Paperwork - Frequently Asked Questions
Selling a car doesn’t have to be difficult.
We make the process quick and painless - less than 5 minutes!
Prepare for our arrival by finding your keys and paperwork. Here’s what we look for:
Car title, if you have it
Registration card
Lien sale forms, if applicable
Lien satisfied letter, if applicable
If you can’t find any of these, call us and we’ll work it out!
Are you a little lost trying to figure out the paperwork? We’ve got you covered.
FAQs
What does my title look like?
A California title, aka pink slip, is a little smaller than a regular piece of paper. It’s pink, with a blue border (see image below). Different states sometimes have different colored paper. We accept titles from other states (you must have the actual title for out of state vehicles).
Do I have a title?
If your car is paid off, you probably have a title. If you’re still making payments to a bank, they have the title. If you bought a car from an auction or tow yard, you probably got a lien sale form instead of a title (see image below).
What if I can’t find my title?
No problem. Look for your registration card (see image below). One type of registration card is the paper you got from DMV when you registered the car. The other is the smaller paper that DMV sends you every year with your new tag stickers attached. It’s what you keep in your glove box or visor and give to the police if you get pulled over!
What if there’s a lien holder listed on my paperwork?
Do you still owe money to a bank or lender? We can’t touch the car, as it still belongs to them. Is your car paid off? You should have gotten a notarized lien satisfied letter from your bank, releasing their interest in the car. If you haven’t gotten one, or you lost it, contact the lender listed on your paperwork and ask them for one. Call us for more advice.
What if my title says “salvaged?”
Doesn’t matter to us!
What if my registration tag stickers are expired?
Doesn’t matter to us!
What if I don’t have a current smog certificate?
Doesn’t matter to us!
What if my car doesn’t have insurance?
Doesn’t matter to us!
What do I have to fill out/send to DMV afterwards?
Nothing! We handle the necessary DMV paperwork when we buy your car. If you want to, you can send in a Release Of Liability (mail to DMV or online), but nothing will happen if you don’t.
My car is still in the impound! How do I sell it?
No problem! Call us and we’ll walk you through the process. Please don’t delay - tow yards charge daily fees for storage.
This is your California car title
It’s smaller than a regular sheet of paper, and is pink with a blue border. Different states sometimes have different colored titles. If you still owe money to a bank or lender, they probably have the title.
These are your registration cards
The larger registration card is the one you got at the DMV when you registered your car. The smaller one is the card DMV mails you every year with your new sticker tags. It’s probably in your glovebox or visor. Please note the areas circled in red. If there is a bank or lender name there, you cannot sell the car without proving you paid it off. Your bank should have sent you a notarized lien satisfied letter.
This is a lien sale form
If your bought your car from a tow yard or auction, you may have gotten a lien sale form instead of a title. We accept these.
We are available to answer any additional questions.
Call us today for a free quote or advice!
