SellCarAdvisor is reader-supported, when you sign up through links on this post, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. How We Work.
The bottom line: Before you can sell an abandoned vehicle, you have to legally own it. That’s the problem most sellers don’t expect. Finding a buyer for the car is easy. Getting the paperwork sorted so any buyer will actually take it is the hard part, and it takes months in most states.
None of the services on this list will buy a vehicle that isn’t in your name. We got quotes from four of them to show you what you can expect after you’ve completed your state’s legal process. If you still need to go through that process first, read our guide on how to sell an abandoned vehicle.
We tested five vehicles, all selected with “no title” in the quote form, since abandoned vehicles rarely come with clean paperwork. We also looked at CarBrain as a fourth option worth checking once you have your title in hand.
Some services gave instant online quotes even with “no title” selected. Others state upfront that they can’t proceed without confirmed ownership. All of them need some form of legal documentation before completing a purchase. The instant quote is a preview, not a guarantee the sale will go through without proof you own the car.
The winner changed by location and vehicle, so it’s worth checking 2 to 3 buyers once you’re ready to sell. Offers depend on your area and which buyers are active nearby.
Compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before deciding.
Key Takeaways
offered $436 on all five vehicles, the highest of any service we tested
came in second on all five vehicles, offering between $413 and $420, and is backed by Copart’s auction network with 200+ locations nationwide
had the lowest offers in our test ($265 to $340) and their FAQ explicitly states they cannot buy truly abandoned vehicles before you have ownership documentation
requires the title to be in your name before they can proceed, and unlike the others, they let you counter their first offer
- None of these services will purchase a vehicle you don’t legally own yet. You must complete your state’s abandoned vehicle process before any buyer can finalize a sale.
Compare Instant Offers
Best Places to Sell an Abandoned Vehicle
Best for Junk Cars
Sell your car in 30 minutes
Easy-to-use
Buys non-running cars
Best for Older Cars
Instant offer in 2 minutes
Free pickup as soon as today
Get paid on the spot
Best for Damaged Cars
Copart company
Nationwide service
Pays Cash
Best For Flat-Rate Instant Offers: Wheelzy
Our take on Wheelzy: Wheelzy buys junk cars, wrecked vehicles, and cars that won’t start. When we selected “no title” in their quote form, they returned instant offers on all five test vehicles. Their stated policy is to direct people with truly abandoned cars to local authorities, because they can’t purchase a vehicle you don’t legally own yet. Once you’ve completed your state’s legal process and have ownership documentation, Wheelzy is the first place worth checking.
Pros
- Gave instant online quotes on all five test vehicles even with “no title” selected
- Highest offers in our test on every vehicle we checked
- Free towing even when the car won’t start or move on its own
Cons
- Their FAQ states they can’t buy vehicles before you have legal ownership documentation, so you must finish the process first
- Won’t buy cars made before 1981, which cuts out some very old abandoned vehicles
- Quoted price may change at pickup if the vehicle’s condition doesn’t match what you described
Why we picked it: Wheelzy offered $436 on every single vehicle we tested, the same amount regardless of make, model, or mileage. That flat-rate pattern shows they use a floor price for older no-title vehicles rather than appraising each car individually. On the 1997 Chevrolet S10, their $436 offer was $171 more than what Peddle offered for the same vehicle.
What Wheelzy says about abandoned vehicles:
Wheelzy gave the highest offers on every vehicle in our test. Check what they’ll offer for your car once you have ownership documentation.
Best For Copart Auction Coverage: CashForCars
Our take on CashForCars: CashForCars is owned by Copart and has around 200 locations across the country. Their website states they need a signed title to complete a purchase, so for a truly abandoned vehicle, you’ll need to finish the legal ownership process first. They also buy salvage title vehicles, which can be the result of the abandoned vehicle process in some states.
