Selling a junk car in Peoria, Arizona

Driveways are for cars that run

Peoria's zoning code is clear about home parking. Section 21-903 says residential off-street parking "shall be utilized solely for the parking of licensed and operable passenger vehicles owned by the occupants" or their guests. Required parking spaces may not be used for "storage of inoperable vehicles, except when permitted as a Temporary Use."

Fixing it at the curb is no way around that rule. Under Section 14-106(a)(2), no vehicle may be repaired on a right-of-way. The one exception is an emergency fix to get a car moving after it broke down on the road.

When Peoria calls a car abandoned

Section 14-115 sets two clocks. A car left unattended "for a period of forty-eight hours within the right-of-way of any highway, road, street or other public thoroughfare," or for 72 hours on other public or private property, is prima facie evidence of abandonment.

Abandoning a car is a civil violation under Section 14-118, on a street or on private land. The court may add the city's or the tow truck operator's removal costs, plus storage charges "up to a maximum of thirty days." Under Section 14-120 an officer may tow a car believed abandoned, then inspect it, fill out a vehicle identification form and check whether it was stolen.

Two counties under one city code

Peoria reaches across Maricopa County and Yavapai County, about 176.727 square miles of land in all. State law draws emissions Area A across parts of Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties. Electric cars, cars from 1966 or before, and cars five years old or less skip the test. See failed emissions if that is why yours is parked.

Title and plates for a Peoria sale

Since Arizona keeps titles in electronic form, a Peoria seller can finish the transfer online with eTitle Transfer. Peoria sellers with a paper title sign its back and give it over along with the car. The seller steps ADOT publishes include no notary.

In Arizona the seller keeps the plate, so pull it off before the car leaves by tow or under its own power. Then, within 10 days, file a Sold Notice. It is free, online at AZMVDNow.gov, or on paper with form 46-8502. In a city where 72 hours can mean a car was abandoned, this matters. Arizona law counts a filed transfer report as evidence that the last registered owner did not abandon the car.

Lost the title and the car is old? Arizona has a narrow path. No title on a Peoria vehicle? Still, $1,200 is the value cap for a Peoria car aged 12 model years or more. At or below that limit, a Peoria car can go to a licensed auto recycler or to a scrap metal dealer listed on the state register. The conditions: no lien on it, a signed statement from you that it will be scrapped or dismantled, photos of you, the car and its VIN, and a check rather than cash. The dealer must then wait 3 business days before crushing it. More in junk car with no title.

Getting an offer

Peoria sellers can ring (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. We load from Peoria garages, side yards and repair bays. In a straight line, Surprise is roughly 11.5 miles off and Glendale roughly 18.8. Statewide rules are on the Arizona page.