Mesa junk cars: the carport clock and a whole-car sale

Ten days, three kinds of car

Mesa's clock applies to cars that are abandoned, inoperable or unregistered, and to "parts of a vehicle thereof." An engine on a stand beside the carport post is covered too. A lawful business that has to store cars to run, a repair shop for one, is exempt.

Two other rules in 8-6-3 shape the lot:

• On a Mesa lot used as a single residence, any motor vehicle parked in the front or side yard must sit "on an improved, dustproof parking surface."
• Loose "vehicle parts" and "scrap iron, tin, and other metals" belong "within a lawful, enclosed" building.

When Mesa police tow

Section 10-3-26 lets officers take a car from a street, a city lot or garage, or "duly posted private property" when it breaks the traffic chapters' parking rules. If the Mesa registration lists an owner, the officer "shall immediately give or cause to be given notice in writing." That notice covers the car, when and where it was removed, why, and "the name of the garage or place where the vehicle is stored."

The same section adds a city administrative fee for a properly impounded car, separate from towing and storage. State law lets MVD transfer an unclaimed car, free of liens, to whoever holds it. Towed or impounded walks through the options.

Trailers have it tighter: 10-3-22.1 caps them at "two (2) hours" on a public street unless they are doing commercial work.

State steps for a Mesa seller

Mesa falls inside the Phoenix-area emissions program. Vehicles five years old or less, 1966 and earlier, and electric ones are exempt.

Titles here are electronic and run through MVD and authorized Third Party offices. eTitle Transfer works online; so does a signed paper title passed to the buyer with the keys. Notarizing is not among MVD's listed seller steps. An odometer statement goes with most 2011-and-later cars.

The plates are yours, not the car's. In the next 30 days, reuse them, surrender them, or file an affidavit saying they were destroyed. A Sold Notice, free and due within 10 days on AZMVDNow.gov or form 46-8502, gives MVD a record that you no longer own the car. More in after you sell.

Nearby

Crow-flight distances from Mesa: Gilbert 6.3 miles, Apache Junction 10.2, Chandler 11.2, Tempe 12.5. See Arizona for statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Mesa? Call (877) 421-6008 or fill in the offer form. Pickup reaches the car under the carport, in a closed garage or at a shop.