Pros
- 200+ Copart locations nationwide provide more coverage than most single-brand buyers, useful when the car can’t be driven to a drop-off
- Gives instant online quotes with “no title” selected so you can check their offer before finalizing paperwork
- Buys salvage title vehicles that often result from the abandoned vehicle legal process
Cons
- Requires a signed title to complete a purchase, so you can’t finalize anything until your state’s legal process is done
- Payment by check with a 24-hour bank hold before you can access the funds
- Some sellers report follow-up calls and emails after submitting a quote request
Why we picked it: CashForCars offered $413 on four of the five test vehicles and $420 on the 1997 Chevrolet S10, making them the consistent second-highest buyer across our entire test. Their 200+ Copart locations mean they’re more likely to have coverage in your specific area than a smaller buyer, which matters when the car can’t be driven anywhere and needs to be picked up wherever it sits.
What CashForCars says about selling without a title:
CashForCars has 200+ locations and came second on every vehicle we tested. Get their offer to compare.
Best For Paperwork Guidance: Peddle
Our take on Peddle: Peddle is direct about their abandoned vehicle policy: their FAQ states they cannot make offers or pick up abandoned vehicles because their buyers require some proof of ownership. In some situations, they do accept cars without a traditional title, such as deceased-owner cases or lost title situations. For vehicles abandoned on your property, you’ll need to complete the legal process before they’ll proceed. Once you have documentation, they guide you through all the required paperwork.
Pros
- Provides paperwork guidance for title situations once you have legal ownership documentation
- In some cases accepts cars without a traditional title, such as deceased-owner or lost title situations
- Quotes are valid for 7 days, giving you time to compare other offers before committing
Cons
- Their FAQ explicitly states they cannot buy abandoned vehicles before you have legal ownership documentation in hand
- Lowest offers in our test on every vehicle, ranging from $265 to $340
- Offers can change at pickup if the driver finds issues not mentioned in your original description
Why we picked it: Peddle offered $340 on three of the five vehicles (the 2006 Impala, 2008 Taurus, and 2010 Fusion), $335 on the 1995 Toyota Avalon, and the lowest offer in the entire test at $265 on the 1997 Chevrolet S10. Despite the lower numbers, Peddle stands out for sellers navigating tricky title situations because they handle paperwork and sometimes work with cases where a traditional title isn’t available.
What Peddle says about abandoned vehicles:
Peddle helps guide sellers through paperwork once you have ownership documentation. Get their quote to see what they’ll offer.
Best For Negotiating Your Price: CarBrain
Our take on CarBrain: CarBrain has been buying problem cars since 2007 and stands out from this list for one reason: they let you counter their first offer. The title must be in your name before they’ll give a confirmed quote, which means CarBrain is best suited for sellers who have already completed the abandoned vehicle legal process and obtained clear ownership. We didn’t get instant test quotes from them because confirmed title ownership is needed to begin.
Pros
- Lets you counter their first offer, something none of the other services on this list allow
- Handles salvage titles and cars with accident history, which are common outcomes of the abandoned vehicle process
- No hidden fees or charges at any point in the process
Cons
- Title must be in your name before they’ll proceed, so you can’t start with them until the legal ownership process is fully complete
- Won’t buy cars missing the engine or transmission, which some abandoned vehicles may have lost to theft or stripping
- Offers typically run lower than Wheelzy and CashForCars on comparable vehicles
Why we picked it: CarBrain is the right call for sellers who have already finished the abandoned vehicle paperwork and now have clear title. Since you’ve likely spent months and real money on the legal process, having the ability to push back on their first offer is worth something. Their counter-offer feature sets them apart from every other service on this list, and they handle the kinds of salvage and problem titles that often come out of the abandoned vehicle process.
CarBrain lets you counter their first offer. Worth checking once you have your title sorted.
Sell an Abandoned Vehicle: Feature Comparison
| Company | Abandoned Vehicle Policy | Title Required? | Counter Offer? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Directs to local authorities for vehicles you don’t own yet | Ownership documentation needed | No |
|
Requires signed title to complete any purchase | Yes, signed title required | No |
|
FAQ says they can’t buy before you have ownership docs | Exceptions for some no-title cases | No |
|
Title must be in your name before they proceed | Yes, title in your name | Yes |
Sell an Abandoned Vehicle: What Each Buyer Offered
We submitted five old, high-mileage vehicles to Wheelzy, CashForCars, and Peddle using a Florida zip code. All five were submitted with “no title” selected in the form to reflect the typical situation after going through the abandoned vehicle process. CarBrain wasn’t included in the quote tables because their process requires confirmed title ownership before providing a firm offer.
