The bottom line: Online car buyers quote and pick up a car without its keys, because they never need to start it. Private buyers expect a test drive before committing, so no keys ends most private sale conversations fast.
CashForCars, Peddle, and Wheelzy all accepted the five cars we entered with no keys. Some ask about keys in their form, and others flagged it but still completed the quote online. One routed certain vehicles to a phone call instead.
To try a private sale, eBay Motors and Facebook Marketplace let you list the car yourself.
The amounts varied more than you’d expect across the same five cars, so getting 2 to 3 quotes is worth the 5 minutes it takes.
What would buyers pay for your car without its keys?Fill in one form, answering “No” to working keys, and see which buyers make an offer for the car as it is.
Key Takeaways
- Who buys it: CashForCars and Peddle priced all five of our keyless cars online and Wheelzy two, so on a car like the 350Z, ask Wheelzy for its phone quote as well.
- What buyers offered: Buyers offered $340 to $1,533 for our five keyless cars, 2007 to 2010 and all past 100,000 miles, the most for a 350Z and a 328i, so place an everyday sedan lower.
- Who offered most: Wheelzy or CashForCars made the top offer on all five keyless cars, by up to $122 over Peddle on four and $388 on the 350Z, so quote both before you accept Peddle’s.
- Watch out for: Answer each form as a car that won’t start, as Peddle asks when the key is lost, since an offer priced for a running car drops at pickup.
- The mileage: Without a key the dashboard can’t show the mileage, and Peddle’s sellers report offers cut when the driver couldn’t read it, so expect the mileage question at pickup and bring a dated service record that shows it.
- Selling it yourself: A desirable keyless car like the 350Z may draw an eBay Motors bid above the instant offers, though you arrange transport with the buyer, so list one like that, and any other keyless car goes to an instant buyer that tows it.
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Buys any car in any condition, running or not
- Free towing, with no fees taken off the offer
- You can cancel before pickup at no cost
- Pays by check on the spot at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Buys damaged cars, even ones that can't be driven
- The engine and transmission must still be in
- Free towing, included with every offer
- Picks up within 48 hours, sometimes the same day
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
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Quote speed 20% 5/5
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Pickup speed 20% 4/5
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Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
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Process ease 15% 2/5
- Owned by Copart, the salvage auction company
- Buys almost any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Free towing, and it handles the title transfer
- Hands you a check at pickup, or mails it
Automated assistant: general info, not legal advice
Answers come from our state paperwork data and published guides. Confirm anything binding with your state DMV.
Compare Instant Offers
Best Places to Sell a Car with Lost Keys
Best For Instant Quote Every Time: CashForCars
CashForCars is owned by Copart and buys cars in any condition
- Free towing from nearly 200 locations
- Buys any vehicle with a motor, running or not
- Backed by Copart auction yards
- Pays a check right at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 4.5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 2/5
Our take on CashForCars: CashForCars is owned by Copart, one of the biggest vehicle auction companies in the world. They have about 200 locations across the country and buy cars in any condition. Their quote form includes a “Keys Available?” question, so they already price in the missing keys when they generate your offer.
Pros
- The quote form asks directly if keys are available, so you don’t have to explain the situation separately
- Gave instant online quotes on all 5 test vehicles without needing a phone call
- Free towing nationwide, even for cars that can’t be moved without a tow
Cons
- Payment is by check, and banks can hold it for days before you can use the money
- The driver may lower your offer at pickup if the car’s condition wasn’t described accurately
- Getting a specific pickup time is hard because trucks batch their routes
Why we picked it: CashForCars offered $1,533 for the 2008 Nissan 350Z, which was $388 more than Peddle’s offer on the same vehicle. That’s a big gap on a car without keys. They also came out on top for the 2010 BMW 328I and the 2010 Nissan Murano, winning 3 out of 5 total vehicles tested.
How CashForCars asks about keys in their quote form:
Best For Same-Day Pickup: Wheelzy
Wheelzy buys cars in any condition, running or not
- Buys cars without keys
- Buys cars missing parts, engine and transmission in
- Pays cash or check at pickup
- Quote often needs a phone call
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
Our take on Wheelzy: Wheelzy states on their website that they buy cars without keys “regularly” and that it “shouldn’t be a problem.” They gave instant online quotes for 2 of our 5 test vehicles. For the other 3, their form showed a screen asking us to call and speak with their purchasing team. Wheelzy buys in all 50 states and picks up within 48 hours after you accept, sometimes the same day.
Pros
- Explicitly states they buy cars without keys, so there’s no guessing whether they’ll accept yours
- On the vehicles where they gave an online price, their offers were higher than both CashForCars and Peddle
- Free towing and payment at pickup whether or not your car can be driven
Cons
- Routed 3 out of 5 test vehicles to a phone call instead of showing an instant online quote
- Some BBB complaints mention last-minute price changes or check payment issues
Why we picked it: Wheelzy offered $462 for the 2008 Saturn Vue and $440 for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat, both with no keys. Those were the highest offers on those two vehicles, beating CashForCars by $34 on the Vue and $12 on the Passat. Getting a Wheelzy quote takes 2 minutes, and those numbers show it’s worth including alongside CashForCars and Peddle when you compare.
