Cash for Junk Cars in Las Vegas, NV: $100-$5,000+

What do I need to sell my junk car in Las Vegas?

To sell junk cars in Las Vegas one must be able to prove ownership of the vehicle.  One can prove ownership of a vehicle by providing the valid vehicle title in their name. If the vehicle title is missing the vehicle registration and bill of sale is required to sell junk cars in Las Vegas.

A title is required to sell a vehicle in Nevada. Titles, nonrepairable certificates, and salvage certificates from other states are acceptable to sell junk cars in Las Vegas. An Application for Duplicate Title and a Bill of Sale can take the place of a Nevada title when the original title has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed and there is no lien on record. One can prove ownership of a vehicle model year 2010 or older with a registration and sell a junk car in Las Vegas with a bill of sale as long as the vehicle was last titled in Nevada and the junk car only has value as salvage and scrap metal.

How does Las Vegas define a junk vehicle?

Las Vegas refers to junk vehicles as inoperable vehicles, but they are not defined on the local code enforcement site. The Clark County definition of inoperable vehicles applies to Las Vegas. Clark County defines inoperable vehicles as not being equipped with all parts required to legally operate on public streets or one that cannot be driven under its own power.

Junk vehicle definition for code enforcement of Las Vegas is defined as nonrepairable vehicle, which is described as having value only as a source of parts or metal, has been designated as nonrepairable by its owner for dismantling, has been stripped of all but frame, or has been burned, destroyed, or totaled.

Nevada defines junk vehicle in the state code NRS 487.260 as it applies to junk vehicles for which auto wreckers can apply for a junk certificate to recycle the scrap car. A junk vehicle in this case is a vehicle that has been discarded, abandoned, ruined, wrecked, dismantled, rendered inoperative, is unfit for further use, is not registered, or has value only as scrap less than $200.

In general, junk cars are defined as vehicles that are no longer suitable for use as they were intended. Most junk cars are at least 15 years old unless they have been wrecked or otherwise damaged. Most vehicles do not fail until they have been driven at least 165,000 miles with proper maintenance.

Junk cars are also called decrepit cars, scrap cars, junkers, jalopies, old cars, clunkers, damaged cars, wrecked cars, totaled cars, and parts cars. The general junk vehicle definition is one that will cost more to repair than the vehicle is worth. End of life vehicles are those that should be recycled rather than repairing due to the age of the vehicle.

What are the laws around junking a car in Las Vegas?

Junk car laws in Las Vegas can be split into two categories. The first category is laws about junking a car with an auto recycler or junk car buyer. The second category is laws about having junk vehicles on private property.

The junk car selling laws for junking a car in Las Vegas are set by the Nevada state codes as outlined below.

• NRS 487.050 Junk car facilities in Las Vegas must be licensed. It is illegal for any entity or individual to dismantle, scrap, process, or wreck a vehicle without a license. This does not apply to parts cars being used by the owner for repair or restoration of another vehicle they own.
• NRS 487.100 Junk car buyers must transmit ownership documents to DMV. Junk car buyers must transmit documentation proving ownership along with a bill of sale for every vehicle they purchase from individuals. A junk car buyer accepting a vehicle without appropriate ownership documentation is operating illegally.
• NRS 487.410 Junk car buyers must be licensed. Nevada calls junk car buyers salvage pools. Salvage pools cannot operate in Las Vegas without a license from the DMV. The DMV website also states that an individual can only sell 3 vehicles per year without a dealer license.
• NRS 487.105 Procedure to process vehicle for parts or scrap in possession of an auto wrecker. Abandoned vehicles and junk cars abated by the city can be processed by the junkyard, salvage yard, auto wrecker, or auto recycler if unclaimed. To recycle a junk vehicle in this situation the auto wrecker must submit vehicle information to the DMV and wait 5 days for notification whether or not it can be processed. These vehicles must be processed for parts or scrap only and cannot be rebuilt for sale as a used vehicle, nor can it be sold as a parts car.

The most important junk car recycling laws in Nevada are those relating to selling a junk car without a title. The responsibility for ensuring a legal sale falls on the junk car buyer and any violations are dealt with by administrative order through the DMV. Junk car buyers purchasing vehicles without appropriate ownership documents are subject to penalties of fines and potential jail time.

The laws about having junk vehicles on private property are also set by the state of Nevada even though it is up to the counties and cities of Nevada to enforce them. Here is the law about storing junk cars in Las Vegas.

