First, which situation are you in?
You lost the title
The car is in your name, you just can't find the paper. This is the easiest one to fix.
There's a loan on it
Your lender holds the title. We pay the lender directly and you get the rest.
It was never put in your name
You bought it but never transferred the title. Call us and we'll tell you what DOL will need.
The owner passed away
Selling for a family member takes different DOL paperwork. We'll point you to the right forms.
Option 1: Get a replacement title
If the car is in your name, you can replace a lost title with the Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest form from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). Every registered owner has to sign it in front of a notary.
- Standard: $39.50, and the title arrives in about 4 to 6 weeks.
- Quick Title: $89.50, same day at a Quick Title office.
- Print the form on plain white paper, then take it to a vehicle licensing office or mail it in.
A title in your name gets our full offer, so if you have a few weeks, this is usually worth it. (Fees are what DOL listed in October 2026. Check dol.wa.gov before you go.)
Option 2: Sign the release of interest to us
The same Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest form also has a release section, and DOL lists it as one way to sell when you can't find your title. In many cases you can sign that section to us when we buy the car, so you don't have to wait for a new title. We'll confirm on the phone whether this works for your car before we book the pickup.
Option 3: Sell it for parts
If none of that works, we may still be able to buy the car for parts. Without a title we can only pay parts value, which is usually under $200. If the car runs or is worth more than that, it's almost always worth getting the title sorted out first, and we'll tell you honestly which way makes sense.
If you still owe money on it
Your lender keeps the title until the loan is paid. Tell us who the lender is and roughly what you owe. If our offer is more than the payoff, we pay the lender and you get the difference. If you owe more than the car is worth, you'd need to cover the gap with the lender.
After the sale: protect yourself
- File a Report of Sale within 5 days. It costs $18 and you can do it online at dol.wa.gov. It protects you from tickets, tolls and towing charges after the car is gone.
- Take your license plates off. Washington requires the seller to remove them. You can move them to another vehicle or turn them in.
- Cancel your insurance only after the car has been picked up.
As a licensed Washington vehicle dealer, we can file the Report of Sale for you. Either way, check your DOL record afterward to make sure it went through.
Sources: Washington State Department of Licensing, Replace a lost title or registration and Sell a vehicle. This page is general information, not legal advice.