What Wheelzy says about buying cars without keys:
Best For Fast Nationwide Pickup: Peddle
Peddle buys junk, salvage, and non-running cars
- Free towing
- Fast payment
- Buys non running cars
- Pays by check at pickup
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Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
Our take on Peddle: Peddle is one of the most widely used instant offer services for older and problem cars. When we entered “no keys” during the quote process, their form displayed a “missing key” warning screen but still completed the online quote for all 5 test vehicles. You have up to seven days to accept, so compare other buyers before you decide. If a non-running car with no keys is what you’re dealing with, Peddle will still give you an instant price online.
Pros
- Showed instant online quotes on all 5 test vehicles even after flagging the missing keys
- Up to seven days to accept the offer
- Same-day pickup is possible in some areas, and towing is free
Cons
- Offers came in below CashForCars and Wheelzy on all 5 vehicles we tested
- The offer can change at pickup if the driver finds the car wasn’t described accurately
- Pickup windows are 4-hour blocks, not a set arrival time
Why we picked it: Peddle came in close on the higher-value vehicles. They offered $835 for the 2010 BMW 328I, just $37 below CashForCars. Their “missing key” warning screen is informational, not a barrier. If you want an online quote without picking up the phone, Peddle will always give you one.
What Peddle says about missing keys in their quote form:
Best For Reaching National Buyers: eBay Motors
eBay Motors lists your car to buyers nationwide
- Listing fee is $34 or $79
- 40 photos with either fee
- No percent fee on sale price
- 2.8% fee on deposits via eBay
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Buyer reach 25% 3/5
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Safety features 25% 4/5
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Listing cost 20% 3/5
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Time to sell 15% 4/5
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Ease of listing 15% 3/5
Our take on eBay Motors: eBay Motors reaches car shoppers nationwide, including buyers who specifically want project cars and fixer-uppers. You list the car yourself, disclose the missing keys in your description, and buyers bid or buy at your asking price. The listing fee is $34, or $79 if your asking price is over $15,000.
The trade-off is effort and time. You handle photos, answering questions, and arranging transport with the buyer. A car with no keys will likely sell for less than one with keys, but the right buyer might still outbid what any instant offer service would offer. This works better when the car is a desirable model or has something special going for it beyond the lost keys.
Best For Free Local Listings: Facebook Marketplace
With Facebook Marketplace you sell your car directly to local buyers
- Sell directly to local buyers
- Buyers message you on Marketplace first
- Post in local buy/sell groups
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Buyer reach 25% 5/5
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Safety features 25% 3/5
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Listing cost 20% 5/5
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Time to sell 15% 4/5
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Ease of listing 15% 5/5
Our take on Facebook Marketplace: Facebook Marketplace is free to list on and reaches buyers close enough to come and see the car. If your car has no keys but is otherwise in decent shape, the right local buyer might not care. A mechanic or a project-car buyer knows what replacing a key fob costs, so the missing key matters less to them.
Be honest about the missing keys in your listing. Hiding it will lead to wasted time when buyers show up expecting to drive it. Expect more messages and a longer sale timeline than with an instant offer service, but you keep full control over the price.
Sell a Car with Lost Keys: Feature Comparison
| Company | No-Key Quote | Free Towing | Counter Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Instant online, asks in form | Yes | No |
|
Instant online or call required | Yes | Can ask by phone |
|
Instant online, flags then quotes | Yes | No |
|
|
List your car, disclose in listing | No (buyer arranges) | Buyers negotiate |
|
|
List your car, disclose in listing | No (buyer arranges) | Buyers negotiate |
Selling a Car with No Keys: What Each Buyer Offered
We submitted all 5 test vehicles to CashForCars, Peddle, and Wheelzy using a Florida zip code and answered “no keys” for every submission. Here’s how the offers compared.
All Offers at a Glance
| Vehicle | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Volkswagen Passat | $428 | $355 | $440 |
| 2008 Nissan 350Z | $1,533 | $1,145 | Required call |
| 2008 Saturn Vue | $428 | $340 | $462 |
| 2010 BMW 328I | $872 | $835 | Required call |
| 2010 Nissan Murano | $428 | $405 | Required call |
2007 VW Passat
2008 Nissan 350Z
2008 Saturn Vue
2010 BMW 328I
2010 Murano
2007 Volkswagen Passat
133,221 miles · No keys
| $440 |
| $428 |
| $355 |
2008 Nissan 350Z
146,601 miles · No keys
| $1,533 |
| $1,145 |
| Required call |
2008 Saturn Vue
128,007 miles · No keys
| $462 |
| $428 |
| $340 |
2010 BMW 328I
104,149 miles · No keys
| $872 |
| $835 |
| Required call |
2010 Nissan Murano
104,149 miles · No keys
| $428 |
| $405 |
| Required call |
We got these quotes with a Florida ZIP code. Your offers can be higher or lower, because they depend on where you live, your car’s condition and what buyers need in your area.
