Can I sell a junk car in Indiana with a title from another state?
Often yes. A title issued by another state is still a certificate of title, and Indiana law asks the seller to give the recycler a title or a BMV certificate of authority. The name on the title must be yours or properly signed over. Tell us the state and the name when you call.
By Gary Cash For Junk Cars Inc, published November 15, 2026, updated November 15, 2026.
Why this comes up near Gary
The Illinois line is a few miles from Hammond, and plenty of cars arrive in Lake County from Illinois, Michigan or elsewhere. A car bought across the line often arrives with a title from that state.
What we look at
The state that issued the title, the name on it, the signatures on the back, and whether there is a lien. If the title lists a lender, the lender must release it. If the name is not yours, the person named must sign it over.
When to call the agency first
If the title is missing, only the issuing state can replace it. If the car has been registered in Indiana since you bought it, a newer Indiana title should exist. Check the BMV if you are unsure.
What to send us
State, model year and the name printed on the title. Then get your offer. If you have no title at all, see the Indiana no-title guide.
Sources
Questions people ask
- My Illinois title has not been signed over to me. Problem?
- Yes. A title that names someone else needs their signature or a release before it helps you.
- Is a title from another state valid for a car now registered in Indiana?
- The car's most recent title is the one that counts. If you registered it in Indiana, the BMV will have issued an Indiana title.
- What if the other state's title is lost?
- Ask that state's motor vehicle agency for a duplicate. Indiana cannot issue it.
Related guides
- Selling a junk car in Indiana with no titleThe certificate of authority, the 15-year rule and the cases that cannot be sold.
- What an Indiana certificate of authority isThe BMV paper that stands in for a title on old junk cars.
- Selling a car with a salvage or rebuilt titleA branded title is still a title, and it does not stop a junk sale.