A dead car in Casa Grande, and how to sell it

Casa Grande's definition of junk

Section 8.12.010 casts a wide net. An "abandoned or junk vehicle" covers any car, or major piece of one, that is "wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, inoperative, incapable of movement under its own power," or missing "the wheels, engine, transmission or other substantial part thereof." A sedan that won't crank qualifies. So does a pickup whose engine is on a stand in the garage.

The same section defines "major repair" as removing parts like "the differential, transmission, head, engine block or oil pan."

Two exceptions to the five days

The rule stops applying when the car is in:

• "an enclosed building", or
• "an area completely screened from view by fencing, shrubbery, or otherwise."

An open carport facing the street fits neither. If screening isn't practical, moving the car out is.

Sidewalks, streets and tickets

Section 10.08.240 runs two separate clocks: three days for a car on a sidewalk, and seven for a "disabled vehicle remaining parked upon any street of the city." After that the car is declared abandoned and police "shall forthwith remove the same," with the owner paying.

Unpaid tickets carry their own trigger in Section 10.12.010: "If the vehicle has been issued five unpaid parking tickets, the vehicle shall be towed and impounded."

Getting a towed car released

Casa Grande police hand an impounded car back once the owner "has furnished evidence of his identity and ownership and signed a receipt," per Section 10.12.020. Towing and storage charges come from the city's current contract with its tow company, and settling them "shall not release the owner or driver" from other penalties. When the lot bill outruns the car's worth, read our impound guide.

A title office inside the city

The office at 240 W Cottonwood Ln, which we found in ADOT MVD's hours and locations listing, is roughly a mile southeast of Casa Grande's center as the crow flies. Counties in Arizona do not issue titles. For Casa Grande, that's the job of state MVD and authorized Third Party offices. A good share of the work also runs through AZ MVD Now.

Arizona steps for the seller

• Signing over. Do it on the reverse of the paper title or through eTitle Transfer, and the buyer receives the title along with the car. With two names on it, the OR, AND or AND/OR between them decides who signs.
• Bill of sale. Casa Grande sellers with an Arizona title can use ADOT's form 38-1306, the Title Transfer Bill of Sale; other titles can't. See bill of sale.
• Plate. It belongs to the seller, so take it off before the new owner hauls the car.
• Sold Notice. No charge, due inside 10 calendar days. Skipping it can leave MVD listing you as owner, and an abandoned car brings a fee of $500 or more.

Nearby towns

Maricopa is about 16.6 miles away and Florence about 23. Statewide rules are on the Arizona page.

Getting an offer

Tell us about the car online or at (877) 421-6008. Include make, model, mileage, if it can drive, and what title you have. The truck goes to the car, whether it's in a backyard near downtown or parked at a shop on the edge of town.