Selling a car in Maryland: the paperwork
| Maryland 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 | Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, VR-018; $40 |
| Bill of sale | Recommended |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (MVA Affidavit of Ownership) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). 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.
Where we pick up in Maryland
We buy cars in Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Frederick and Annapolis, and in every other town in Maryland a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
We pick up across Maryland, including Baltimore, the DC suburbs and the Eastern Shore.
How it works in Maryland
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 Maryland, 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 Maryland
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Maryland too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Maryland car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Maryland?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Maryland title, apply to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) with Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, VR-018. The fee is $40.
Can I junk a car without a title in Maryland?
Sometimes. A dismantler or scrap processor may accept an MVA Affidavit of Ownership instead of a title from the sole owner of record, with documents verifying ownership (COMAR 11.12.03.07; Transportation §15-507). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Maryland title, apply to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) with Application for Duplicate Certificate of Title, VR-018. The fee is $40.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Maryland?
In Maryland, the plates don't go to the buyer. Plates stay with the seller, not the car. MVA says return them to stop insurance and registration requirements and avoid fees.
How do I tell the Maryland DMV that I sold my car?
Maryland has no separate seller notice form. In Maryland, the plates don't go to the buyer. Plates stay with the seller, not the car. MVA says return them to stop insurance and registration requirements and avoid fees. 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 Maryland?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Maryland a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Maryland MVA: Selling a Vehicle
- Maryland MVA: Request a Duplicate Title
- Maryland MVA: Fees & Payment Options
- COMAR 11.12.03.07, acceptable forms of documentary evidence of ownership
- Maryland Transportation Article §15-507
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.