Selling a car in Seattle
Washington sellers have five days to file a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing, and it can be filed online.
We pick up all over Seattle, from Ballard and Capitol Hill to Rainier Valley and West Seattle. Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.
Lots of miles, still worth money
Traffic-heavy commutes and long freeway runs mean many cars here pass 150,000 or even 200,000 miles. Private buyers get nervous at those numbers, but a high-mileage car still has value in its parts and its resale at auction.
Areas we cover around Seattle
We buy cars across King County and the wider Seattle area, including Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Everett, Tacoma and Shoreline. If your car is somewhere else in Washington, we buy it there too.
- Bellevue
- Renton
- Kent
- Everett
- Tacoma
- Shoreline
Local rules in Seattle
Title transfers and duplicate titles for Seattle residents are handled by the King County Vehicle and Vessel Licensing (Records and Licensing Services). Washington DOL says vehicle licensing offices handle title transfers. King County's office is at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 206, Seattle; county-contracted subagent offices also provide in-person licensing.
Keeping a junk car at home: Seattle (SDCI): junk, including inoperable vehicles, may not be stored outdoors on private property (SMC 23.84A.020 defines junk storage). Keep non-working vehicles in a garage or off site. Read the rule.
Paperwork for Washington sellers
- Notarized title signature: Not required
- License plates: Seller removes and keeps them
- Report the sale: Report of Sale, form TD-420-062, within 5 days, online
- Duplicate title: Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest; $39.50
- Junk without a title: Allowed in some cases (Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest (TD-420-040))
The full list of Washington rules is on our Washington page. For duplicate titles and release of liability forms, contact the Washington State Department of Licensing.
No obligation.
How it works in Seattle
Most Seattle 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 Seattle, 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 Seattle sellers
Do you buy cars in Ballard and Beacon Hill?
Yes. We buy cars in Ballard, Beacon Hill and every other neighborhood in Seattle, plus nearby areas like Bellevue and Renton. Pickup is free wherever the car is parked.
How fast can you pick up my car in Seattle?
Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours of accepting your offer, at a time you choose. The timing is the same in Bellevue and Renton.
Do you buy junk cars in Seattle?
Yes, from rusted-out project cars to vehicles that haven't started in years. We pay for junk cars across King County and haul them away at no cost.
What paperwork do I need to sell a car in Seattle, WA?
The title and a photo ID that matches it. Washington doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. In Washington, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller must remove plates; transfer them to the same type of vehicle you own or surrender them. File the Report of Sale, form TD-420-062, with the state within 5 days of the sale, and you can file it online. It records that the car is no longer yours. For a duplicate title, Seattle residents can go to the King County Vehicle and Vessel Licensing (Records and Licensing Services).
Can I sell a junk car without a title in Seattle?
Sometimes. Scrap processors and hulk haulers can accept the owner's affidavit of lost or stolen title and release of interest (DOL form TD-420-040, notarized or certified) instead of a title (WAC 308-65-130). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Washington title, apply to the Washington State Department of Licensing with Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest. The fee is $39.50.
Can I keep a junk car at my house in Seattle?
Seattle (SDCI): junk, including inoperable vehicles, may not be stored outdoors on private property (SMC 23.84A.020 defines junk storage). Keep non-working vehicles in a garage or off site. If you'd rather not deal with it, we tow junk cars from Seattle for free and pay you for them.
Do you charge for towing in Seattle?
Never. There's no hook-up fee, mileage charge or deduction for the tow, whether the car is in Seattle or out in Shoreline.
Sources
- King County Vehicle and Vessel Licensing (Records and Licensing Services): vehicle titles
- Seattle: rules on junk and inoperable vehicles
- WA DOL: Sell a vehicle
- WA DOL: Vehicle Report of Sale form (TD-420-062)
- WA DOL: Replace a lost title or registration
- WAC 308-65-130, scrap processor procedures for acquiring vehicles (Washington Legislature)
- WAC 308-65-080, hulk hauler procedures for acquiring vehicles (Washington Legislature)
- RCW 46.79.020 (Washington Legislature)
- Washington DOL, Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest
- WAC 308-56A-265 Releasing interest, Washington State Legislature
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.