From First Call to Cash in Hand
Selling your vehicle to Alberta Car Buyers follows a five-step process: 1 get a 60-second firm quote by phone, text, or online form; 2 accept the offer and we lock the price in writing while scheduling pickup; 3 prepare your photo ID and registration, nothing else; 4 meet our insured Calgary driver, sign the bill of sale at the curb, and receive cash or e-Transfer before the vehicle is loaded; 5 we file the Alberta Registries transfer and process the vehicle through a licensed Alberta recycler. Total time from first contact to payment is typically 2–4 hours in the Calgary metro area and 24–48 hours elsewhere in Alberta.
How does Alberta Car Buyers work? Alberta Car Buyers operates as a Calgary-based mobile car-buying service in five steps. First, you contact us by phone, text, online form, or social DM and share your vehicle's year, make, model, condition, and pickup address - we provide a firm cash quote within 60 seconds. Second, if you accept, we lock the offer in writing via SMS or email and schedule a pickup window that suits you. Third, you prepare two documents (photo ID and vehicle registration) and remove personal items and licence plates from the car. Fourth, our insured Alberta tow operator arrives at your address, completes the bill of sale on the spot, and delivers cash or e-Transfer before loading the vehicle. Fifth, we handle the Alberta Registries ownership transfer and route the vehicle to a licensed provincial auto recycler. Total elapsed time: typically 2–4 hours in Calgary metro, 24–48 hours elsewhere across the 55+ Alberta cities we serve.
Five Steps. Two Hours. Cash in Hand.
Each card below summarizes one step. Detailed breakdowns follow in the next section.
Get Your Quote
Call, text, or fill the form. Firm offer in 60 seconds.
Lock the Offer
We confirm the price in writing and book your pickup window.
Prepare ID & Reg
Grab your photo ID and registration. Remove plates and items.
Driver Arrives
Sign bill of sale. Get paid in cash or e-Transfer on the spot.
We Handle the Rest
Registries transfer filed. Vehicle eco-recycled. You're done.
What Happens at Every Stage
For each of the five steps: what we do, what you do, and how long it takes.
Get a 60-Second Firm Quote
Call (587) 324-2142, text the same number, fill the online form, or DM us on Facebook or Instagram. A real Calgary buyer answers within 30 seconds during business hours and gives a firm cash offer before the conversation ends. No callbacks, no "let me check with the boss," no inspection delay.
What You Do
- Share year, make, and model
- Describe condition honestly (running, wrecked, scrap)
- Tell us your pickup address (or city)
- Mention anything unusual (no key, missing engine, etc.)
What We Do
- Check current Alberta scrap and parts values
- Confirm pickup feasibility for your location
- Give you a single firm dollar amount
- Answer any questions about the process
Accept the Offer and Schedule Pickup
If the number works for you, we lock it in writing - typically via SMS confirmation including the agreed amount, your address, and the scheduled pickup window. You also receive the driver's name and vehicle details once dispatch confirms. Calgary metro pickups are usually 2–4 hours later; other Alberta cities within 24–48 hours.
What You Do
- Say yes to the offer
- Pick a pickup window that works for you
- Confirm the registered owner will be present
- Reply to our SMS to confirm receipt
What We Do
- Send written confirmation with locked amount
- Dispatch the closest available driver
- Send driver name, photo, and ETA
- Stay reachable for any follow-up questions
Prepare Your Paperwork and Vehicle
Two documents and a few small tasks. Do not clean the car, repair anything, drain fluids, or remove parts - that's all on us. Just make sure the vehicle is accessible to a tow truck and that your paperwork is in hand when the driver arrives.
Documents to Have Ready
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, passport)
- Vehicle registration (or bill of sale if registration is lost)
- Vehicle keys (if you still have them - not required)
Quick Pre-Pickup Tasks
- Remove personal belongings from the vehicle
- Remove licence plates (keep them - they're yours)
- Ensure tow access (move blocking cars, unlock gates)
- Note any new damage since the quote (we'll re-confirm)
Meet the Driver and Get Paid
An insured Alberta Car Buyers driver arrives within your scheduled window. They verify the vehicle matches the quote description, complete the bill of sale on the spot using the locked price, and hand you cash or send e-Transfer before the vehicle is hooked up to the tow truck. You sign once, get paid, and watch the car leave.
