Selling a junk or dead car in Cullman

What Cullman counts as abandoned

Section 32-1 defines an abandoned vehicle as any motor vehicle that is "in a wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, discarded or otherwise inoperable condition," or one that "does not have affixed thereto an unexpired license plate" and has sat past the seven-business-day mark. Boats in the same state are included.

Loose parts count too. The code treats "any discarded automobile parts not currently in use on an operable vehicle" as junk motor vehicle parts, and its list runs from motors and doors to hoods, trunk lids, windshields, tires, wheels and seats. A pile of take-off parts beside a dead car is two problems, not one.

Only a car "held in connection with a business enterprise, lawfully licensed by the City on property zoned for junkyard, vehicle repair facility or vehicle storage yard" is exempt. A driveway at a house does not count.

The notice and the deadline

Under Section 32-68, an owner, occupant or person in charge of a property breaks the law by using it "for open storage of any inoperable or abandoned motor vehicle." Section 32-69 says almost the same thing and adds old appliances and building rubbish.

Enforcement starts with a notice. The official must allow "not less than 14 nor more than 30 days," and the code caps any extension at "no more than a total of 30 days." Once that deadline passes, the owner is liable for "separate and distinct offenses for each day the nuisance is allowed to remain." If the car still has not moved, the code says "the enforcing official shall cause the abatement," meaning the city has it removed.

Title and plates in Cullman County

One title office we checked sits at 500 2nd Ave. SW, Room 101, phone 256-775-4804. It sits less than a mile south of downtown Cullman, measured straight. Other county offices may exist.

Alabama asks for no notary on a seller's title signature. A Cullman seller can sign it at home. Take care with the miles. Your assignment and the buyer's application need one identical figure, and owner names must read just as the title prints them.

Pull the plate before the car goes. Alabama has the registrant pull it, and it can go on a car you get later. Moving a valid plate to a newly acquired vehicle late costs a $15 plus interest penalty. Lost the title? A replacement costs $15 through the Public Title Portal, and junk car with no title walks through it. Older cars have another route in Alabama. Missing the title on a Cullman car? Has that Cullman car reached 12 model years, with a value no higher than $1,000? Then a dismantler or scrap recycler can still take it. Notice form MVT 5-18 then goes in from the buyer on the state's SCRAP portal.

Around Cullman

Decatur is 28.7 miles away, Albertville 36.5, and Madison and Huntsville each about 37. Statewide rules are on the Alabama page.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or by the form. Fill in the offer form for your Cullman car. Our Cullman pickups happen in yards off 2nd Avenue, on farm lanes outside town, and at shops that could not fix the car.