Selling a dead or junk car in Antioch

Two letters, one deadline

Antioch's notice under section 4-10.08 goes "by registered mail" in two versions. Antioch mails one notice to the last registered or legal owner of the car, and a second to the property owner named on the last equalized assessment roll. Both say the same thing: remove the car "within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice." The vehicle owner's copy is skipped if the car's identification numbers are too far gone to show ownership.

If the city has to remove the car, the costs, "together with administrative costs," are assessed to the owner of the land. Section 5-1.301 adds a wider tool: any building, or any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative "vehicle or boat or parts thereof" found to be a nuisance, can be dealt with by "rehabilitation, demolition, repair or removal."

A hearing before the City Council

Section 4-10.09 has the Chief of Police receive the hearing request, within 10 days of the mailing, and "a public hearing shall be held by the Council." The mailed notice under 4-10.08 instead says the request must be "received by the City Council," so it is safest to send it to both. If an Antioch landowner did not put the car there, they can state that in a sworn written statement. The code counts that as asking for a hearing without having to attend. Hearing dates come by registered letter at least 10 days beforehand, and absent any request, removal can go ahead with no hearing.

City lots and streets

The abatement chapter covers property "not including highways," so streets fall under state law. A car on an Antioch street that breaks a local rule by sitting 72 straight hours can be towed under Vehicle Code 22651.

Antioch's municipal parking lots have their own rule in section 4-5.1222. Where signs are posted, "any vehicle parked in excess of 72 consecutive hours may be towed away and stored at the owner's expense." Some lots also cap daytime parking at two hours between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., except Sundays and legal holidays.

Back fees, title and plates

A car parked for years in an Antioch side yard usually comes with a lapsed registration. Every year without registration piles fees and penalties onto the DMV record. Antioch owners who file a Planned Non-Operation (REG 102) don't owe those. See car sitting for years.

Title work is state business in California, done at DMV field offices or by mail. In Antioch, you sign the title, and any lienholder signs it too. DMV's steps for a private sale have no notary. After you sell or get rid of the car, state law says DMV must hear from you within five days. REG 138 is how. Normal plates tend to stay on the car for the buyer. Selling a car for dismantling removes the Smog Check from your list.

Getting an offer

Give us a call at (877) 421-6008 or fill out the form: car, year, rough mileage, if it starts, where the title is. The truck comes out to the car, in an Antioch driveway, a fenced side yard or a garage's back row. Neighbors with their own pages include Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg and Concord. The California page has the statewide rules.