What You Do
- Show photo ID matching the registered owner
- Hand over registration / bill of sale
- Sign the bill of sale (one signature)
- Accept payment in your chosen method
What the Driver Does
- Confirms vehicle VIN and condition
- Fills out the bill of sale and Registries form
- Pays you in cash or sends e-Transfer
- Loads the vehicle and provides your signed copy
We File Paperwork and Recycle the Vehicle
After pickup, your part is finished. We file the ownership transfer with Alberta Registries (you don't need to visit a registry office), and the vehicle is delivered to a licensed Alberta auto recycler where fluids are reclaimed, usable parts are redirected to certified rebuilders, and remaining metal is processed at provincial steel facilities. Roughly 86% of every vehicle by weight gets recycled into new materials.
Paperwork We Handle
- Alberta Registries ownership transfer filing
- Bill of sale archived (digital copy emailed if requested)
- VIN deregistration with auto recycler
- Provincial environmental compliance reporting
What Happens to the Car
- Fluids reclaimed (oil, coolant, fuel, refrigerants)
- Battery, tires, and hazardous components separated
- Reusable parts sent to certified rebuilders
- Remaining hulk shredded and metals recycled
Three Ways You Get Paid
Choose your payment method at quote time. All payment is delivered at pickup, before the vehicle is loaded - never after, never by mail, never on hold.
| Payment Method | Best For | Speed | Limit | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash CAD | Offers under $3,000 · Sellers who prefer physical bills | Instant - handed over at pickup | Up to $3,000 per pickup | $0 |
| e-Transfer | Offers $500 – $10,000 · Most common option | 30 sec – 5 min · Delivered at pickup | Up to $10,000 per transfer | $0 |
| Bank Draft | Offers above $10,000 · Late-model write-offs | Issued from bank, delivered at pickup | No upper limit | $0 |
| Payment is delivered before the vehicle is loaded onto the tow truck. No exceptions, no delays, no "we'll send it later." | ||||
What You Bring vs. What We Handle
The complete documentation checklist. You bring two things; we handle everything else.
The 2-Item List
- Valid Photo IDAlberta driver's licence, passport, or other government-issued ID with name matching the registered vehicle owner.
- Vehicle RegistrationCurrent or expired registration is fine. If registration is lost, a bill of sale proving ownership works - we can also help you obtain a duplicate.
- Optional ExtrasVehicle keys (if you still have them), any service records (helpful but not required), and removed licence plates (you keep these - they're yours).
Everything Else
- Bill of SaleDrafted, signed, and witnessed at pickup. You keep a signed copy; we keep the original.
- Alberta Registries TransferFiled by us within 7 business days of pickup. You do not need to visit a registry office.
- VIN DeregistrationCoordinated with the receiving auto recycler so the vehicle is permanently retired from registries.
- Environmental DocumentationCompliance reporting under Alberta's Designated Materials Recycling Regulation.
- Digital ReceiptEmailed within 24 hours of pickup if you opt in - useful for tax or insurance purposes.
How Long Each Stage Takes vs. Other Options
A stage-by-stage comparison between our process, a traditional Calgary salvage yard transaction, and a private Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace sale.
| Stage | Alberta Car Buyers | Calgary Salvage Yard | Private Sale (Kijiji / FB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting a firm quote | 60 seconds Phone or form | 2–48 hours "Bring it in for inspection" | Days–weeks Negotiate with each buyer |
| Accepting and locking the price | ~ 5 minutes SMS / email confirmation | 30–60 minutes In-office paperwork | Hours–days Buyer commits / withdraws |
| Getting the car to the buyer | 2–4 hours (Calgary) Free pickup | Days Seller delivers or schedules tow | Days–weeks Buyer delivers / tow arranged |
| Completing the sale paperwork | 10 minutes At the curb | 30 minutes In-office | 15–30 minutes Plus registry visit |
| Receiving payment | Before loading Cash / e-Transfer | Same visit Cheque often | Varies Cash, transfer, or scam risk |
| Total elapsed time | 2–4 hours | 3–7 days | 1–6 weeks |
What Happens When the Driver Arrives
The 15–30 minutes between the tow truck pulling up and the car leaving your driveway, broken into four micro-stages.
Driver Greets You
Confirms your name, references the locked quote, shows Alberta Car Buyers ID.
~ 2 minutesQuick Verification
VIN check against the quote, walk-around to confirm condition matches description.
~ 3 minutesPaperwork & Payment
Bill of sale signed, payment delivered (cash handed over or e-Transfer sent and confirmed).
~ 8 minutesVehicle Loaded
Tow hook-up, vehicle secured, your signed copy of the bill of sale handed over.
~ 7 minutes10 Minutes Before the Driver Arrives
Nothing here is required for us to complete the pickup - but doing these makes the visit smoother and faster.
Locate Your ID & Registration
Have both physical documents in hand, not in your phone or email.
Empty Personal Items
Glove box, trunk, under-seat, console, sunglasses holder. Anything you want, take it out.
