Selling a junk or inoperable car in Tucson

What Tucson counts as junked or inoperable

Section 16-3 defines a junked or inoperable vehicle as one showing any of these conditions: "wrecked, partially or fully dismantled, abandoned, stripped, inoperative, inoperable," among others. The definition reaches trailers and camper shells too.

Section 16-15 then says no one who owns or has custody of such a car may store it "on private property, or on any sidewalks, streets or alleys, within the city," except as the section allows. Unlawful storage is "declared dangerous to the public safety and a public nuisance."

Two details people miss:

• Responsibility is shared. When the city finds a violation, the responsible persons "include the recorded owner, occupant or person in control of the private property, as well as the registered owner or custodian of the vehicle." A landlord, a tenant and the name on the registration can all be on the hook.
• Long-term storage has its own label. Section 16-3 lists "motor vehicles that are being stored for more than two (2) years" as outdoor storage, and junk cars stored outdoors must meet the limits in 16-15.

The 24-hour street rule

Under Section 20-261, no vehicle may be parked or left alone on a street, roadway or right-of-way "for a period in excess of twenty four (24) hours." There is an exception for an "operable, currently registered, non-commercial, passenger vehicle" owned by the resident beside it, good for no more than "seven (7) calendar days." A dead car does not qualify for it.

Section 20-12 lets police impound a car "left unattended upon a street for a period in excess of twenty- four (24) hours." It also covers cars in a fire lane or within 15 feet of a hydrant.

Unpaid tickets stay with the car

Under Section 20-203, the city may boot or impound a car whose owner has "three (3) or more unpaid civil parking infractions." Selling at that stage does not wipe the slate. The code says transferring the title after the boot or impound "is not a defense to nonpayment of the fines," and the car is held until the fines and fees are paid. See tickets or registration hold and towed or impounded.

Tucson is in emissions Area B

Arizona confines emissions testing to the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, and Tucson's zone, Area B, is part of Pima County. ADEQ runs it through myAZcar.com. Cars at most five years old are exempt, and so are 1966-or-older cars and electric ones. If your Tucson car fails the test and repairs top its value, read failed emissions.

Arizona title and plate rules from Tucson

Pima County does not issue titles. Tucson sellers can use a state MVD office or an authorized ADOT Third Party office, and AZ MVD Now covers a lot of it online. Since Arizona keeps titles electronically, eTitle Transfer may be all a Tucson seller needs. Holding paper? Sign its back and hand it across along with the car. ADOT's published seller steps contain no notary requirement. Odometer disclosure applies to most cars built 2011 or later, and on a jointly owned car, OR, AND or AND/OR on the record settles whose signature is needed.

Your plate stays yours. Unscrew it in Tucson before the tow truck leaves. Once a Tucson car is sold, the plate needs a home within 30 days. Put it on a new car, turn it in to MVD, or file an affidavit of destruction. You can get credit for registration fees you did not use, minus a $12 processing fee.

Next comes the Sold Notice: free, within 10 days, at AZMVDNow.gov or by form 46-8502. If it is never filed, Tucson sellers can stay in MVD's records as owners, and abandonment brings a fee of $500 or higher.

Old car, no title? No title for your Tucson car? Valued at $1,200 or under and at least 12 model years old, a Tucson car may still go to a licensed auto recycler or a scrap metal buyer. The buyer pays by check and you sign a statement that no lien is on it. Replacing a lost title costs $4. More in junk car with no title.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or online with the car's make, model year, mileage, running condition and title situation. Pickup works under a Tucson carport, at a repair shop, or in Sahuarita (16.2 miles), Oro Valley (19.5) or Marana (26.6). The Arizona page covers statewide rules.