Selling off a junk or dead car in Fountain Hills

Two different words in Arizona law

Under ARS 28-4881, a junk vehicle is one that cannot be dismantled, salvaged or restored for a profit. Once the notice is sent, MVD can let the Fountain Hills landowner or a recycler dispose of it.

Abandonment is measured in hours. Under ARS 28-4801, three days unattended on any property, or two days within a road right-of-way, is evidence that a car was abandoned, and ARS 28-4831 forbids abandoning one anywhere. Towns may layer their own removal ordinances on top under ARS 28-4833, which is why Fountain Hills could differ.

When the dead car belongs to someone else

This comes up with rentals, guest spots and cars a relative left behind. Before a car can be towed from private land in Arizona, the property owner must sign an MVD authorization form (ARS 28-4834). If a tenant's car sits in its assigned space, lapsed registration alone does not prove abandonment. Our abandoned car on your property guide covers the steps. If the car belonged to someone who died, start with inherited car.

The fee follows the last owner on record

ARS 28-4802 charges the person who owned the car at abandonment a fee, collected when they next renew. ADOT puts it at $500 or higher. The Sold Notice is the key step for a Fountain Hills seller. Once a transfer report is filed, ARS 28-4835 treats it as rebutting any presumption that the Fountain Hills car's last registered owner abandoned it.

Titles for Fountain Hills owners

We have no title office distance for this town, because our research brief did not include one. Maricopa County does not issue Fountain Hills titles. In Fountain Hills, the state MVD and authorized Third Party offices handle that. The state now keeps titles electronically, so owners do not get paper ones by default.

Sell with eTitle Transfer online, or sign the paper title on its reverse and pass it over as the car leaves. If the title lists two owners, the word linking them (OR, AND, or AND/OR) sets whose signatures MVD needs. Most 2011-and-newer cars also need the odometer reading disclosed.

Plate and Sold Notice

Take the plate off before pickup. A Fountain Hills owner gets 30 days to shift the plate to another car, hand it back, or file the destruction affidavit, and may request credit for unused registration minus the $12 processing fee. Next, a Fountain Hills seller has 10 days to send MVD the free Sold Notice, either on form 46-8502 or through AZMVDNow.gov.

Nearby

Scottsdale is about 8.8 miles away and Mesa about 14.5. Apache Junction is roughly 19 miles off. Statewide rules are on the Arizona page.

Getting an offer

For a Fountain Hills car, ring (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. For an older car, see old or high mileage. We can pick up from a garage, a hillside driveway, or a storage lot.