
Steep streets and tight garages in San Francisco call for the right tow equipment, and we send it.
Whether the car is parked in the Mission, the Sunset or out toward the Excelsior, we can get a truck to it. Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.
Lots of miles, still worth money
Traffic-heavy commutes and long freeway runs mean many cars here pass 150,000 or even 200,000 miles. Private buyers get nervous at those numbers, but a high-mileage car still has value in its parts and its resale at auction.
Areas we cover around San Francisco
Live just outside San Francisco? We also buy in Oakland, Daly City, San Mateo, Berkeley, South San Francisco and Hayward, and anywhere else in California for that matter.
- Oakland
- Daly City
- San Mateo
- Berkeley
- South San Francisco
- Hayward
Local rules in San Francisco
Title transfers and duplicate titles for San Francisco residents are handled by the California DMV field offices. Title transfers can be submitted at a DMV office or by mail.
Paperwork for California sellers
- License plates: Stay with the car
- Report the sale: Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL), form REG 138, within 5 days, online
- Duplicate title: REG 227 (Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title); $28
- Junk without a title: Title required (REG 227, Application for Duplicate Title (if the title is lost))
The full list of California rules is on our California page. For duplicate titles and release of liability forms, contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
No obligation.
How it works in San Francisco
Tell us about the car online or call (855) 497-1176, and you'll get a cash offer that stays good for 7 days. Accept it, pick a time, and a driver comes to wherever the car is in San Francisco County. You get paid, sign the title, and the car is gone. The full process covers what to have ready.
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in San Francisco, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Questions from San Francisco sellers
Do you buy cars in the Mission and SoMa?
Yes. We buy cars in the Mission, SoMa and every other neighborhood in San Francisco, plus nearby areas like Oakland and Daly City. Pickup is free wherever the car is parked.
How fast can you pick up my car in San Francisco?
Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours of accepting your offer, at a time you choose. The timing is the same in Oakland and Daly City.
Do you buy junk cars in San Francisco?
Yes. We buy junk, wrecked and non-running cars in San Francisco and tow them for free. Most are priced on their parts and metal, plus any value left in the model.
What paperwork do I need to sell a car in San Francisco, CA?
The title and a photo ID that matches it. In California, the license plates stay with the car when you sell it. Personalized, special recognition, and special interest plates can be reassigned to another vehicle for a fee. File the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL), form REG 138, with the state within 5 days of the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. For a duplicate title, San Francisco residents can go to the California DMV field offices.
Can I sell a junk car without a title in San Francisco?
No. To get junk status a dismantler must submit the California title or, if lost, an Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227), with the Report of Vehicle To Be Dismantled (REG 42). To replace a lost California title, apply to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with REG 227 (Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title). The fee is $28.
Do you charge for towing in San Francisco?
No. The pickup costs you nothing, and the price you accept for your car is what you're handed at pickup.
Sources
- California DMV field offices: vehicle titles
- California DMV: License Plates
- California DMV: Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
- California DMV: Title Transfers and Changes
- California DMV: Registering a vehicle purchased from a private party
- California DMV: Registration Fees (replacement title)
- California DMV, Dismantler's Handbook of Registration Procedures, 6.010 California-Titled Vehicles
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.