Remove Licence Plates
Alberta law requires plates to stay with the owner. A Phillips screwdriver is all you need.
Clear Tow Access
Move blocking cars from the driveway, unlock gates, shovel snow if needed.
Find the Keys (if you have them)
Keys help the driver, but the vehicle can be loaded without them - no penalty either way.
Keep Your Phone Handy
The driver may call when nearby; you'll also need it for e-Transfer confirmation.
What Continues Behind the Scenes
You're done after pickup - but the work continues on our end. Here's what we handle without you needing to lift a finger.
The five seconds after the tow truck pulls away aren't the end of the transaction - they're the end of your part in it. Everything from that moment forward is our responsibility, including all government filings, all environmental processing, and all chain-of-custody records.
If you ever need a digital copy of the bill of sale (for tax purposes, insurance cancellation, or estate paperwork), we can email it on request - typically within 24 hours.
You should, however, take 15 minutes within the next few days to cancel the registration and recover any insurance refund. Bring your licence plates to any Alberta Registries office; cancellation triggers the prorated refund directly from your insurance provider.
What If Your Situation Is Unusual?
Six common "what if" scenarios and exactly how the process changes for each.
No Keys?
Lost, broken, never had them - happens often, especially with inherited or long-stored vehicles.
Lost Registration?
Old vehicles often have missing paperwork from years of moves or storage.
Vehicle Has a Lien?
Money still owed on the car to a bank or finance company.
Vehicle in a Garage / Backyard?
Stored indoors, behind fences, or accessible only via narrow lanes.
Owner Out of Town?
Estate sale, owner relocated, or someone selling on behalf of a family member.
Need It Picked Up Today, Right Now?
Eviction deadline, towing-by-city threat, urgent property cleanup.
Detailed Process Questions
The questions Calgary sellers ask once they've understood the basics and want the fine print.
In the Calgary metro area, the typical end-to-end timeline is 2 to 4 hours: roughly 1 minute for the quote, 5–10 minutes to confirm and schedule, and 2–4 hours between booking and driver arrival. For other Alberta cities, the same process completes within 24 to 48 hours. There is no inspection delay, no callback wait, and no payment hold - cash or e-Transfer is delivered at the pickup, before the vehicle is loaded.
We pay sellers in cash, e-Transfer, or bank draft - your choice at quote time. Cash is the most common option (typical for offers under $3,000), e-Transfer is preferred for amounts between $1,000 and $10,000, and bank drafts are used for offers exceeding $10,000. All payment is handed over or sent at pickup, before the vehicle is loaded onto the tow truck.
You need two documents: a valid government-issued photo ID with your name matching the registered owner, and the vehicle registration (or a bill of sale if registration is lost). That's it. The driver completes the bill of sale, fills the Alberta Registries transfer form, and provides you a signed copy at pickup - no trips to a registry office required.
The registered owner - or someone with documented authority to sell the vehicle - must be present at pickup to sign the bill of sale and accept payment. If the registered owner cannot attend, contact us before pickup to arrange a notarized authorization. We cannot complete a pickup without an authorized signer present.
No. Once a quote is accepted and locked in writing, it is the amount paid at pickup. We do not deduct for cosmetic differences, mileage variation, or any condition aspect that was honestly described during the quote call. The only situations that may alter the price are major undisclosed issues (e.g., missing engine when described as "just non-running") - and in those cases we re-quote on the spot and you can decline.
That is fully expected - most of the vehicles we buy do not start or move. Our tow trucks are equipped to load non-running vehicles from driveways, garages, parking lots, side streets, alleys, and rural properties. The driver brings winches, dollies, and ramps as needed. Just ensure the vehicle is accessible (not buried in snow or behind locked gates) and we handle the rest.
Before pickup we send you the driver's name, photo, vehicle plate, and arrival window via SMS. The driver carries Alberta Car Buyers ID, drives a marked tow vehicle, and references your locked quote amount on arrival. If anything feels off, call (587) 324-2142 to verify before signing or releasing the vehicle.
You do - but it's quick. Alberta law requires you to keep your licence plates (they belong to you, not the vehicle). After pickup, take the plates to any Alberta Registries office to cancel the registration; this also triggers any prorated insurance refund directly from your insurance provider. The whole errand typically takes 15 minutes.
Now You Know the Process. Let's Start at Step 1.
One phone call gets you a firm quote in 60 seconds. The other four steps take care of themselves.
Open today · 8 AM – 11 PM · Calgary HQ · 55+ Alberta cities
Ready to Start Step 1?
$15,00060-second firm quote. Same-day Calgary pickup. Cash before loading.
Call (587) 324-2142 Use the Online Form Open today · 8 AM – 11 PM · No obligation