Selling a junk or dead car in Burbank

Burbank's ten-day letter

Section 6-1-2207 gives the Chief of Police power to act "Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private or public property within the City." The process starts on paper.

Under Section 6-1-2208, the city must give "A ten (10) day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle." That goes "by registered or certified mail to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicle." The copy for the landowner says to move the car "within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice." Skip it and the city moves the car itself, with the costs, "together with the administrative costs," "assessed to you as owner of the land."

Within those same ten days, you can ask Burbank for a public hearing. When no request reaches the Chief in time, the car may be removed "without a hearing." The registered owner of the car is sent its own notice giving the same right.

What a Burbank hearing can change

Under Section 6-1-2211, the Chief or a representative runs the hearing, can order removal, and sets the costs. The order describes the car and lists its identification and license numbers "if available at the site." The section also allows a delay "if, in their opinion the circumstances justify it," with conditions attached. If you need extra days, the hearing is the place to ask.

How fast disposal follows

Section 6-1-2214 gives three possible start dates:

• five days after the nuisance order
• five days from mailing a decision notice, if Section 6-1-2213 requires one
• fifteen days after the Council approves removal on appeal

Even Burbank junk yards have a wall rule. Section 10-1-1109 says "The height of the junk, wrecked automobiles, airplanes, or other machinery shall be kept below the horizontal plane of the top of the wall."

Burbank curbs have a state limit as well. Burbank can tow under Section 22651 once a car has sat on the street 72 hours or more against a local rule.

Signing over a Burbank car

California's DMV transfers titles, not Los Angeles County. A Burbank car's Certificate of Title needs signatures from the seller and any lienholder before the buyer takes it to DMV. You won't see a notary step in DMV's private-sale list. A lost title needs REG 227 first; see junk car with no title.

File REG 138 within five days to pass later violations to the buyer. A car headed for a dismantler needs no smog certificate. Plates normally stay on the car and go back to DMV when the record is switched to Junk.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or start online. Tell us what the car is, the rough miles, whether it turns over and what the title looks like. Pickup can be from a Burbank garage, a carport or a mechanic's yard. Glendale is 4.6 miles away and Pasadena 11. See California for state rules.