Minnesota Title Transfer for a Junk Car

To transfer a Minnesota title when you sell a junk car, sign the title and complete the seller section with the date of sale, buyer information and odometer reading where required, hand it to the buyer, then report the sale to Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) within 10 days. Lost titles, liens and deceased owners each add a step, but all can usually be sorted out. This guide explains the process in plain terms. For official forms and the latest requirements, always check with Minnesota DVS.

Key takeaways

• A Minnesota title is normally needed to sell a junk car.
• Every owner listed on the title may need to sign. Don’t cross out or correct anything.
• Record the odometer reading where required.
• Report the sale to DVS within 10 days. It can be done online.
• Lost titles can be replaced with a duplicate from DVS, and paid-off loans usually need a lien release.
• Ask us about your plates, and cancel insurance only after pickup.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DVS is the official source for Minnesota title rules and forms.

Why the title matters

The title is the legal record of who owns the vehicle. When you sell, signing it over transfers ownership to the buyer, and reporting the sale tells the state you’re no longer the owner. Getting this right protects you from responsibility for a vehicle you no longer have.

That’s why a Minnesota title is normally needed. If the title is lost or there’s a complication, call us before assuming you can’t sell. Some cases can still be worked out. Our page on selling a car without a title explains more.

Signing the title

Sign the title at the time of sale, with the buyer present. A title signed ahead of time and then lost can cause real problems.

Who signs

Every person listed as an owner may need to sign. As a general rule, when two owners’ names are joined by “and,” both sign, and when they’re joined by “or,” either owner may be able to sign alone. If you aren’t sure how your title reads, check with DVS before the sale.

What to fill in

The seller section of a Minnesota title typically asks for:

• Your signature and printed name, exactly as they appear on the title
• The date of sale
• The buyer’s name and address
• The odometer reading, where required

Don’t leave the buyer section blank. Fill it in with the buyer at the time of sale.

Avoid mistakes

Use a pen, write clearly and don’t use correction fluid or cross anything out. Alterations can make a title harder to process. If you make an error, stop and contact DVS about how to fix it rather than writing over it. Take a photo of the completed title for your records before you hand it over.

Odometer disclosure

Federal law requires sellers to disclose the odometer reading when ownership transfers for many vehicles. Under current federal rules, disclosure generally applies to model year 2011 and newer vehicles, while older model years are generally exempt. If your title has an odometer section and you’re unsure whether it applies, fill it in or ask DVS.

How to record it

• Write the mileage shown on the odometer, without tenths of a mile.
• Indicate whether the reading is the actual mileage, exceeds the odometer’s mechanical limits or is not the actual mileage, if the title asks.
• Be accurate. Misstating mileage on a title is a serious matter, even on a junk car.

If the car won’t power on and the odometer is digital, you may not be able to read it. Tell us before pickup, and check with DVS on how to handle the disclosure.

Reporting the sale to DVS

Minnesota asks sellers to report a sale to DVS within 10 days, and it can be done online. This step records that you’ve sold the vehicle and is separate from signing the title.

When you report the sale, you’ll typically need:

• The vehicle’s plate number or VIN
• The date of sale
• The buyer’s name and address

Save the confirmation or a screenshot. If a question ever comes up about the vehicle after the sale date, your record shows when it left your ownership.

Lost titles and duplicates

If your title is lost, stolen or damaged, you can apply to DVS for a duplicate. The titled owner generally applies, and a fee applies. DVS lists the current form, fee and ways to apply, including at a deputy registrar office.

A few tips:

• Start early. A duplicate takes time to arrive by mail.
• Check for liens first. If a lien is still recorded, it may need to be released before or as part of getting a new title.
• Make sure your address is current with DVS so the duplicate goes to the right place.

If waiting on a duplicate doesn’t fit your timeline, call us. Some situations can still be worked out, and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.

Liens

If your title lists a lienholder, such as a bank or credit union that financed the car, the lien generally needs to be released before ownership can transfer.

• If the loan is paid off, ask the lender for a lien release. Depending on the lender, the release may be signed on the title itself or provided as a separate document.
• If you still owe money, contact the lender about the payoff amount and how they handle a sale.
• If the lender has closed or merged, contact DVS about how to clear the lien.

Keep the lien release with the title so both are ready at pickup.

Selling a vehicle when the owner has died

When the titled owner has died, who can sign depends on how the estate is being handled. DVS describes different paths depending on factors such as whether a probate case is open, whether there’s a surviving spouse and the size of the estate.

• If an estate is in probate, the court-appointed personal representative typically signs for the estate and provides documents showing their authority.
• If there’s no probate, Minnesota has affidavit-based options for some heirs and smaller estates.
• If a co-owner survives, the process can be simpler depending on how the title is worded.

Because the details vary, check DVS guidance for your situation, and talk to an attorney if the estate is complicated. Once you know which documents apply, we can complete the sale. Our vehicles we buy page covers inherited cars too.

License plates

Ask us about your license plates when you schedule pickup. What happens to plates depends on the situation and the type of plates you have.

If you have personalized or special plates you’d like to keep, mention it when you call, and check with DVS on transferring them to another vehicle. Either way, sort it out before the tow truck leaves.

Insurance

Cancel your insurance after the vehicle has been picked up, not before. Until the tow truck leaves, the vehicle is still yours. Once it’s gone and you’ve reported the sale, contact your insurer to end coverage on that vehicle.

While you’re at it, remove the vehicle from any accounts linked to it, such as a toll transponder account.

Title transfer checklist

1. Find the title and confirm the names, VIN and any lienholder.
2. Get a lien release if a paid-off loan is still listed.
3. Order a duplicate from DVS if the title is lost.
4. At pickup, sign the title and complete the seller section, including the odometer reading where required.
5. Photograph the completed title.
6. Ask us about your plates.
7. Report the sale to DVS within 10 days.
8. Cancel insurance after pickup.

Where your car goes

Once the title is signed over, the vehicle goes to a licensed recycler. Fluids, batteries, mercury switches, refrigerant and tires are removed and handled under Minnesota Pollution Control Agency rules, and the metal is recycled into new products. Industry groups estimate roughly 80% of a vehicle by weight can be recycled.

Questions about your title?

Call (763) 226-3586 and describe your situation. We buy across Minnesota, including St. Paul, Woodbury and Rochester. For the full process, read our guide on how to sell a junk car in Minnesota or visit the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the Cash For A Junker team · Last updated November 9, 2026