Selling a junk car in Cathedral City

What state law does on the street

Three state rules reach a dead car parked on a Cathedral City street:

• 72 hours. Breaking a local ordinance by parking on a street 72 or more hours straight can get the car towed (Vehicle Code 22651).
• Missing parts, no wait. Vehicle Code 22669 says a Cathedral City car "can be removed immediately" from a street or public right-of-way once it is stripped of the windshield, tires, doors, wheels, engine, transmission or other needed parts.
• Low-value cars. In Cathedral City, a left-behind car worth $500 or less has a 72-hour notice stuck on it first. Cathedral City doesn't send that notice for a car worth $300 or less that was towed under 22669(d). After a Cathedral City tow, the owner hears about it within 48 hours. They get 10 days to ask for a hearing, and scrapping can follow 15 days after that notice (Vehicle Code 22851.3).

Vehicle Code 22523 makes it a crime to leave a car on a Cathedral City street, or on another person's property unless they agree. The fine is $100 at least, and you must show the removal costs were paid.

When it is already at a tow yard

A Cathedral City tow yard holding a car has a possessory lien on it under Civil Code 3068.1. When a car valued at $4,000 or less sits in a Cathedral City yard, the sale must be started within 15 days of the lien taking effect. Civil Code 3072 then has the Cathedral City yard mail a sale notice, with the sale 31 to 41 days out. To get a judge in Cathedral City, an owner returns the "Declaration of Opposition" by mail inside 10 days.

Walking away costs more than it seems. Nobody picks up the impounded car? Any amount the Cathedral City sale doesn't cover falls to the person last registered as owner, unless they filed a report of sale. So file yours on the same day as the sale. See towed or impounded.

Title and plates

The county plays no part. Cathedral City owners deal with the state DMV for titles, by mail or in a field office. Sign the Certificate of Title as seller, and get any lienholder to sign as well. Selling in Cathedral City takes no notary. The DMV's steps for sellers leave that out. Within 5 days, a Cathedral City seller turns in REG 138, the release of liability, on paper or online. After it is recorded, the new owner takes parking and traffic violations dated after the sale. Standard plates generally stay with the car.

Around the Coachella Valley

Four cities with pages sit within 15 miles in a straight line: Palm Springs (4.9), Palm Desert (8.8), Desert Hot Springs (9.6) and Indio (14.9). The California page covers the statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Ring (877) 421-6008 or describe the car on the form, including any missing parts and whether you hold the title. You sell the whole car as it sits. In Cathedral City our truck loads it at a driveway, apartment lot or shop bay.