Can you sell a car without keys?
Yes. A car with no keys can still be sold as a junk car, because the buyer tows it instead of driving it. Tell the buyer the keys are missing, whether the steering wheel is locked and whether the car rolls. In Indiana you'll also need the title or a BMV certificate of authority.
That's the whole answer for most people. The rest of this page covers the details that come up.
Why the keys are missing matters a little
We don't need a story, but these three situations each change one thing:
- Keys lost. Nothing else to do; tell us and send the form.
- Keys broken off in the ignition. Mention it. The car may be stuck in park, which matters for loading.
- Keys stolen, or the car was stolen and came back without them. Check with your insurer before you sell (see what to do when a stolen car is recovered, for when the keys went with the thief).
What changes at pickup without keys
Without a key, many cars stay locked in park and the steering wheel may be locked too. That doesn't stop the sale. It changes how the car goes onto the truck, which is why we ask about it before anyone drives out.
Tell us:
- Whether the steering wheel turns.
- Whether the car is in park, neutral or gear, if you know.
- Whether all four wheels roll.
- Where it's parked: street, driveway, alley or lot, and on what surface.
Proving it's yours without the keys
Keys don't prove ownership; papers do. No title? We can still help. In Indiana a junk car changes hands on one of two papers. One is the title, and the BMV prints a duplicate for $15 if yours is gone. The other is a BMV certificate of authority for $4, which you apply for with proof the car is yours, your current registration for example. On a car under 15 model years old, the law requires one of the two. Send the form with whatever you do have, a bill of sale, the registration or an insurance card, and on the call we'll say which route suits your car.
Should you replace the keys first?
Usually not, if the car is going for junk. A replacement key for a newer car can mean a locksmith or a dealer visit, and that money doesn't come back to you when the car is sold as scrap. If the car is otherwise fine and you plan to keep driving it, that's a different decision. Price the key before you decide.
If the car also has damage from a break-in, the body damage page covers what to tell us. If parts were taken, see stripped cars.