# Guides

> Free car selling guides for Ontario: paperwork, licence plates, liens, scrap value and recycling, in plain language. Read up, then get a free cash offer.

Source: https://topcash4cars.ca/guides

# Car selling guides for Ontario drivers

Plain-language answers to the questions that stall a sale: paperwork, plates, liens, scrap value and what happens to your car after it's gone.

## How to use these car selling guides

Selling a car comes with a few Ontario rules most people only deal with once every few years. These guides cover them in plain language, written for how things work in 2026.

Short on time? **Start with the [Ontario paperwork checklist](/guides/sell-a-car-in-ontario)** and [what to do with your licence plates](/guides/licence-plates-when-selling). Wondering what your car is worth? Read [how much a scrap car is worth](/guides/scrap-car-value), or weigh up [scrapping, selling and trading in](/guides/scrap-vs-sell-vs-trade-in) side by side.

Dealing with something trickier, like a missing ownership, a loan on the car or a family member's estate? There's a guide for each of those below. If your situation isn't covered, call (289) 349-2006 and we'll walk you through it.

> **Prices and rules change** Scrap metal prices move from month to month, and Ontario rules do change from time to time. If a guide doesn't quite match your situation, call us and we'll tell you what applies today, before you book anything.

## All guides

- [How Car Recycling Works](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/how-car-recycling-works): What happens after a scrap car is towed away: depollution, parts recovery, shredding and metal recycling at Ontario end-of-life vehicle processors.
- [Licence Plates](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/licence-plates-when-selling): In Ontario, plates belong to you, not the car. When to remove them, how to transfer or return them, and why there's been no refund to claim since 2022.
- [Preparing Your Car for Pickup](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/prepare-car-for-pickup): A step-by-step checklist for getting your car ready for a scrap or cash-for-cars pickup in Ontario, plus what happens when the tow truck arrives.
- [Scrap Car Value](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/scrap-car-value): What decides a scrap car's value in Ontario: weight, scrap metal prices, parts like the catalytic converter, completeness and whether it runs.
- [Scrap vs Sell vs Trade-In](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/scrap-vs-sell-vs-trade-in): Compare scrapping, selling privately and trading in on money, time, effort and risk, and learn when repairing a car stops making sense.
- [Selling Paperwork](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/sell-a-car-in-ontario): Every document you need to sell a car in Ontario: ownership transfer, bill of sale, UVIP, safety certificate, plates, insurance and liens.
- [Selling a Deceased Family Member's Car](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/sell-car-of-deceased-family-member): A practical guide for estate trustees and families: who can sell a deceased person's car in Ontario, which documents help, and your options.
- [Selling a Car With a Lien](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/sell-car-with-lien): How liens work on Ontario vehicles, how to check for one, and how to clear a car loan before you sell or scrap the car.
- [Selling Without Ownership](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/sell-car-without-ownership): Lost the ownership? How to replace an Ontario vehicle permit, what to bring, and how estate and family-member car sales work.
- [Selling a Damaged or Written-Off Car](https://topcash4cars.ca/guides/sell-damaged-or-write-off-car): How insurance write-offs and Ontario's Salvage, Rebuilt and Irreparable brands work, and what buyers look at when you sell a damaged car.

## Rather just ask?

Call (289) 349-2006 and we'll answer your question and give you a firm offer in about 3 minutes, with no obligation.