What is an Unregistered Car?

This guide explains what an unregistered car is, all the synonyms of an unregistered car, and takes an in-depth look at what is an unregistered car, its prices, removal, buyers, laws, and more.

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What is The Definition of an Unregistered Car?

The definition of an unregistered car is one that does not have license plates issued by the state in which the owner resides. Unregistered cars can be of any year, make, or model, and can be in any condition. Brand new cars or used cars newly purchased may be unregistered if the purchaser was not prepared for all of the costs, expenses, and fees associated with licensing a vehicle in their state. However, most unregistered cars are junk cars that cannot pass the necessary inspections to be registered in that state.

Synonyms of Unregistered Cars

There could be other names for unregistered cars depending on the condition and the type of junk car. In this way other names for unregistered cars could include inoperable car, unwanted car, lemon car, decrepit car, derelict car, old car, clunker, or scrap car. Depending on condition other names for unregistered cars could include damaged cars, salvage cars, beater cars, rusted cars, incomplete cars, totaled cars, wrecked cars, or end-of-life vehicles.

An In-Depth Look at Unregistered Cars

An unregistered car is a junk car that cannot be registered with the state to be driven on public roadways. Unregistered cars are common on large private properties because registration is only required to drive on public roads and highways, and no state can require registration of a vehicle only used to traverse private property. However, the open storage of unregistered cars is prohibited by many municipalities across the nation.

Unregistered cars can be of any year and in any condition. Many unregistered cars are destined for salvage yards and scrap metal recycling because it costs more to repair them to the point of passing the necessary inspections to become registered vehicles. The automotive recycling industry that processes these unregistered cars is worth $67 billion as of 2023 per IBIS, a global market research firm.

Why do cars become Unregistered Cars?

There are 3 main reasons for unregistered cars and expired license plates.

The unregistered car cannot pass a safety or emissions inspection. When a vehicle cannot pass the inspections required for legal vehicle registration and the cost of those repairs is more than the car is worth, these unregistered cars end up being salvaged for their reusable in-demand parts and recycled.
The car is not required to be registered. Some states do not require old cars such as vintage cars, antique cars, or classic cars to be registered. In addition, vehicles listed as parts cars or with an inoperative, salvage, or junk title status are not required to be registered in most states.
The unregistered car is recent to the state. Moving from one state to another is very expensive, and one of the expenses people forget to account for is transferring the registration on their vehicle. Most states have a 30 to 60 day grace period for vehicle owners new to the state to register their cars. Some states have strict emissions inspections while others do not, which can also lead to vehicles from another state not having registration and needing to be recycled when repairs are too costly.
The new car owner was not aware of the costs associated with licensing a vehicle. There are many costs associated with registering a vehicle with your state’s DMV, although these do vary by state. The most common costs associated with registering a vehicle in the US are property taxes, inspections, sales taxes, licensing fees, license plates, title fees, administrative or service fees, and car insurance.

There was a significant spike in unregistered cars in the US in 2020 and 2021 due to relaxed enforcement of expired or missing license plates during the pandemic. Most communities and states are now cracking down on unregistered vehicles, which means that owners of these unregistered cars must get them into compliance or have them removed and recycled as quickly as possible.

What are some common characteristics of Unregistered Cars?

There are 7 common characteristics of unregistered cars, most of which have to do with the fact that the vehicle is not being regularly driven. These are:

Old thick motor oil that may also have caused engine damage
At least minor visible damage, and possibly some small areas of surface rust
Partially deflated for flat tires from sitting still in fluctuating climates
Corroded battery or spark plugs
Worn serpentine belts
Structural or body damage that is deemed unsafe even though the vehicle is drivable
At least minor mechanical issues, often these are more expensive than the car is worth

Many unregistered cars have been tagged by the city or a traffic warning given that require action to be taken immediately. For this reason many unregistered cars are sold to junk car buyers and auto salvage yards that process them as scrap cars when they cannot possibly meet registration requirements.

Are unregistered cars junk cars?

Unregistered cars are junk cars according to most municipalities removing junk cars from residential property. Unregistered cars could be in running condition and still be called junk cars in municipalities where the very act of being unregistered and in public view is against the law. Unregistered cars are given citations by local code enforcement officers the same as other junk cars in most jurisdictions.

What is an Unregistered Car worth?

How much an unregistered car is worth depends on the year, make, model, condition, and whether or not the title is available for transfer. When the vehicle has used parts that are in demand the unregistered car will be worth more than if it only has value as scrap metal recycling.

What are the price ranges for unregistered cars?

The price ranges for unregistered cars is difficult to pinpoint because these vehicles come in such a variety of years, makes, models, and conditions. The biggest factor that affects the value of unregistered cars is whether or not you have the title. Unregistered cars being sold to a junk car buyer bring an average of $132 less than a vehicle with a title and of the same model and condition.

