Can You Sell an iPhone That Is Not Paid Off Yet?

Plenty of iPhones are bought on a monthly plan through a carrier. If yours still has payments left, you can still sell it. It is priced a little differently, and there are a couple of things worth knowing before you do.

Yes, we buy phones with payments left

Payments left on the phone are not a dealbreaker. A phone that is still being paid off is priced as carrier locked rather than unlocked. Nothing else about the offer changes: condition, storage and battery work exactly the same way.

To see what that means for your model, open its page on our device values. Each page shows the unlocked and the carrier locked offers side by side, by storage and grade, and says how much more an unlocked one brings.

Why a financed phone counts as carrier locked

A phone on an installment plan is usually locked to that carrier until it is paid off. While it is locked, it only works with that carrier's service, which is why it is worth less than an unlocked phone. Apple's unlocking page explains that only your carrier can unlock the phone.

You can check your own phone in Settings, General, About. Next to Carrier Lock, "No SIM restrictions" means it is unlocked. Anything else means it is still tied to a carrier.

Selling the phone does not pay off the balance

This is the part to be clear about. When you sell a phone that is not paid off, the remaining balance stays on your carrier account. You still owe it, and your monthly payments continue as normal. Selling the phone and settling the plan are two separate things.

If you are switching carriers or ending service, ask your carrier what you owe and whether the balance becomes due all at once. That is a question for them, not for the buyer.

Should you pay it off first?

It depends on how much is left and how big the gap is between the locked and unlocked offers for your model.

• If the balance is small, paying it off and asking your carrier to unlock the phone can move it into the higher unlocked price. Carriers have their own rules for when they unlock a paid-off phone, so ask them how long it takes.
• If the balance is large, selling now as carrier locked is usually simpler. You get cash today, and the balance stays on your account either way.

The value page for your model shows the exact gap, so you can do the math with real numbers instead of guessing.

Why we check the IMEI on every phone

We run every IMEI through a verification service before we meet, so there are no surprises on either side. The report shows carrier lock status and whether a phone has been reported. If something shows up on the report, it is not automatically a dealbreaker. It gets a quick manual review before we confirm a number.

You can see what a check shows on your own phone first, using the free IMEI check on our homepage. This guide explains every result.

Getting it ready

A financed phone gets the same preparation as any other: back it up, sign out of iCloud, turn off Find My and erase it. If you use an eSIM, move your number to your new phone before you erase the old one. Our checklist has every step in order.

When you get your quote on the sell page, choose carrier locked and pick your carrier. The offer on screen already reflects it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay off my iPhone before selling it to you?

No. We buy phones with payments left. It is priced as carrier locked instead of unlocked.

Will I still owe my carrier after I sell it?

Yes. Selling the phone does not change your installment plan. The remaining balance stays on your account.

Does it matter which carrier it is locked to?

Tell us the carrier when you get your quote. The offer is set for a carrier locked phone, and we confirm the details before we meet.

Why do you need the IMEI?

We check every IMEI before we meet, so both of us know the phone is clean before anyone drives out. The IMEI is in Settings, General, About, or dial *#06#.