What This Tells Us
What this tells us:
- CashForCars, backed by Copart’s auction network, priced the higher-value vehicles more aggressively. Copart handles sports cars and premium models at auction regularly, which gives CashForCars more confidence quoting them without keys.
- Wheelzy routed 3 out of 5 test vehicles to a phone call rather than showing an instant online price. This suggests their algorithm handles certain car types differently when a buyer can’t confirm drive condition.
- Both CashForCars and Peddle completed instant online quotes for all 5 vehicles after being told there were no keys. If you don’t want to call anyone, both services will give you a starting number online.
- Peddle’s “missing key” warning screen is informational. Their system flags the condition but continues the quote process, meaning the no-key status is priced in rather than used as a reason to decline.
- The gap between CashForCars and Peddle was small on most vehicles but grew on more valuable cars. On the 2008 Nissan 350Z, the difference between the two was substantial, which shows that getting both quotes matters more for a desirable car than for an everyday one.
- Getting a replacement key before listing on Facebook Marketplace or eBay Motors could increase what private buyers offer, since those buyers plan to drive the car themselves and factor in key replacement costs.
- Your location affects which buyers can offer the most. CashForCars has about 200 locations, so there’s likely one near you. A closer location usually means lower transport costs, which can show up in a higher offer.
To see what different buyers offer for your car, get quotes from several at once:
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Compare instant offers before you accept one
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Peddle buy cars without keys?
Yes. Peddle’s quote form shows a “missing key” warning when you select that option, but it still completes the online quote. We tested 5 vehicles with no keys and received instant online quotes for every one.
The missing keys are priced in. Be accurate about the rest of the car’s condition and enter the mileage exactly. A driver who can’t confirm the mileage at pickup can lower the offer, and you can say no before the car is loaded.
Does Wheelzy buy cars without keys?
Yes. Wheelzy’s website says they buy cars without keys “regularly” and that it “shouldn’t be a problem.” In our test, they gave instant online quotes for 2 of 5 vehicles.
For the other 3, their form asked us to call their purchasing team for a price.
If their online form quotes your car, their offer may come in higher than other services. If they route you to a call, it’s still worth making. Their confirmed no-key policy means you won’t hit a dead end.
Does CashForCars buy cars without keys?
Yes. Their quote form includes a “Keys Available?” question with yes and no options. Selecting no doesn’t stop the quote. We received instant online quotes for all 5 test vehicles without needing to call.
Will missing keys lower my offer?
Yes, missing keys typically lower the offer because buyers can’t verify whether the car starts or runs properly.
They price in the uncertainty as well as the cost to get a replacement key made. The effect varies by buyer and vehicle type.
Instant offer services that handle this condition regularly, like the ones we tested, tend to have a more consistent approach than private buyers who may simply walk away.
Should I replace the keys before selling?
It depends on how you plan to sell. For instant offer services like the ones in this article, replacing the keys first doesn’t usually make financial sense.
The cost of a replacement key fob often eats up or exceeds what you’d gain from a higher offer.
If you plan to sell privately on eBay Motors or Facebook Marketplace, having a working key opens up a much larger buyer pool. Private buyers almost always want to drive the car before committing.
What documents do I need to sell a car with lost keys?
You still need the title in your name and a valid ID for most sales. Missing keys don’t affect the paperwork side of the transaction. Each state has slightly different requirements for signing over a title.
If you’ve also lost the title, you’ll need to get a duplicate from your state DMV before most buyers can proceed. Call the buyer first to ask what they need for your specific situation.
Does the no-keys condition affect who will buy my car?
For instant offer services, it doesn’t disqualify your car. CashForCars, Peddle, and Wheelzy all accepted our test submissions with no keys.
The condition affected the offer amount but not the ability to get a quote.
For private buyers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or eBay Motors, missing keys narrow the buyer pool a lot. Most private buyers want to test drive before buying, and that’s not possible without a key.
Can I sell a car with no keys on Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, but you need to disclose it clearly in the listing. Hiding the missing keys will lead to wasted conversations when buyers show up expecting to drive.
Write the listing for mechanics, hobbyists and project car buyers, who know what a replacement key costs.
Expect the process to take longer and require more back-and-forth than selling to an instant offer service. But if your car has other things going for it, the right local buyer may still pay a fair price.
Methodology
We selected 5 vehicles ranging from 104,149 to 146,601 miles: a 2007 Volkswagen Passat (133,221 miles), a 2008 Nissan 350Z (146,601 miles), a 2008 Saturn Vue (128,007 miles), a 2010 BMW 328I (104,149 miles), and a 2010 Nissan Murano (104,149 miles). All vehicles were submitted with “no keys” selected or entered in each company’s quote form.
We submitted each vehicle to CashForCars, Peddle, and Wheelzy using the same Florida zip code. We answered all questions accurately and took screenshots of every result, including cases where a service showed a call-required screen instead of an instant price.
We did not accept any offers. Results may differ based on your location, your car’s specific condition, and which buyers are active in your area at the time you submit.
Article Update History
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