Selling a car in Pennsylvania: the paperwork
| Pennsylvania seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Required |
| License plates | Seller removes them; turn in or transfer |
| Report the sale | No separate seller notice form |
| Duplicate title | MV-38O; $72 |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services. 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 Pennsylvania
We buy cars in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading and Scranton, and in every other town in Pennsylvania 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.
How it works in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Pennsylvania too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Pennsylvania car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Pennsylvania?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Pennsylvania title, apply to the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services with MV-38O. The fee is $72.
Can I junk a car without a title in Pennsylvania?
Sometimes. An owner whose title is faulty, lost or destroyed can transfer a salvage vehicle kept on their own property to a scrap metal processor, and must verify the salvage report (75 Pa.C.S. 1163). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Pennsylvania title, apply to the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services with MV-38O. The fee is $72.
Does the title need to be notarized in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires the seller's signature on the title to be notarized, so plan a stop at a bank, shipping store or mobile notary before pickup. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the plates don't go to the buyer. Remove the plate after the title transfer and return it to PennDOT unless you transfer it to another vehicle.
How do I tell the Pennsylvania DMV that I sold my car?
Pennsylvania has no separate seller notice form. In Pennsylvania, the plates don't go to the buyer. Remove the plate after the title transfer and return it to PennDOT unless you transfer it to another vehicle. 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Pennsylvania a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- PennDOT: Buying or Selling a Vehicle
- PennDOT: Duplicate Motor Vehicle Products FAQs
- PennDOT: MV-70S Schedule of Fees (4-26)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 1163, Transfer to scrap metal processor (PA General Assembly)
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services Bulletin 16-19, Act 91 transfer to scrap metal processor
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.