The short answer
In Texas you normally need the title to sell or junk a car. There are two ways around a missing title: get a replacement title (cheap and fast), or, for an old car that hasn't been registered in years, sell it to a licensed auto parts recycler under a rule that took effect January 1, 2026.
Option 1: get a certified copy of your title
- Use Form VTR-34, the Application for a Certified Copy of Title, from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).
- By mail: $2. Every owner on the title signs, you include a copy of each owner's photo ID, and you pay by check, cashier's check or money order to TxDMV, 1601 Southwest Parkway, Suite A, Wichita Falls, TX 76302.
- In person: $5.45 at a TxDMV Regional Service Center (appointments are encouraged). They take check, cash or money order; cards add a convenience fee.
- If a loan was ever recorded on the title, you need the lender's original release of lien, even if the loan is paid off. A fax or photocopy won't do.
- You can't get another certified copy within 30 days of the last one.
With the title in hand, you can sell to any buyer: a junkyard, a scrap buyer or a private person.
Option 2: the 13-year rule (new in 2026)
Since January 1, 2026, a licensed used auto parts recycler may buy a vehicle without a title only if all of these are true:
- The vehicle is at least 13 years old.
- It hasn't been registered for at least 7 years.
- It's being bought only for parts, dismantling or scrap.
The recycler then reports the purchase to TxDMV within 24 hours and checks it against stolen-vehicle and lien records. If the car still has a recent loan on record (six years old or less) without a release, the county mails a notice and the recycler has to wait before scrapping it. A car bought this way can never be titled or driven again.
So this route fits a long-dead car that's been sitting for years, not a recent one you just lost the paperwork for. If your car doesn't qualify, go back to Option 1.
After you sell: protect yourself
File a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV. If you file it within 30 days of the sale, you can't be held responsible for parking tickets or tolls the buyer runs up. You can file it online at TxDMV's website.
Watch out for
- Anyone offering to buy a newer car without a title. It's a red flag that the deal isn't being reported properly.
- "Bill of sale only" deals for cars that don't meet the 13-year rule. Texas's junk-vehicle bill of sale form is for dealers and recyclers, not a substitute for your title.
Common questions
Can you junk a car without a title in Texas?
Only in one case: a licensed used auto parts recycler can buy a vehicle that's at least 13 years old and hasn't been registered for at least 7 years, for parts or scrap. Otherwise, get a certified copy of the title first ($2 by mail, $5.45 in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center).
How much does a replacement title cost in Texas?
A certified copy of title is $2 by mail or $5.45 in person at a TxDMV Regional Service Center, using Form VTR-34.
Do I need a release of lien to junk my car?
If a lien is still recorded on the title, yes: you need the lender's original release of lien to get a certified copy. For no-title sales of older cars, a recent lien (six years old or less) without a release means the county sends a notice and the recycler must wait before scrapping it.
What should I do after I sell my junk car?
File a Vehicle Transfer Notification with TxDMV within 30 days of the sale so you aren't held responsible for the buyer's parking tickets or tolls.
Checked against official sources on October 28, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or business before you act.