How to Sell a Deceased Relative's Car for Scrap in Michigan (2026 Guide)

Losing a parent or grandparent is hard enough without an old car sitting in the driveway reminding you of everything left to sort out. If you are facing that right now, the good news is that selling a deceased relative's car for scrap in Michigan is usually far simpler than people expect. In many cases you do not need to open a probate estate, you do not need a lawyer, and if the vehicle is old enough you may not even need to track down the paper title. At Detroit Junk Car Buyers we handle inherited and estate vehicles across Metro Detroit every week, and this guide walks through exactly how it works in 2026.

The first thing to understand is that Michigan lets a modest number of vehicles pass to the next of kin outside of full probate. Under MCL 257.236, if the total value of all vehicles the deceased person owned is $60,000 or less, and the estate is not being probated and will not be probated, an heir can transfer ownership using a single Secretary of State form: the Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle (form TR-29), authorized under Public Act 300 of 1949. It lets the surviving spouse, or the next closest relative if there is no spouse, sign the vehicle over without a court getting involved. For an old junk car worth a few hundred dollars in scrap, you are almost always well inside that $60,000 window.

How you proceed depends on how the title is set up and whether the estate is in probate. Here is the path most families take when scrapping an inherited vehicle.

Step 1: Confirm who the rightful heir is. If the title lists two names with the words Full Rights to Survivor, the surviving co-owner already owns the car outright and only needs the title, a copy of the death certificate, and a photo ID. If there is no surviving spouse, the deceased's children are typically the next of kin. When several relatives have an equal claim, the ones who do not want the car sign a short statement declining it so a single person can handle the sale.

Step 2: Gather the paperwork. For a non-probate transfer you will want the original title if you can find it, a certified copy of the death certificate, valid photo ID for the heir signing, and the TR-29 Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle. If a lienholder is still listed on the title, bring a lien termination statement showing the loan was paid off.

Step 3: Check the age of the vehicle. This is where many inherited junk cars catch a break. Under Michigan law MCL 257.233, a vehicle that is 15 model years old or older can be sold to a licensed junk or scrap buyer without a title, as long as you have a valid ID and proof of ownership. A lot of the estate cars we buy are 1990s and early 2000s vehicles that have been parked for years, so this exemption often removes the biggest headache entirely.

Step 4: Decide between a full title transfer and a direct scrap sale. If the car still runs and has resale value, transferring the title into your name may make sense. If it is a true junk car headed for recycling, you can usually skip that and sell it directly to a licensed buyer with the death certificate, your ID, and either the title or the 15-year exemption.

Step 5: Call for a quote and schedule the pickup. Once you know what you have, call Detroit Junk Car Buyers at (313) 479-3777. We give you a firm cash offer over the phone, and because we are open 24/7 you can call on your own schedule, not ours.

Step 6: Get paid and hand over the keys. We provide free towing anywhere in Metro Detroit and pay cash on the spot when we collect the vehicle. There is no waiting on a check to clear and no fee for the tow.

A few practical notes make estate sales smoother. Pull any personal belongings, paperwork, and spare keys from the car before pickup, since glovebox documents are easy to forget. Remove the license plates when the car leaves, because plates stay with the person in Michigan, not the vehicle, and cancel or transfer the registration afterward. And if the car has been sitting through a few Michigan winters, do not worry about flat tires, dead batteries, or rust. We buy cars running or not.

We have bought roughly 10,000 cars across Metro Detroit since 2015, and we are licensed and based in Oak Park at 21620 Coolidge Hwy #C. We serve all of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, and Livingston counties, so whether the car is in Detroit, Warren, Livonia, Pontiac, or a small town out in Monroe County, we can come to it. With a 4.4 star rating across 70 Google reviews, families trust us to make a stressful situation one less thing to manage.

Selling a deceased relative's car for scrap in Michigan does not have to mean weeks of forms and court dates. In most cases it comes down to a death certificate, an ID, one Secretary of State form or the 15-year exemption, and a phone call. If you would rather have someone walk you through it, call us at (313) 479-3777 and we will tell you exactly what applies to your situation.

Do I need to go through probate to sell my deceased parent's junk car in Michigan?

Usually not. If the total value of all the vehicles your relative owned is $60,000 or less and the estate is not being probated, you can transfer the car using the Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle (form TR-29) under MCL 257.236. For an old junk car, that threshold is almost never a problem, so most families avoid probate entirely.

Can I sell an inherited car in Michigan if I cannot find the title?

Often yes. Under MCL 257.233, a vehicle that is 15 model years old or older can be sold to a licensed junk car buyer without a title, provided you have a valid ID and proof of ownership. Many estate cars qualify. If the car is newer, you can apply for a duplicate title through the Secretary of State or use the heir certification form instead.

What paperwork should I bring when selling a deceased relative's car for scrap?

Bring a certified copy of the death certificate, your photo ID, and the title if you have it. For a non-probate transfer, add the TR-29 Certification from the Heir to a Vehicle. If the vehicle is 15 years or older you may be able to sell it under the no-title exemption with just your ID and proof of ownership.

How much will I get for a deceased relative's junk car?

It depends on the vehicle's weight, year, make, and whether any valuable parts like the catalytic converter are intact. We give you a firm cash offer over the phone at (313) 479-3777 before we ever come out, so you know the number in advance. We pay cash on the spot at pickup and towing is always free.

Do you buy estate cars that have been sitting for years and do not run?

Yes. We buy cars running or not, and a dead battery, flat tires, or heavy rust from sitting through Michigan winters does not change our offer to pick it up. We provide free towing across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, and Livingston counties, 24/7.