Guide · Pickup
Junk Car Pickup Checklist: 12 Things to Do Before the Truck Arrives
Before a junk car pickup, clear out your belongings, take off the license plates, have your title (ready to sign) and photo ID in hand, and make sure the tow truck can reach the car. That covers most of it, and the full checklist below takes under an hour.
Everything here happens before the driver shows up. Once the car is on the flatbed, anything left inside goes with it. Print this list or keep it open on your phone and tick each item off.
Part 1: Clear out the car
1. Empty every storage spot
Check places people forget:
- Glove box and center console
- Door pockets and seat-back pockets
- Under and between the seats
- Sun visors and overhead consoles
- Trunk, under the trunk floor and the spare-tire well
Look for paperwork with your name and address, spare keys, sunglasses, chargers and cash.
2. Remove electronics and accessories
Take out anything you added: phone mounts, dash cams, aftermarket stereos you want to keep, child seats and floor mats you plan to reuse.
3. Take your toll transponder and garage remote
An I-PASS or other toll transponder, a garage door opener or a parking-gate card can still be used by whoever ends up with the car. Remove them and update or close the accounts linked to them.
4. Clear your data from the car
Many newer cars store paired phones, contacts, call history and saved addresses, including your home. Use the infotainment system’s factory reset or “delete device” option. If the car has a connected app or subscription service, cancel it or remove the car from your account.
Part 2: Plates and paperwork
5. Take off the license plates
For cars and light trucks of 8,000 pounds or under, WisDOT says never to leave the plates on a vehicle you sell or junk. Remove them before the truck arrives. You can move them to another vehicle you own, or destroy them by cutting them up. Don’t return them to the DMV.
6. Find your title
The Wisconsin certificate of title is what transfers ownership. Have it out and ready, but wait to sign until the driver is there, so it’s signed over to the right buyer.
When you sign, you’ll fill in the seller’s section, the odometer statement and the brand disclosure. The buyer signs too.
If you can’t find your title, request a replacement from WisDOT with Form MV2119 before you book. For anything else, call us about your situation.
7. Clear any lien
If a lender is listed on the title, you’ll need the lien released before the sale can close. Check this early, since a release can take time.
8. Have your photo ID ready
Your driver’s license or state ID should match the name on the title.
9. Write a bill of sale
WisDOT says you can write your own. Include the vehicle’s make, year, model, VIN and odometer reading; both parties’ names, addresses, phone numbers and signatures; and the price and date. Keep a copy.
Part 3: Make pickup easy
10. Clear a path to the car
A tow truck needs room to back up and load. Move other cars, trash bins and anything blocking the driveway or garage door. If the car is on the street, check that it isn’t boxed in.
11. Tell the buyer about anything unusual
Mention it when you book:
- Flat tires or missing wheels
- A car that won’t roll or is in gear without keys
- A tight garage, a back alley or a steep driveway
- An apartment or condo lot where management needs a heads-up
The right truck comes the first time, and the price you were quoted stays the same.
Example
Say you’ve booked a pickup for an old minivan at the back of a narrow driveway. A second car is parked in front of it, and the title is somewhere in a kitchen drawer. When the truck arrives, the other car has to be moved, the plates are still on and the title search begins. Now picture the same van with the driveway clear, the plates off, the toll transponder out, and the title and ID waiting on the counter. The second visit is far shorter.
12. Leave the fluids and the parts alone
Don’t drain fluids or pull parts to sell separately unless you already told the buyer. Fluids are drained under environmental rules after pickup. Missing parts, especially the catalytic converter, change the value and the quote.
On pickup day
When the driver arrives, the visit is short:
- The driver checks the VIN and that the car matches the quote.
- You sign the title over and hand it to the driver.
- You’re paid in cash, and the car is loaded.
At Badger Junk Cars, pickup is typically within one to two hours of booking, Monday through Saturday, and towing is free. Ticked everything off? Our “junk my car in Milwaukee” page is where you book.
Still deciding where to sell? See typical Milwaukee payouts first.
After the truck leaves
- Talk to your insurer about ending coverage on that car now that it’s gone.
- Keep your bill of sale and any receipt.
- Ignore the plate renewal notice for that car, unless you moved the plates to another vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
What should I remove from my car before junking it?
Remove all personal belongings, paperwork with your name or address, spare keys, toll transponders, garage remotes and any accessories you want to keep. Take off the license plates, which stay with you in Wisconsin. Clear paired phones and saved addresses from the infotainment system. Leave the parts and fluids alone unless you’ve told the buyer.
Do I take the plates off before a junk car pickup in Wisconsin?
Yes. For cars and light trucks of 8,000 pounds or under, WisDOT says never to leave the plates on a vehicle you sell or junk. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own or destroy them by cutting them up. WisDOT says not to return them to the DMV. Remove them before the tow truck arrives.
When do I sign the title for a junk car?
Sign it when the driver arrives, not before, so the title is signed over to the actual buyer. Complete the seller’s section, the odometer statement and the brand disclosure, then hand the title to the driver. Have your photo ID ready too, because it should match the name on the title.
Do I need to be there for the junk car pickup?
Plan on it if you can. At pickup, someone has to sign the title, show ID and receive payment, and the title should be signed by the owner named on it. If you can’t be there, call us to confirm what’s needed before you book. Being there also lets you watch the car being loaded and check you’ve received the quoted amount.
The takeaway
Clear the car, keep the plates, have the title and ID ready, and leave a clear path, and pickup becomes one short visit. More guides are on the Guides hub, or call Badger Junk Cars at (414) 367-7245.
Sources: Plates (8,000 lb rule, destroy, don’t return to DMV), title sections, bill of sale contents and renewal notices: WisDOT, “Selling a vehicle – points to remember” (wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/sll-jnk-vhcl/sold.aspx). Replacement title: WisDOT Form MV2119. Pickup time, hours and towing from Badger Junk Cars (client-confirmed, Sep 2026).
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