Selling a junk car in Vestavia Hills

Two rules, two clocks

Vestavia Hills has written about dead cars in two chapters, and the clocks differ.

72 hours, Section 9-139. Anyone who controls property in the city, "whether as owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise," must not keep a "partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked, junked or discarded vehicle" there beyond 72 hours.

60 days, Section 11-10. A junk vehicle here means one "left unused for a period exceeding 60 days," one "supported by any artificial means" for that long, or one left "in an inoperable condition for longer than 60 days." Recreational, antique and collectible vehicles in working condition and in use are excluded.

Plan around the shorter clock. A car that has sat for months in a driveway, like many described in car sitting for years, already fails both.

From notice to court

Section 11-10 lays out the steps:

1. A police official, fire official or other city agent finds the problem and gives the owner written notice to fix it.
2. If it is not corrected "within ten days of the original notice," a second written notice orders the owner to appear before the municipal court.
3. If the owner cannot be found in the city or its police jurisdiction, the notice may be posted on the premises.

The removal charge above applies when the city takes the car away itself.

Streets and Old Highway 31

No one may leave a "partially dismantled, non-operating, wrecked, or junked vehicle on any street or highway within the city," says Section 9-138. Under 9-137, a car sitting on a street for "48 hours consecutively" is presumed abandoned. One stretch has a tighter limit: on Old Highway 31 and its right-of-way between Canyon Road and Old Creek Trail, no car may stay parked beyond "eight consecutive hours." The Sibyl Temple in the photo stands at the city's entrance on Highway 31.

If the city impounds the car, Section 9-142 lets you redeem it before it is sold by paying the costs of removal, impoundment, upkeep and storage.

Title, plates and the county office

Vestavia Hills lies in Jefferson and Shelby counties. The Jefferson County office we found sits about 6 miles northwest of Vestavia Hills in a straight line. Its Birmingham address is 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., and you can call 205-325-5256. The county may have others. Tags and registration for Vestavia Hills cars are handled at the county office. Vestavia Hills owners get their titles through the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Vestavia Hills sellers sign with no notary. Certified mileage must equal the buyer's application, and each name must read as on the title. Keep the plates, since you may be able to use them on your next car. Lost the title in Vestavia Hills? A replacement is $15 from ADOR's Public Title Portal or a designated agent. Very old cars may not need one: Alabama requires titles only for vehicles not more than 35 model years old. See junk car with no title.

Getting an offer

In Vestavia Hills, ring (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. Our truck goes up the hill to a sloped driveway or a garage off Highway 31. Vestavia Hills is about 2 miles from Mountain Brook and about 6 from Birmingham. The Alabama page has the statewide rules.