Selling a junk car in Springdale

Springdale's test for inoperative

Under Section 42-77, letting an "inoperative motor vehicle" pile up on Springdale property breaks the law. Section 42-76 says the word covers a vehicle "inoperable, dismantled, damaged or is unable to start or move under its own power," and presumes it when either of these shows:

• "The vehicle has no current vehicle tags or registration."
• "The front or rear windshield is broken, removed or missing, or the side windows are broken or removed or missing."

So an engine that fires up doesn't settle it; a lapsed tag can be enough. Exempt: cars kept by a city-licensed storage, service or repair business whose site meets zoning.

Seven days, then thirty

Section 42-78 lays out the city's moves:

• Week one. Police or a code officer hands over written notice. Still unfixed after seven days? Springdale does the work, bills the landowner, and files a lien on the parcel.
• Thirty days. Before hauling a car off private land, Springdale mails registered or certified notice to whoever owns or occupies the lot, plus the vehicle's owner where known. Ways out: getting it "restored to a functional use," or lawful disposal.

The 30 days can be given up by an owner or occupant. And one similar notice in the prior year means Springdale presumes you're already on notice.

The curb won't work either

Section 114-58 restricts residential street parking to frontage of property the driver owns or lives at, unless that owner agrees. Collector, arterial and freeway-standard streets are off-limits. Trailers and RVs get curb time only for loading, and "in no event longer than 24 hours."

Two counties, one state title system

Springdale straddles Benton and Washington counties. Either county's role in Arkansas car paperwork is property tax only: an assessor values the car, a collector takes the tax, and renewal checks both. Titles themselves run through DFA State Revenue Offices or MyDMV.

At the sale, sign the title over, pass it across, and fill out DFA Form 10-313 jointly, price and odometer included. Plates: yours to keep. A $1.00 DFA fee shifts them onto whatever you drive next. Filing DFA's transfer notice is optional and free.

Towns near Springdale

Measured in a straight line, Fayetteville sits 8.3 miles off, Rogers 8.8, Bentonville 11.9. Statewide rules: Arkansas.

Getting an offer

Holding a seven-day letter? Phone (877) 421-6008 or send our form; mention model year, make, model, odometer, and title status. Our notice to remove a car guide explains that letter. Pickup works from a Springdale driveway, a curb, or the very trailer it's parked on.