Louisville Junk Car Pickup Checklist: What to Have Ready
A five-minute checklist so your Louisville pickup is fast and pays on the spot — title, ID, keys, plates, and clear access to the vehicle.
There is no mystery to a smooth junk car pickup. Ninety percent of delays and disputes come down to a handful of items the driver needs in hand when he arrives. Get these ready and most Louisville pickups are done in under 20 minutes.
Before the truck arrives
- The title (or the paperwork we told you to gather). The driver signs off on the transfer on the spot, so have it out of the glovebox and ready.
- Photo ID that matches the name on the title. If the title is in someone else's name, call us first — see the title and paperwork guide.
- All keys you have. A single key is fine; a spare is a bonus.
- The vehicle cleared out. Remove personal items, garage door openers, toll transponders, and anything you want to keep. Once it's towed, it goes straight into the yard and nothing comes back out.
Plates and registration
Keep your license plate. Since January 2024 Kentucky plates stay with the seller (KRS 186.190), so take the plate off before the car leaves. If the registration is still valid you can move the plate — and its unexpired registration — to another vehicle you own. If it has expired, turn the plate in at your county clerk. Leaving your plate on a car you no longer own is what leads to tickets and towing fees down the road. Our tag-cancellation answer walks through it.
Make access easy
- Park where a flatbed or rollback can reach the car. A car buried behind a locked gate or under a low carport slows everything down.
- If it won't roll, won't steer, or has flat tires, tell us when you book. We bring the right equipment for a non-running car — that is routine, not a problem.
- If you live in an apartment, HOA, or gated community, give us the gate code or parking instructions up front.
If you're not sure the title is clean, or the car is in someone else's name, call us before pickup day. Call (502) 826-9666 and we'll tell you exactly what the driver will need.
Wondering whether to sell now or wait? See the best time to sell a junk car in Louisville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be there for the junk car pickup in Louisville?
Yes. The title transfer and payment happen in person, so the titled owner (or someone with written authority) needs to be present with photo ID.
Should I take the license plate off before the car is towed?
Yes. Since January 2024 Kentucky plates stay with the seller, so remove your plate and either transfer it to another vehicle or turn it in at your county clerk — that keeps you from being liable for anything that happens to the car.
What if I can't find the keys?
Tell us when you book. A car with no keys is still buyable, but the driver may need different equipment, so we want to know ahead of time.