Selling a dead or junk car in Lathrop

Seven days, and an odd line in the text

Section 10.28.030 makes it unlawful to "abandon, park, store or leave or permit the abandonment, parking, storing or leaving of any vehicle or part thereof which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative condition upon any private property or public property, not including highways." The limit is "a period in excess of seven days."

The printed text ends that sentence with "within the unincorporated area of the county," wording that looks carried over from a county ordinance. Treat seven days as Lathrop's rule, and ask the city if a notice turns on that phrase.

The chapter's findings (10.28.010) lean on the authority Vehicle Code 22660 gives cities. Lathrop's council linked stored wrecks to falling property values, plundering, fire danger and risk to children.

Exemptions, and what Lathrop tells DMV

A car is exempt from the seven-day rule when kept lawfully "in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junk dealer," or when a lawful business must keep it on hand to operate. Everyone else must act when ordered. The chapter makes it unlawful to "fail or refuse to remove" a car under its abatement provisions or state law.

After Lathrop removes a car, "within five business days after the removal, notice shall be given to the Department of Motor Vehicles." That notice identifies the vehicle and any registration evidence found, such as the registration card, title or plates. Your own REG 138, due within 5 days of the sale, is a separate record from that city notice.

Stripping it yourself versus selling it whole

California lets an individual junk a car, but order matters. A Junk application goes to DMV first, before any dismantling; reversing that adds an investigative service fee. Once the Junk record exists, the plates are surrendered to DMV.

A car given a surgical strip, completely burned, or declared parts or scrap only by its owner, becomes nonrepairable under Vehicle Code 431 and can never be titled again. Weigh that in part it out or sell it whole.

Title, release and plates on a whole-car sale

Selling the car intact keeps things short. A Lathrop sale works like this: your signature goes on the California title, any lienholder signs too, and the buyer pays DMV the $15 transfer fee. REG 138 is the seller's job, due inside five days, online or on paper. On an ordinary sale the standard plates stay with the car. A sale for wrecking or dismantling is exempt from smog inspection.

Getting an offer

Through the form or at (877) 421-6008, list each Lathrop car's year, make, model, miles, running condition and title status. Pickup can be near the river crossings or in a backyard off the freeway. Manteca is 5.1 miles away and Tracy 9.2; the California page has statewide rules.