Selling a car in Tampa
Storm surge around Tampa Bay can total a car in a single night, and we buy flood cars all over the Bay Area.
Sellers in Ybor City, Westchase, Hyde Park and every other part of Tampa get the same free pickup. Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.
After the storm, sell the car as it sits
There's no need to have a flooded car repaired or even started before you sell it. We tow it from your driveway or the insurance yard and price it on its parts and metal, plus whatever still works. Salvage titles from flood claims are fine.
Areas we cover around Tampa
We buy cars across Hillsborough County and the wider Tampa area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City and Wesley Chapel. If your car is somewhere else in Florida, we buy it there too.
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Brandon
- Riverview
- Plant City
- Wesley Chapel
Local rules in Tampa
Title transfers and duplicate titles for Tampa residents are handled by the Hillsborough County Tax Collector.
Keeping a junk car at home: Tampa Code Enforcement takes reports of abandoned or inoperative vehicles as a code violation through its online customer service center. Anonymous complaints are not accepted. Read the rule.
Paperwork for Florida sellers
- Notarized title signature: Not required
- License plates: Seller removes and keeps them
- Report the sale: Notice of Sale, form HSMV 82050, within 30 days
- Duplicate title: HSMV 82101; $75.25 (add $2.50 for a printed paper title)
- Bill of sale: Recommended
- Junk without a title: Allowed in some cases (HSMV 82137, Application for an Original/Duplicate Derelict Motor Vehicle Certificate and Request to Cancel Title)
The full list of Florida rules is on our Florida page. For duplicate titles and release of liability forms, contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
No obligation.
How it works in Tampa
Start with the year, make and model or your VIN. Once you have a number you like, choose a pickup slot, and a local driver collects the car from your home, work or a shop in Tampa. Payment changes hands before the car is loaded. 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa sellers
Do you buy cars in Ybor City and New Tampa?
Yes. We buy cars in Ybor City, New Tampa and every other neighborhood in Tampa, plus nearby areas like St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Pickup is free wherever the car is parked.
How fast can you pick up my car in Tampa?
Pickup in Tampa is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept. We also cover St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon and the rest of the Tampa area.
Do you buy junk cars in Tampa?
Yes, from rusted-out project cars to vehicles that haven't started in years. We pay for junk cars across Hillsborough County and haul them away at no cost.
What paperwork do I need to sell a car in Tampa, FL?
The title and a photo ID that matches it. Florida doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. In Florida, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. You may transfer the plate to another vehicle; surrender it if moving out of state or canceling insurance. File the Notice of Sale, form HSMV 82050, with the state within 30 days of the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. For a duplicate title, Tampa residents can go to the Hillsborough County Tax Collector.
Can I sell a junk car without a title in Tampa?
Sometimes. Vehicles 10+ model years old worth under $1,000 may be sold to a licensed salvage dealer or secondary metals recycler without a title using form HSMV 82137 and the seller's ID (Fla. Stat. 319.30). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Florida title, apply to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) with HSMV 82101. The fee is $75.25 (add $2.50 for a printed paper title).
Can I keep a junk car at my house in Tampa?
Tampa Code Enforcement takes reports of abandoned or inoperative vehicles as a code violation through its online customer service center. Anonymous complaints are not accepted. If you'd rather not deal with it, we tow junk cars from Tampa for free and pay you for them.
Do you charge for towing in Tampa?
Never. There's no hook-up fee, mileage charge or deduction for the tow, whether the car is in Tampa or out in Wesley Chapel.
Sources
- Hillsborough County Tax Collector: vehicle titles
- Tampa: rules on junk and inoperable vehicles
- FLHSMV: Selling a Vehicle
- FLHSMV: Notice of Sale and/or Bill of Sale, HSMV 82050 (form)
- Florida Statutes s. 319.22 (notice within 30 days)
- FLHSMV: Fees
- Fla. Stat. 319.30 (2026), Definitions; dismantling, destruction, change of identity of motor vehicle; salvage
- FLHSMV Form HSMV 82137 (PDF)
- FLHSMV Motor Vehicle Procedure Manual TL-11, Transfer of Florida Certificate of Title (rev. 06/26/23)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.