All Offers at a Glance
| Vehicle | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Toyota Avalon | $436 | $413 | $335 |
| 1997 Chevrolet S10 | $436 | $420 | $265 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Impala | $436 | $413 | $340 |
| 2008 Ford Taurus | $436 | $413 | $340 |
| 2010 Ford Fusion | $436 | $413 | $340 |
1995 Toyota Avalon
1997 Chevy S10
2006 Chevy Impala
2008 Ford Taurus
2010 Ford Fusion
1995 Toyota Avalon XLS
247,077 miles · No title selected
| $436 |
| $413 |
| $335 |
1997 Chevrolet S10
103,056 miles · No title selected
| $436 |
| $420 |
| $265 |
2006 Chevrolet Impala LT
161,717 miles · No title selected
| $436 |
| $413 |
| $340 |
2008 Ford Taurus SEL
190,129 miles · No title selected
| $436 |
| $413 |
| $340 |
2010 Ford Fusion SE
271,959 miles · No title selected
| $436 |
| $413 |
| $340 |
Keep in mind: We got these quotes using a Florida zip code. Offers can change depending on where you live, your car’s condition, and what buyers need in your area. You might get higher or lower offers.
What This Tells Us
What this tells us:
- Wheelzy uses a floor-pricing model for older no-title vehicles. Their $436 offer was identical across all five cars regardless of make, model, mileage, or year, which means they aren’t appraising each car individually at the quote stage.
- CashForCars’ Copart backing means they can route acquired vehicles through a large auction network, which explains why their offers were consistently the second-highest and stayed close to Wheelzy across all five test vehicles.
- Peddle was the most upfront about limitations. Their published FAQ directly addresses abandoned vehicles and states they cannot proceed without ownership documentation, while the other services don’t mention the issue as explicitly.
- Getting an instant online quote and completing a sale are two different things. Wheelzy, CashForCars, and Peddle all returned quotes with “no title” selected, but all three require legal ownership documentation before any transaction can finalize.
- The gap between Wheelzy and Peddle was widest on the oldest truck in our test – the 1997 Chevrolet S10 – where Peddle’s offer dropped well below both other services while Wheelzy and CashForCars stayed strong.
- CarBrain’s counter-offer option carries more weight in this situation than it would with a typical junk car sale. You’ve already spent months and real money on the legal process, so having the ability to push back on a first offer is worth factoring in when comparing services.
- CashForCars’ 200+ Copart locations make them more likely to have a buyer in your specific area than smaller services, which matters a lot when the abandoned vehicle can’t be driven and needs to be towed from wherever it sits.
- Getting quotes from Wheelzy, CashForCars, and Peddle takes just a few minutes online. Check all three once your documentation is ready, since coverage and availability vary by city.
Ready to see what you can get? Enter your car’s details to compare offers from multiple buyers at once.
Compare Instant Offers
Compare Instant Offers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Peddle buy an abandoned vehicle on my property?
Not before you legally own it. Peddle’s FAQ states that at this time they cannot make offers on or pick up abandoned vehicles because their buyers require some form of ownership documentation.
Once you’ve completed your state’s abandoned vehicle process and obtained a title or ownership documentation, you can submit to Peddle for a quote.
They do handle some no-title situations, such as deceased-owner cases, but truly abandoned cars need the legal process completed first.
Does Wheelzy pick up abandoned cars?
Not if you don’t own the vehicle yet. Wheelzy’s FAQ states that for abandoned cars, you should contact your local authorities since removing a vehicle you don’t own may be a legal issue.
Once you’ve gone through your state’s legal process and have ownership documentation in hand, Wheelzy will give you an instant quote and send a tow truck to pick it up for free.
Does CashForCars need a title to buy an abandoned vehicle?
Yes. CashForCars states on their website that the only thing you need to sell a car to them is a signed title.
