Selling a junk or unlicensed car in Conway

The two ways to keep one legally

Section 5.09.11 bars a wrecked or inoperable car anywhere on private land in Conway, "whether attended or not," with two exceptions:

• The carport exception. A car "deemed inoperable only due to not having current vehicle license plate or vehicle registration tag, may be stored in a covered carport." The code defines a carport as a roofed structure "enclosed on not more than two (2) sides."
• The cover exception. An inoperable car may stay on private property "when provided with a fitted and maintained cover designed for such vehicle." A loose tarp is not what that describes.

Neither exception helps a car that is being taken apart. The same section says no vehicle "shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled."

A month at home, zero time at the curb

Conway's officers tag the car rather than mail a letter. "Code Enforcement Officers shall have the authority to remove inoperable motor vehicles on private property thirty (30) days after written notice has been affixed to the subject item." On a public street there is no waiting period: "Any inoperable vehicle sitting on city streets can and will be removed immediately at owners expense."

Title 8 has a second rule, 8.04.03, that lets an inoperable car stay on private property "for a period of time not to exceed seven (7) days." The two chapters use different numbers, so go by the dates on whatever notice you receive.

Section 5.09.09 adds a 72-hour rule for someone else's land. Leave a car there, public or private, "for a period of more than seventy-two (72) hours, without approval from the property owner," and it counts as abandoned whether or not it runs.

Ordinary street parking has its own limits. Under 8.12.07, cars park with the right wheels "within eighteen (18) inches of the right-hand curb," with fines of "no less than five dollars ($5.00), nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00)." On Front Street between Main and Oak, the angled spaces on the west side are two-hour parking under 8.12.13.

Faulkner County seller, Arkansas paperwork

Arkansas does titles at DFA's State Revenue Offices; Faulkner County has no role in it. In Conway, sign the title and pass it to the buyer. Then you both complete DFA Form 10-313, which takes the VIN, sale date, buyer, description, mileage, full price and both signatures. Selling in Conway involves no notary under DFA's seller steps.

Lapsed tags bring a tax question. For late registration, Arkansas adds $3.00 for every 10 days, up to the amount of one year's fee. A car never driven in Arkansas during the lapse owes none of it, provided you sign DFA's non-use affidavit (form 10-300). Renewal also waits on the county: assessment by the assessor, personal property tax paid in full. See registration holds.

Plates are yours to keep; a $1.00 fee moves them to a later car. Ark. Code 27-14-911 guards a seller who sold in good faith and delivered the car against claims from the buyer's careless driving, and DFA's free Notice of Transfer of Ownership is there if you want it on file. After you sell covers the rest.

Nearby towns

In a straight line, Sherwood is 21.4 miles away, Jacksonville 23.3, North Little Rock 24.1 and Little Rock 24.9. State rules are on the Arkansas page.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008, or send the details online: make and model with the year, miles, running or not, and title situation. A truck can pull up to a carport, a rental behind downtown, or a Faulkner County garage.