A dead car in Paragould: the 14-day rule and how to sell

The 14-day limit

The rule is about cars kept "in the open." What counts as junked, wrecked, inoperable or unlicensed comes from the city's own definitions in section 40-54. Section 40-55 goes further for public property: there, a junked, wrecked, inoperable or unlicensed vehicle may not be kept at all.

The zoning code also defines an automobile junk or salvage yard as an outdoor area "where motor vehicles not in operable condition or used parts or motor vehicles are stored." That is a land-use term, and it shows how the city looks at dead cars sitting outside.

The repair and drag-racing permit

Paragould does carve out one exception. Section 40-59 says nothing in this part of the code stops a person from keeping "one such inoperable motor vehicle" on their own property "for the purpose of making minor repairs or preparing and/or modifying a vehicle for the purpose of racing the same upon sanctioned drag strips or racecourses."

You need a permit from the police department or another designated person. It lasts "a period of three months." It covers one car, and only for those two purposes. A car that is simply parked and waiting does not qualify.

What a parked car still costs

A car that has not moved in a year still shows up on Greene County's books. For a Paragould car, the county assessor must assess it and all personal property tax must be paid before the Arkansas tag can be renewed. A car that just sat still owes the county tax. The state's late registration penalty is $3.00 per 10-day period, capped at one year's registration fee. It is not due if the car was not driven in Arkansas and you file the affidavit of non-use, form 10-300. Our car property tax guide has more.

Handing over the title

The county does not issue Arkansas titles. The DFA Office of Motor Vehicle does, through MyDMV and its State Revenue Offices. In Paragould, you sign the title over and hand it to the buyer. Form 10-313 for a Paragould sale asks for the buyer, the VIN, the date, a description, the mileage and the full sales price, and both of you sign it. DFA's list has no notary step. Unbolt the plates first; they stay yours, and $1.00 shifts them to the next car you register.

Nearby

Jonesboro is the closest of our pages, 18.6 straight-line miles away; West Memphis is 64.8. The Arkansas page covers the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Count the days the car has been sitting out, because Section 40-56 does. Then ring (877) 421-6008 or send its details through the offer box, including whether the engine still cranks. Pickup comes to the carport, the side yard or the garage holding it.