That means you’ll need to complete your state’s abandoned vehicle legal process and transfer ownership before they can finalize a purchase.
CashForCars does give instant online quotes even before you have paperwork sorted, so you can get a preview of what they’ll offer while you finish the legal process.
Do I need to complete the legal process before any buyer will help me?
Yes. Every service on this list requires you to have some form of legal ownership before completing a sale. Finding a car on your property doesn’t make it yours.
You need to report it to authorities, notify the registered owner, wait through your state’s required period, and obtain proper documentation.
The process takes several months in most states. Rules vary a lot depending on where you live, so check your state’s specific requirements before starting.
What if the abandoned car has no title at all?
Once you’ve gone through your state’s abandoned vehicle process, you may end up with ownership documentation that isn’t a standard clean title.
Some buyers, including Peddle in certain situations, can work with alternative ownership documents.
Getting a proper title issued through your state’s DMV after the abandoned vehicle process gives you the most options. Without any documentation at all, most buyers won’t be able to finalize a purchase.
Learn more: Best Places to Sell a Car Without a Title
How much is an abandoned vehicle worth?
In our test of five older, high-mileage vehicles submitted with “no title” selected, offers ranged from $265 to $436.
Wheelzy gave the same flat $436 offer on every vehicle. CashForCars came in between $413 and $420. Peddle ranged from $265 to $340 depending on the car.
Most abandoned vehicles are old with high mileage, which puts them in the lower offer range. The car’s year, make, and local buyer demand all affect what you’ll get.
Getting quotes from multiple buyers is the only way to know what yours is worth.
Can CarBrain buy an abandoned vehicle without a title?
No. CarBrain requires the title to be in your name before they’ll proceed with a purchase.
That means you must complete your state’s abandoned vehicle process and have confirmed ownership before CarBrain can give you a firm offer.
Once you have title, CarBrain is worth checking because they let you counter their first offer, which isn’t something Wheelzy, CashForCars, or Peddle allow.
What’s the fastest way to get cash for an abandoned car on my property?
The fastest path is to contact local law enforcement first. In many areas, reporting the vehicle to police allows them to authorize its removal through their towing authority, which gets the car off your property without you going through months of DMV paperwork.
If you want to profit from the sale rather than just have it removed, you’ll need to complete your state’s legal process first.
Once you have ownership documentation, submitting to Wheelzy, CashForCars, and Peddle takes under 10 minutes and gets you same-day to 48-hour pickup.
Will these services pick up an abandoned car that won’t start?
Yes, once you legally own it. Wheelzy, CashForCars, Peddle, and CarBrain all provide free towing regardless of whether the car runs or not.
Abandoned vehicles often won’t start due to age, dead batteries, or missing parts, and that doesn’t disqualify them.
Note that if key parts like the engine or transmission are missing, CarBrain won’t buy it. The other three are generally more flexible about missing components.
Learn more: How to Sell a Junk Car
Do abandoned vehicle rules vary by state?
Yes, the rules differ a lot by state. Some states let property owners claim and then sell abandoned vehicles after following proper steps.
Others require all abandoned vehicles to go through public auction. A few states prohibit property owners from claiming abandoned vehicles at all.
The waiting period alone ranges from 24 hours to 90 days depending on your location.
Methodology
We selected five older, high-mileage vehicles that represent the types commonly found in abandoned vehicle situations: a 1995 Toyota Avalon XLS (247,077 miles), a 1997 Chevrolet S10 (103,056 miles), a 2006 Chevrolet Impala LT (161,717 miles), a 2008 Ford Taurus SEL (190,129 miles), and a 2010 Ford Fusion SE (271,959 miles).
We submitted each vehicle to Wheelzy, CashForCars, and Peddle using the same Florida zip code. All five vehicles were submitted with “no title” selected in the quote form to reflect the most common situation sellers face after completing the abandoned vehicle legal process. We answered all condition questions honestly and took screenshots of every result.
We did not accept any offers. Your results may differ based on your location, your vehicle’s actual condition, and which buyers are active in your area at the time you submit.
Article Update History
Originally posted and shared with our readers.