El Cerrito's rules for a dead car, and how to sell it

After day fifteen, the El Cerrito letter

Section 11.46.070 sets out the "notice of intention to abate and remove." One copy goes to whoever owns the El Cerrito property, a second to the car's owner of record. The notice sent to the landowner says to remove the car "within 14 days from the date of mailing of this notice." The car owner's notice allows the same 14 days to request a hearing. After that deadline, El Cerrito has the car towed and sends the property owner a bill for the tow and the administrative costs.

One official runs the hearing

El Cerrito's police chief takes hearing requests and also presides. Requests have to arrive inside the 14 days. With none on file, the chief "shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle" with no hearing. Disobeying an order to remove counts as another infraction, under Section 11.46.140. Options are laid out in notice to remove a car.

Who the El Cerrito nuisance rule excuses

Section 8.34.040 names dead cars, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, campers and boats, and their parts, as a nuisance condition. The exceptions cover storage "in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junk dealer," and storage a lawful business needs to operate. A broken sedan in a home driveway is not on that list.

California sale rules for an El Cerrito car

• Air rules. Under Vehicle Code 24007, an El Cerrito car below Air Resources Board standards can only go to a dealer, or to someone who lawfully wrecks or dismantles it. The seller of an El Cerrito car provides the certificate of compliance or noncompliance at the change of ownership. More at failed emissions.
• Smog. Normally the seller's job before a sale. El Cerrito cars that skip the test: electric cars, motorcycles, cars going to a dismantler, gas cars from 1975 or before, diesels from 1997 or before, and gas or hybrid cars four years old or newer.
• Notary. The DMV's private-sale title steps don't call for one. It shows up on REG 227, section 5, only when a lienholder or legal owner is on file.
• Release. El Cerrito sellers send REG 138 within 5 days.

The California page covers the rest.

Getting an offer

Send the form or call (877) 421-6008. Use the form for your El Cerrito car. A truck can pull up curbside, in a driveway or at a garage. Berkeley is 3.7 miles from El Cerrito and Richmond 3.9.