NRS 487.290 Possession of unregistered vehicles unfit for use more than 60 days is a public nuisance. Individuals can own no more than 2 unregistered vehicles stored on private property that are no longer for normal use. This includes parts cars, cars being repaired or restored, and other inoperable vehicles. Vehicles with a classic or historical significance are excluded from this rule.

What is the penalty for breaking the junk car public nuisance law in Las Vegas?

Nevada state code NRS 487.290 defines junk vehicles as a public nuisance. It is up to the city of Las Vegas code enforcement to enforce the junk car possession laws. The penalties for a public nuisance violation are outlined in NRS 202.470.

A public nuisance charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in the Clark County jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. This law also allows for court abatement, or city removal, of junk cars and an additional civil penalty of at least $500 to be levied against the junk car or property owner for costs and fees for removal services provided by the city. Failing to pay the civil penalty and fines can result in a lien on real property that must be satisfied before changing ownership.

Can I get cash for junk cars with no title in Las Vegas?

No, you cannot get cash for junk cars with no title in Las Vegas. The junk car must be titled in the seller’s name for the vehicle to be sold to an individual, dealer, or junk car buyer. A vehicle that has been titled but the title is lost, missing, damaged, or destroyed can be sold with a Duplicate Title Application in place of a title if the vehicle is older than 2010. A registration can be used in place of the title if the vehicle was last titled in Nevada by the junk car seller and the vehicle only has value as salvage or scrap.

In short, it is not possible to sell junk car without title in Las Vegas.

Vehicle Titles	Percent	Value
Junked Car With Title in Las Vegas	72%	$633.48
Junked Car With Rebuilt Title in Las Vegas	8.14%	$522.31
Junked Car With No Title in Las Vegas	20.25%	$272.11

Read more about junking a car with no title.

How to get a replacement title in Las Vegas?

To get a replacement title in Las Vegas the vehicle owner must complete an Application for Duplicate Title, have it notarized by a Nevada DMV employee, and be submitted to the DMV. The application must be submitted by the vehicle’s owner on record with the state of Nevada. All titles are mailed after being processed. Expedited service is available for an additional fee.

A vehicle that is older than 2010 model year and has previously been titled and registered in Nevada can be sold with a Duplicate of Title and Bill of Sale without waiting for the title to be mailed. However, a Bill of Sale designating the new owner as the recipient of the new title must also be provided to the junk car buyer.

Is it a requirement to notify the DMV when you junk a car in Las Vegas?

Yes, the Department of Motor Vehicles in Nevada must be notified when you sell, junk, donate, or trade a junk car in Las Vegas because it is required to notify the DMV any time a vehicle is sold in Nevada. Every owner of a vehicle in Nevada is responsible for notifying the DMV of the sale, cancelling their registration, and surrendering their license plates.

Can I store junk cars on my property in Las Vegas?

Yes, you can store junk cars on your property in Las Vegas. Where and how vehicles can be parked or stored in Las Vegas depends on the type of junk vehicle.

Junk cars that have been wrecked, partially wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, totaled, or otherwise destroyed must be stored in a completely enclosed building out of public view, such as a garage. All other junk vehicles can be stored on an improved surface such as concrete, asphalt, or pavers. Junk cars can also be parked in a side or back yard that is surrounded with a permanent 6 foot privacy fence.

Nevada allows citizens to store two unregistered vehicles on private property at one time, not including collectible cars or vehicles of historical significance. Las Vegas limits residents from storing more than one junk car that has been wrecked or dismantled in whole or in part, and no such junk vehicle can be stored more than 60 days. This does not include parts cars used for repair or restoration of another vehicle.

Can I sell my car for parts in Las Vegas?

No, you cannot sell your car for parts in Las Vegas. Nevada state code NRS 487.050 makes it clear that it is illegal to dismantle a vehicle in whole or in part without appropriate licensing through the Nevada DMV. You can own and store a parts car to dismantle for use in the repair or restoration of another vehicle you own. Storing a parts car or dismantling it for sale to individuals is not allowed by law. However, you can sell a car for parts in its entirety to an individual to use for parts in their own projects. Here's everything you need to know to sell a car for parts.

Is it possible to junk a car with a lien in Las Vegas?

No, it is not possible to junk a car with a lien in Las Vegas. A vehicle with a lien is not the sole property of the vehicle owner. The lien holder or financial institution that loaned the money to purchase the vehicle has an ownership interest in the car. The lien holder must release that ownership interest for you to have full ownership of the vehicle. This is done with a lien release once the loan has been paid off. You must pay off the remaining balance and file the lien release before you can sell a junk car for cash in Las Vegas, even if it has no value as anything but scrap and salvage.