Selling a dead car in Adelanto

When a car becomes a nuisance

Under Section 8.25.020, a vehicle that doesn't run is a public nuisance that "shall not be kept, stored or maintained" by the property's owner, renter or occupant. That covers any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative car or parts on public or private land, not counting highways.

The exceptions are narrow:

• cars or parts "completely enclosed within buildings permitted for such use and not visible from the public right-of-way"
• stock held at a licensed dealer, dismantler or junk yard, or cars an established business needs to operate

Section 8.15.080 adds that code enforcement "will investigate anonymous complaints," so a neighbor does not have to give a name.

The 10-day notice

Under Section 8.15.090, a ten-day "notice of intent to abate and remove" goes to the property owner. The notice reads: "You are hereby notified to abate this public nuisance by removal of the vehicle(s) or parts thereof within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice." If that does not happen, code enforcement or its contractor removes the car, and the costs, plus administrative costs, may be assessed to the landowner.

Signed releases from the landowner and the vehicle's owner make the notice unnecessary. The same goes for a shell with no motor, transmission or wheels that can't be towed, is worth under $200 and is an urgent public danger, but only "provided, that the property owner has signed a release." If nobody claims it within 12 days of the notice, it can be cleared for disposal. The city tells the DMV within five days of removal. And "No vehicle which has been abated or removed as a public nuisance shall thereafter be reconstructed or made operable," apart from horseless carriage or historical plate cars.

If the car was already taken

Section 8.15.140 covers abandoned cars valued at $300 or less. A notice is fixed to the car "not less than seventy-two (72) hours before the vehicle is removed." The state Department of Justice's Stolen Vehicle System is told right after removal. The registered owner gets registered or certified mail within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. If nothing is paid or requested in 15 days, disposal can follow.

Section 8.15.160 sets the redemption windows for cars worth $300 or less:

• Towed as abandoned: 15 days, counted from when the removal notice is mailed.
• Removed as a public nuisance: 10 days from the date of removal.

For an abandoned car, the charge to the owner cannot exceed "towing and seven (7) days storage."

Title trouble and back fees

Out here, as everywhere in California, the DMV issues titles. A lost one is replaced through REG 227 before the sale goes further. When the usual proof of ownership is unavailable, value decides the route. At $5,000 or more, the DMV wants a motor vehicle bond. Under that amount, no bond is needed. Short on papers in Adelanto? Send DMV whatever proof of ownership you have, along with REG 256, the "Statement of Facts". That form asks who sold you the car and what it is worth, and has you confirm there is no lien. See junk car with no title.

Years parked in the desert can leave a registration bill behind; REG 102, Planned Non-Operation, is the filing that would have stopped it. Car sitting for years has more. Once the car is gone, REG 138 goes to the DMV inside five days.

Nearby towns

Victorville is 6.1 miles away as the crow flies, Apple Valley 13.4 and Hesperia 14.5. The California page has statewide rules, and towed or impounded covers a car sitting in a tow yard.

Getting an offer

Ring (877) 421-6008 or send the form and tell us about the Adelanto car you want gone. We can pick it up from a desert lot, a backyard or next to a garage.