How to Sell a Scrap Car in Ontario: The Complete Guide

Selling a scrap car in Ontario is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide walks through the whole thing, from paperwork to the day the truck shows up.

1. Gather your paperwork

You need two things: the vehicle ownership permit (the green slip that came with the car) and a piece of photo ID. If the ownership is lost, ServiceOntario can print a replacement in a few minutes, so don't let a missing permit hold things up.

One thing you don't need is a safety certificate. That only applies to vehicles going back on the road. A scrap car leaves on a truck, not under its own power.

2. Get a quote

Share the year, make, model and condition, plus where the vehicle is parked. A few photos of the damage or problem areas help us give you an accurate number the first time. Quotes are free and take about a minute to request.

3. Accept the offer and book pickup

If the offer works for you, pick a pickup window that suits your schedule. Within Durham Region the tow is free with every removal, and same-day pickups are common in Oshawa.

4. Sign it over

At pickup you'll sign the transfer portion of the ownership permit. That's the legal bit done. Remove your plates first, since plates stay with you in Ontario and not the vehicle.

Before we arrive, it's worth doing one last sweep of the car: glove box, trunk, under the seats, centre console. Loose change, sunglasses, toll transponders and paperwork you want to keep all hide in there.

5. Cancel your insurance

Once the vehicle is gone, contact your insurer to cancel or transfer the coverage. Keep the record of the sale for your files, just in case anything comes up later.

The whole thing in one line

Quote, offer, pickup, signature, payment. Most sellers spend under half an hour of actual effort on it, and the driveway is empty the same week.