What are the most valuable car parts of unregistered cars?

Many unregistered cars have most of their valuable parts intact. The most valuable car parts on any vehicle are the engine, transmission, catalytic converter, and drive train. About 23% of the steel of a vehicle is in the drive train that includes the engine and transmission. The transmission is a valuable source of aluminum and is itself a valuable car part due to the expense of new transmissions and the frequency with which they need to be replaced. The catalytic converter contains small but valuable amounts of precious metals including rhodium, palladium, and platinum, but the sale of these individually is now banned in most states due to theft.

What to do with an Unregistered Car?

There are few things you can do with an unregistered car depending on the vehicle and the reason it is unregistered.

Register the vehicle. When the vehicle can be registered it should be done as soon as possible. If funds are stopping you from registering the vehicle, you may need to find a loan whether from bank or family. Selling an unregistered car that has a lien is illegal, so new cars and late model used cars with auto loans that are unregistered must be repaired and licensed.
Donate the unregistered car to a charity. You can donate cars to some charities, but many of them have rules about what unregistered cars they will accept. This is because they do not want the hassle involved in accepting or buying unregistered cars in the state. If you want to donate an unregistered car to a charity and there are complications with the registration or title you should sell the car and donate the cash instead to save the charity the headache.
Sell the unregistered car to a junkyard or salvage yard. If a vehicle has one safety item preventing it from being registered but that one repair will cost more than the vehicle is worth selling it to a junkyard or salvage yard is a good option. This is especially true if the unregistered car is of a later model that will have in-demand used car parts.
Sell the unregistered car to a junk car buyer. Junk car buyers are familiar with how to buy unregistered cars of varying conditions and title statuses. Junk car buyers are the best way to get rid of unregistered cars, especially when they are missing a title. Only the best junk car buyers know what is required and whether or not the unregistered vehicle can be sold in its current status.
Sell the unregistered vehicle to an individual. If the vehicle could be repaired and pass an inspection and you do not want the hassle you could sell the unregistered vehicle to an individual. However, keep in mind that the requirements to sell an unregistered car to an individual may be different than when selling to a junk car buyer depending on your state. Check with your local DMV to determine what these requirements may be if you are interested in selling the unregistered car privately.

It is most important to understand that unregistered cars with a lien cannot be transferred, sold, or donated in any way. When you owe money on the vehicle you share ownership with the lending institution that gave you the money to buy the car. This means that ownership cannot be transferred without a lien release, which comes from the bank and releases their interest in the vehicle.

Can I sell an unregistered car without a title?

You may be able to sell an unregistered car without a title in your state as long as the vehicle was previously titled in your name, or the vehicle ownership was transferred to you via a Bill of Sale. Some unregistered cars cannot be titled due to their condition as a parts car or historical vehicle depending on the state. An unregistered car with a lien cannot be sold without a clear title unless the state allows a duplicate title application or title transfer form to be submitted with a lien release instead. All states require a vehicle to be titled in the owner’s name before they can sell it, if the vehicle qualifies for a title.

Who buys unregistered cars?

Below are a few places that buy unregistered cars.

Junkyards, salvage yards, and auto dismantlers. These junk car facilities salvage reusable parts from unregistered cars then send them on for recycling when they are of no further use as salvage. Junkyards and salvage yards often buy unregistered cars as long as one can prove ownership and the vehicle was previously titled or registered in the owner’s name. Junkyards and auto salvage yards are pickier about what unregistered cars they receive.
Junk car buyers. Junk car buyers will purchase any unregistered car that can legally have ownership transferred. Unregistered cars that require additional paperwork or effort to process are commonly accepted by junk car buyers. However, the amount of money you get for unregistered vehicles in these cases is typically much less than the normal market value due to the costs involved in transferring ownership to dispose of the unregistered car.
Private buyers. It is possible to sell an unregistered car to a private buyer if the vehicle has previously been titled in the seller’s name. However, additional paperwork and regulations may apply, and finding the right private buyer can be difficult and time consuming. Check with your local DMV for requirements to sell unregistered cars to private buyers.

There are many junk car buyers that will purchase unregistered cars regardless of their title status and whether or not there is a lien or other encumberance keeping the vehicle from being registered. These junk car buyers should be avoided because the sale would be illegal and the vehicle seller can also face consequences in most states. It is important to research junk car buyers and compare prices to ensure that you are working with a reputable company.

Junk Car Medics stands out from other junk car buyers by accepting unregistered cars and assisting with the paperwork to sell unregistered cars without a title in all states that allow it. Junk Car Medics also makes local junkyards and salvage yards compete for the vehicle so that we can give the most cash for unregistered cars even without a title.