Selling your junk car to Cash For A Junker takes three steps: get a free offer, schedule free pickup, and get paid on the spot when we tow the vehicle away. Offers usually come back within minutes, there is no obligation to accept, and nothing comes out of your payment for towing. This page walks through each step, what to have ready, what happens at pickup and what to do after the sale.
How it works
Sell your junk car in 3 simple steps
Most sellers are done with the whole thing in a single phone call and one short visit.
- 1
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition – by phone or with the form at the top of the page. You get a real cash offer, usually within minutes. No obligation.
- 2
Schedule free pickup
Pick a time that works. We tow from your driveway, street, parking lot or field at no cost. Same-day pickup is often available in the Twin Cities metro.
- 3
Get paid on the spot
Sign the title, hand over the keys and get paid before the car leaves. No hidden fees, and nothing comes out of your offer for towing.
Step 1: Get your free offer
You start by telling us about the vehicle, either by calling (763) 226-3586 or by requesting a quote online. We usually come back with an offer within minutes. It costs nothing and you are under no obligation to take it.
We ask a handful of questions so the offer reflects your actual vehicle, not a guess:
- Year, make and model
- Whether it runs, starts only with a jump, or doesn’t start at all
- Damage from a collision, rust, flooding, hail or fire
- Missing parts, such as the catalytic converter, engine, transmission or wheels
- Whether you have the Minnesota title in your name
- Where the vehicle is parked
Answer as accurately as you can. If the catalytic converter is gone or the engine is seized, say so up front. An accurate description is what keeps the offer the same when the tow truck shows up.
What affects the offer
The price depends on the vehicle’s weight and current scrap metal prices, its year, make and model, whether it runs, how much damage it has and which major parts are still on it. Pickup location plays a part too. Our guide to how much your junk car is worth explains each factor and how to get the most for it.
Step 2: Schedule free pickup
Once you accept the offer, we set up a pickup time that works for you. Towing is free. In the Twin Cities metro, same-day pickup is often available. In Greater Minnesota, pickup is usually within a day or two, depending on where the vehicle is.
The vehicle can be in a driveway, a garage, a back field or a parking lot. It doesn’t need to run, roll or have air in the tires. A car frozen in place after a January cold snap or sunk into soft ground after the spring thaw can still be towed. Tell us about it when you book so the driver brings the right equipment.
Do you need to be there?
Plan on being there, or having the person whose name is on the title there. Someone needs to sign the title, hand over the keys if there are any and receive the payment. If that’s hard to arrange, mention it when you book and we’ll talk through what can work for your situation.
What to have ready
A few minutes of preparation makes pickup quick. Before the driver arrives, take care of the following:
- The title. A Minnesota title is normally needed. Have it on hand, and wait to sign it until the driver is there so you can fill it out correctly together. If it’s lost, read our page on selling a car without a title and give us a call – some cases can still be worked out.
- A photo ID that matches the name on the title.
- The keys, if you have them. Missing keys don’t stop a sale.
- Your personal items. Check the glove box, center console, door pockets, under the seats, the trunk and the spare tire well.
- Toll and parking tags. Take out your toll transponder, parking permits and garage door opener.
- License plates. Ask us about your plates when you book so you know whether to leave them on or take them off.
Also make sure the driver can reach the vehicle. Move any car blocking it in, and in winter, clear enough snow that the tow truck can get close.
What happens at pickup
Pickup is straightforward and usually doesn’t take long. The driver confirms the vehicle, handles the paperwork with you, pays you and loads up.
- The driver looks the vehicle over to confirm it matches what you described.
- The driver checks that the VIN on the vehicle matches the title.
- You sign the title and fill in the seller section, including the odometer reading where required.
- You get paid on the spot.
- The driver loads the vehicle and hauls it away.
If something doesn’t match the description – for example, a car listed as complete turns out to be missing its engine – the driver will explain what’s different, and the offer may change. You can decline at that point. That’s why accurate details in Step 1 matter so much.
Step 3: Get paid
You are paid at pickup, before the vehicle leaves your property. You receive the offer you accepted. There are no hidden fees and no towing deductions, so the number we agree on over the phone is the number you get when the details match.
After the sale
Two tasks finish the job on your end. Both are quick, and both protect you.
- Report the sale to DVS. Minnesota asks sellers to report a sale to Driver and Vehicle Services within 10 days, and it can be done online. This records that you no longer own the vehicle. Our Minnesota title transfer guide covers the details.
- Cancel your insurance after the vehicle has been picked up. Don’t cancel before, because the vehicle is still yours until it leaves.
Where your car goes next
Every vehicle we buy goes to a licensed recycler. Oil, coolant, fuel and brake fluid are drained, and batteries, mercury switches, refrigerant and tires are removed and handled under Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) rules. Good parts are pulled for reuse, and the steel and other metals are recycled into new products. Industry groups estimate roughly 80% of a vehicle by weight can be recycled. Read more on our scrap car recycling page.
Where we pick up
We buy junk cars across Minnesota, from Minneapolis and St. Paul to Rochester and beyond. Check our service areas for the full list, browse the vehicles we buy, or call (763) 226-3586 to start with Step 1.
Minnesota seller checklist
- Sign the title overSign as the seller and fill in the odometer reading where the title asks for it.
- Report the sale to DVSMinnesota asks sellers to report the sale within 10 days. You can do it online.
- Ask us about your platesTell us if you have personalized or special plates you want to keep.
- Clear out personal itemsCheck the glove box, trunk and under the seats, and remove any toll or parking tags.
- Cancel your insuranceCall your insurer once the car has been picked up, not before.
Official forms and rules: Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services. Title questions? Read our title guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to sell my junk car?
Most sales move quickly, from a free offer within minutes to pickup soon after. In the Twin Cities metro, same-day pickup is often available. In Greater Minnesota, pickup is usually within a day or two depending on location. The pickup itself is short: the driver checks the vehicle, you sign the title, you get paid and the car is loaded up.
Does towing cost anything?
No, towing is free and nothing is deducted from your payment for it. The offer you accept is the amount you receive at pickup, as long as the vehicle matches the description you gave. There are no hidden fees, whether the car is in your driveway, a garage, a back field or a parking lot.
Can you pick up a car that doesn’t run?
Yes, we pick up vehicles that don’t run, don’t roll or have flat tires. Non-running cars are a large share of what we buy. Let us know when you book if the car is stuck in snow, frozen to the ground, parked in a tight garage or missing wheels, so the driver brings the right equipment for the job.
What if the offer changes at pickup?
The offer only changes if the vehicle doesn’t match the description you gave, such as a missing catalytic converter or engine that wasn’t mentioned. The driver will explain what’s different before anything else happens, and you can decline if you don’t want to go ahead. Describing the vehicle accurately at the start is the best way to keep the offer the same.
When should I cancel my insurance?
Cancel your insurance after the vehicle has been picked up, not before. Until the tow truck leaves, the vehicle is still yours and still sitting on your property or the street. Once it’s gone, report the sale to DVS, which Minnesota asks sellers to do within 10 days, and then call your insurer to end the policy on that vehicle.
Ready to turn your junker into cash?
Get a free offer in minutes. Free towing, paid on the spot. Open 7 days, 7 AM – 9 PM.