Selling a car in Washington
We pick up across DC and the close-in Maryland and Virginia suburbs, from street spots and garages.
We pick up all over Washington, from Capitol Hill and Anacostia to Petworth and Columbia Heights. Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.
High mileage is welcome
Long commutes put a lot of miles on a car, and private buyers get nervous above 150,000. We buy cars with any mileage. Tell us the odometer reading and the condition, and the offer accounts for both.
Areas we cover around Washington
Live just outside Washington? We also buy in Arlington, VA, Alexandria, VA, Silver Spring, MD, Bethesda, MD, Hyattsville, MD and Takoma Park, MD, and anywhere else in Washington, DC for that matter.
- Arlington, VA
- Alexandria, VA
- Silver Spring, MD
- Bethesda, MD
- Hyattsville, MD
- Takoma Park, MD
Local rules in Washington
Title transfers and duplicate titles for Washington residents are handled by the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) service centers. The District's DMV handles titles directly; there is no county level. Title transfers and duplicate titles are done at DC DMV service centers.
Keeping a junk car at home: Under D.C. Code 50-2431, an apparently inoperable vehicle left on private property over 30 days counts as abandoned; under 50-2464 it can be removed 45 days after a warning notice. Read the rule.
Paperwork for Washington, DC sellers
- 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
The full list of Washington, DC rules is on our Washington, DC page. For duplicate titles and release of liability forms, contact the DC Department of Motor Vehicles.
No obligation.
How it works in Washington
Most Washington sales take a few days from first quote to empty driveway. You get an offer, schedule the tow, get paid on the spot, then hand over the signed title and keys. Nothing is charged for the pickup. 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 Washington, 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 Washington sellers
Do you buy cars in Capitol Hill and Congress Heights?
Yes. We buy cars in Capitol Hill, Congress Heights and every other neighborhood in Washington, plus nearby areas like Arlington, VA and Alexandria, VA. Pickup is free wherever the car is parked.
How fast can you pick up my car in Washington?
Pickup in Washington is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept. We also cover Arlington, VA, Alexandria, VA, Silver Spring, MD and the rest of the Washington area.
Do you buy junk cars in Washington?
Yes. We buy junk, wrecked and non-running cars in Washington 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 Washington, DC?
The title and a photo ID that matches it. 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. For a duplicate title, Washington residents can go to the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) service centers.
Can I sell a junk car without a title in Washington?
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.
Can I keep a junk car at my house in Washington?
Under D.C. Code 50-2431, an apparently inoperable vehicle left on private property over 30 days counts as abandoned; under 50-2464 it can be removed 45 days after a warning notice. If you'd rather not deal with it, we tow junk cars from Washington for free and pay you for them.
Do you charge for towing in Washington?
No. The pickup costs you nothing, and the price you accept for your car is what you're handed at pickup.
Sources
- DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) service centers: vehicle titles
- Washington: rules on junk and inoperable vehicles
- 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.