Selling a car in Washington, DC: the paperwork
| Washington, DC seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes them; turn in or transfer |
| Report the sale | No separate seller notice form |
| Duplicate title | Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application; $30 |
| Bill of sale | Required |
| Junk without a title | Title required |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the DC Department of Motor Vehicles. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
How it works in Washington, DC
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 Washington, DC, 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.
Cities we serve in Washington, DC
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Washington, DC too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Washington, DC car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Washington, DC?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Washington, DC title, apply to the DC Department of Motor Vehicles with Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application. The fee is $30.
Can I junk a car without a title in Washington, DC?
No. DC requires the owner of a junk vehicle to apply for a DMV Junk Vehicle Certificate before transferring ownership; the title or certificate must be surrendered after destruction (D.C. Code 50-1331.02(b), 50-1331.07(c)). To replace a lost Washington, DC title, apply to the DC Department of Motor Vehicles with Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application. The fee is $30.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Washington, DC?
In Washington, DC, the plates don't go to the buyer. Surrender tags to DC DMV unless moving them to another vehicle; if you cancel online, you dispose of them yourself.
How do I tell the Washington, DC DMV that I sold my car?
Washington, DC has no separate seller notice form. In Washington, DC, the plates don't go to the buyer. Surrender tags to DC DMV unless moving them to another vehicle; if you cancel online, you dispose of them yourself. Keep a bill of sale and a photo of the signed title as your record of the sale, in case a ticket or toll arrives later.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Washington, DC?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Washington, DC a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- DC DMV: Selling a Vehicle
- DC DMV: Tag Surrender
- DC DMV: Vehicle Titles (required documents)
- DC DMV: Vehicle Title Replacement/Duplicate
- DC DMV: Vehicle Title and Excise Tax Fees
- D.C. Code 50-1331.02, Duty to apply for Salvage Vehicle Title, Junk Vehicle Certificate
- D.C. Code 50-1331.07, surrender of title or Junk Vehicle Certificate after destruction
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.