Seller Preparation
Documents You Need To Sell A Luxury Car
The seller who arrives at closing with a clean documentation packet gets a faster wire and (often) a higher offer. Here is the full list of what we will ask for, what is strictly required, and what is optional but adds value.
Required for any sale
- The 17-character VIN. Required at submission. Without it, we cannot extend a written offer.
- The current title document. Original (not a copy) at pickup. If lost, we work with a duplicate title issued by your state DMV.
- Government-issued photo ID. Driver's license, passport, or state ID for AML compliance.
- Bank wire instructions. Routing number and account number for the wire transfer. Account must be in your name.
- If there is a lien: A current 10-day payoff quote from the lender plus the lender's wire instructions.
Strongly recommended (improves your offer)
- Service records. Complete service history from authorized dealerships, restoration shops, or specialty servicers. The more complete, the more we can value the car.
- Original window sticker (Monroney). Especially for cars under 10 years old. Documents original options and MSRP.
- Original purchase documents. The original bill of sale from the dealership or previous private sale.
- Previous title or transfer paperwork. Establishes chain of ownership across previous transfers.
- Recent registration. Confirms current registration and address of record.
- Insurance declaration page. Sometimes confirms VIN and stated value if the car is on an agreed-value policy.
Specialty documentation (adds significant value when applicable)
- Manufacturer authenticity certificates. Ferrari Classiche Red Book, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Aston Martin Heritage. These can add 10 to 25 percent to a vintage car's value.
- Concours scoresheets and judging records. Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Cavallino, Quail awards or judging tags.
- Race or competition history. Documentation of period racing or competition use, including original entry papers, results, and provenance letters.
- Famous-owner provenance. Documentation of ownership by a notable individual, typically requiring a letter or contemporary photos.
- Build sheets and factory configurator output. Original Ferrari Tailor Made spec, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur configuration, Bentley Mulliner build sheet.
Documents we do not need
- Carfax or AutoCheck reports. We pull our own through commercial data providers.
- Receipts for fuel, detailing supplies, or routine cleaning.
- Owner's manuals and tool kits, though they should stay with the car.
How to share documents
After you submit the offer form, you receive a secure document upload link by email. Upload high-resolution scans or photos of any of the documents above. We can usually re-price upward when service history or specialty documentation reveals value we did not assume in the initial offer.
At pickup, the original title goes with the driver in a sealed envelope. Other documents can stay with the car as they will go to the next owner.
What missing documents cost you
Most missing documents do not disqualify a car. They reduce the resale ceiling at our end, which reduces the offer we can extend. The biggest impact is missing service history on cars where service history is expected (any modern Ferrari, Porsche GT, McLaren, etc.). Cars with gaps in maintenance documentation typically come in 8 to 15 percent below well-documented comparables.
Ready to submit with your documentation? Start the form below.