We Pay Cash for Junk Cars in Rochester

In most cases, no—you do not need to physically visit a Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office to sell your junk car in Rochester. The majority of the process can be handled online or through us directly, especially if you’re selling your junk car to a licensed and reputable buyer like Family Car Buyers.

What you do need is the car’s Minnesota Certificate of Title in your name. This proves you’re the legal owner and can authorize the transfer. Once we agree on a price and schedule the free junk car removal, we’ll walk you through signing the title properly, and we’ll handle the rest—including submitting the buyer and vehicle information to the DVS.

It’s also highly recommended to file a “Report of Sale” with the state of Minnesota. This step protects you from liability if the vehicle is ever towed, ticketed, or involved in any legal issue after it leaves your possession. You can do this through the Minnesota DVS website by submitting a Notice of Sale (Form PS2000).

Selling a junk car without a title in Minnesota is more complicated—but not impossible. The state requires a properly assigned title for all private vehicle sales, including junk and salvage vehicles. However, if your title has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a duplicate title by submitting Form PS2067 through the Minnesota DVS, along with a small fee. Once you receive the duplicate title, you’ll be free to move forward with the sale.

Yes, the title must legally be in your name to sell a junk car in Rochester, MN. This is a non-negotiable requirement by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. If the title is signed over to you but hasn’t been officially transferred and registered under your name with the DVS, you cannot legally sell or junk the vehicle.

If you inherited the vehicle, received it as a gift, or bought it without transferring the title, you’ll need to complete that title transfer first before you can move forward with the sale. This ensures that you’re recognized as the vehicle’s current owner in the state’s records. Once that’s done, we can legally buy the vehicle and pay cash for your junk car in Rochester.

To junk your car legally in Minnesota, the most important document you need is the Minnesota Certificate of Title with your name listed as the registered owner. You’ll need to sign the title in the appropriate section (usually on the back), and in some cases, also include the odometer reading and buyer information.

Here’s what else you need to keep in mind:

• Remove your license plates from the vehicle before pickup.
  
• Submit a Notice of Sale (Form PS2000) online or by mail to the Minnesota DVS.
  
• If your vehicle was registered under joint ownership, both parties must sign the title unless one party provides legal documentation (such as a death certificate or power of attorney).

Once the paperwork is signed, we’ll handle all further title processing, notification to the DMV, and vehicle removal. We do not require you to go into a DMV office or deal with any red tape—that’s our job.

Unlike some other states, Minnesota does not currently require emissions or smog checks for most vehicles, including when transferring ownership or selling a junk car. That means you do not need to obtain a smog certificate to sell a junk vehicle in Rochester.

This makes it much easier for car owners to sell older, high-mileage vehicles that may not pass strict emissions standards elsewhere. However, while emissions inspections aren’t mandatory, you still need to ensure you have the proper title documents in order.

This policy simplifies the process and saves you money—just one more reason why now is a great time to sell your junk car for cash in Rochester with Family Car Buyers.

No, Minnesota does not require a specific “junk slip” or “Certificate of Destruction” from private individuals when junking or scrapping a car. These documents are primarily used by licensed dismantlers or recyclers who are reporting the final destruction of a vehicle to the state.

When you sell your car to Family Car Buyers in Rochester, we handle all the official steps required to retire or deregister the vehicle on your behalf. This includes notifying the DVS of the vehicle’s change of status and ensuring it’s no longer associated with you as the owner.

If your vehicle is going to be scrapped or recycled, we will manage that process with our licensed partners and ensure full compliance with Minnesota laws—no extra forms or stress on your end.