Riverside, California

Sell your wrecked or totaled car in Riverside

The 91 through Riverside is one of the most congested commuter routes in the country, and it generates a steady supply of the low-speed, high-cost collisions that insurers total rather than repair.

Offer in writing before dispatch. Free pickup. Paid in full before the truck leaves.

Why Riverside

What we see here

Inland Empire sellers often have a long drive to any buyer who will look at the car properly. You do not need to make it. We come to you, and the pickup is free.

We pick up along the 91, the 215, the 60 and the 15, and across Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Canyon Crest, Arlington and Eastvale. Pickup is free everywhere we buy, including vehicles that do not run, have no keys, or have not moved in a year.

How it runs

Three steps, and the number does not move

Tell us about the car

Year, make, model, trim, mileage, where the damage sits, whether it runs, your title status, and the ZIP in Riverside where it is parked. Photos speed this up most.

Offer in writing, before dispatch

We price the vehicle as a vehicle, not by weight. Nothing is dispatched until you accept, and once you accept, that is what you are paid.

Free pickup, paid on the spot

Usually within 24 to 48 hours. Free even if the car does not run or roll. Paid in full before the vehicle is loaded and gone.

What the gap looks like

A 2016 Hyundai Sonata had been quoted $475 as scrap. We paid $1,350, and the seller had the money ten hours after the first call. On a 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE we paid $12,500.

$475 → $1,3502016 Sonata
$12,5002020 Highlander XLE
10 hoursFirst call to payment

Figures are from purchases we completed. Every vehicle is different and your offer depends on your car.

California paperwork

The DMV side, handled with you

California has its own rules, and two of them are the reverse of what sellers who moved from a neighbouring state expect.

Standard plates stay with the car

In California the plates belong to the vehicle, not to you. Leave standard plates on it. Only personalised and special-interest plates come off before pickup, and those you can retain or transfer through the DMV.

No notarisation needed

California does not require the seller's signature on a title to be notarized. You simply sign where indicated. If you have sold a car in Arizona or Nevada before, this is one less step than you are bracing for.

File the REG 138 within 5 days

The Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability is what ends your responsibility for the vehicle. We file it the same day, and you should file your own copy at the DMV site too. It is free and takes about two minutes.

Salvage certificates and liens are routine

If your insurer totaled the car, the title is surrendered and the DMV issues a salvage certificate, form REG 488C, in its place. We buy owner-retained salvage regularly. If there is still a loan, bring the payoff information or the lien release.

We are not attorneys and we are not the DMV. If your situation is unusual we will point you to the specific form rather than guess. The full FAQ goes into more detail.

Reviews

What sellers say

California Wrecked Cars is a TrackWala affiliate. These are Google reviews of TrackWala, the company that buys the vehicles, quoted exactly as they were written.

I have had the best experience with trackwala Sam has been so awesome in preparing everything that was needed he was right on with everything and quick to respond and everything was just a really great experience I would recommend them to anybody

Sondra August 2026 · Google review

Trackwala was easy to work with and overall I had a good experience with them. I would recommend using this company when selling your junker car.

Jill Schmid July 2026 · Google review
Where we pick up

Anywhere in Riverside

Driveways, street parking, apartment and condo lots, storage facilities, body shops and tow yards are all routine. If the car is accruing storage fees, say so when you call, because that changes how fast we should move.

  • Moreno Valley
  • Corona
  • Jurupa Valley
  • Canyon Crest
  • Arlington
  • Eastvale

Your wrecked car is worth more than a scrap quote

Tell us what happened to it and we will put a number in writing. No fee, no obligation, free pickup.