Paso Robles: a parked car, back fees and selling it whole

The back-fee question

Plenty of people park a car "for now" and never file anything. The DMV's late-renewal rules do not forgive that: with no PNO on record, the missed years come due with penalties added. Check the record before deciding a dead car costs nothing to keep. Car sitting for years covers the paperwork side of that.

What the law says about a stored car here

We searched online for the Paso Robles municipal code and found nothing, so the rules below are California law. Paso Robles could still have local rules of its own.

Under Vehicle Code 22660, a city such as Paso Robles may adopt an ordinance treating "abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles" on private or public land as public nuisances, removing them, and billing the cost. Whether a car in a Paso Robles yard has a grace period turns on that local rule, so ask the city.

Two state rules apply wherever you are:

• Leaving it is illegal. Under Vehicle Code 22523, a Paso Robles owner can't dump a car on a road, or on someone else's private land without that person's okay. The Paso Robles fine starts at $100, and you also need proof the removal bill was paid.
• Missing parts speed things up. In Paso Robles, Vehicle Code 22669 lets an officer remove a car from public right-of-way land at once if its engine, wheels, windshield, tires, doors, transmission or other needed parts are gone.

If someone else's car was left on your land, start with abandoned car on your property.

Signing it over in California

San Luis Obispo County is not where titles happen; the state DMV handles them. In Paso Robles, the buyer turns in the title after the seller signs it, along with any lienholder. Paso Robles sellers will not see a notary anywhere in those DMV seller steps.

Within 5 days, a Paso Robles seller has to send the DMV REG 138, the release-of-liability notice, either online or by mail. Leave regular plates where they are; personalized and special ones are what an owner may pay to move to another car. A car sold for dismantling needs no Smog Check. Statewide details are on our California page.

Nearby

Atascadero is 10.1 miles away in a straight line, and San Luis Obispo is 25.1.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Paso Robles? Phone (877) 421-6008 or send the form. Our truck can reach a Paso Robles car in town or on a ranch road, with free pickup anywhere in the US.