# How much of my car can I sell without actually making it illegal to drive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292 "2017-12-02T01:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/1 "2017-12-02T01:44:48Z")
So far I’ve got the stereo and speakers (maybe I could get a buck-fifty for that on Craigslist), rear seats (perfectly legal to remove according to everything I’ve read), spare tire and jack(don’t need it, never going far, only to work and back). Anything else I’m missing? ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/2 "2017-12-02T02:31:25Z")
Is it a VW diesel ? I ask because there were stories about people somewhat stripping their cars before turning them in. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/3 "2017-12-02T02:38:23Z")
I would also like to say, I applaud your enterprise. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/4 "2017-12-02T03:25:11Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Is it a VW diesel ? I ask because there were stories about people somewhat stripping their cars before turning them in. No, it’s an older model Volvo sedan. I never heard that about VW’s; it kind of makes sense though - there seems to be quite a few VW enthusiasts out there. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/5 "2017-12-02T03:26:41Z")
In Nevada? Pretty much all of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/6 "2017-12-02T03:31:39Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > In Nevada? Pretty much all of it. In that case if I moved there I could cut out the catalytic converter and sell that. Even just for scrap metal they can fetch something like $200 I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/7 "2017-12-02T03:35:42Z")
Where do you live? Does your state require doors, hood, window glass, fenders? GaryM ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/8 "2017-12-02T03:40:12Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Where do you live? > > Does your state require doors, hood, window glass, fenders? > > GaryM Maryland; I think the whole D.C. area is pretty strict - but I never looked into it thoroughly. Maybe I could do without any rear passenger doors, I don’t like having passengers anyway, people tend to annoy me. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/9 "2017-12-02T03:44:37Z")
Sell the entire engine. Is there anything illegal about driving your car without an engine? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/10 "2017-12-02T03:47:56Z")
If you sell the passengers seat, then you can also sell that airbag. I’ve heard there’s a pretty good rate of return on those. . . ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/11 "2017-12-02T04:00:53Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Sell the entire engine. Is there anything illegal about driving your car without an engine? Fred Flintstone did it no problem. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/12 "2017-12-02T04:05:06Z")
hub caps ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/13 "2017-12-02T04:17:04Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > hub caps mud flaps, road maps, car wraps! ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/14 "2017-12-02T04:17:19Z")
Air conditioning, interior door panels, window motors, fog lights, antenna, trunk lid. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/15 "2017-12-02T04:23:25Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > Air conditioning, interior door panels, window motors, fog lights, antenna, trunk lid. The antenna was missing when I bought the car, but I think the antenna motor is still there. I was wondering about the trunk lid, but I think rain would be a problem with that. The air conditioning sounds like a good possibility; thing I was wondering with that is if it could effect any other systems. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2017, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-my-car-can-i-sell-without-actually-making-it-illegal-to-drive/803292/16 "2017-12-02T05:06:28Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Maryland; I think the whole D.C. area is pretty strict - but I never looked into it thoroughly. Maybe I could do without any rear passenger doors, I don’t like having passengers anyway, people tend to annoy me. I sold the doors off an S10 pickup and crept it to the nearest junkyard on it’s last breath. In fact, I sold the alloy wheels and tires because the yard had a set they lent me to deliver the hulk. I donated it, didn’t ask for payment. Jeeps have removable doors, right? I see them driven like that every now and then. Dennis