Can you sell a car with missing parts?
Yes. A car with parts missing, such as wheels, the battery, the catalytic converter or the seats, can be sold as a junk car. The buyer tows it, so it doesn't need to run. List every missing part, say whether the car sits on its wheels, and have the title or a BMV certificate of authority ready.
The parts that usually go first
A car left parked for a while tends to lose the same things. Here's what each one changes for a sale:
| Missing | Tell us |
|---|---|
| Wheels or tires | Whether it's on blocks, on the ground or on flats |
| Battery | Nothing else; we tow it, it doesn't need to start |
| Catalytic converter | That it's gone, and if the exhaust was cut |
| Radio, seats, interior parts | A quick list is enough |
| Doors, hood, trunk lid | Which ones, and whether glass is loose |
| Engine or transmission parts | What was taken, if you know |
None of these stop a sale. They change the offer and how the car gets loaded, which is why we ask up front.
Don't replace parts to sell it
Putting new wheels or a new battery on a car you're about to sell as junk rarely pays you back. The buyer is valuing the car as it stands. Spend the money on the next car instead.
The one exception: if the car was fine before the theft and you want to keep driving it, price the repair first. For a missing converter, our fix-or-sell note covers what the job usually involves.
If the car was stolen, then stripped
Recovered stolen cars can come back missing parts. Before you sell, make sure the car is still yours: if your insurer already paid the theft claim, the car may belong to them. Our note on recovered stolen cars lists the Indiana steps.
Before pickup
- Take out anything personal the thieves left behind.
- Have the title ready. Missing? Indiana wants either the title or a BMV certificate of authority for a junk car, so tell us which papers you've got and we'll sort out the route on the call.
- Tell us where the car is and what it's standing on.
Keys gone as well? See selling a car with no keys. Dents and broken glass too? See body damage.