Selling a junk or dead car in Livermore

What Chapter 10.48 does, step by step

Vehicle Code 22660 gave Livermore the power to pass this chapter. The council decided that dead cars collecting on land "not including highways" lower property values, draw thieves and pose fire risks. Then:

1. Inspection. "Any police officer, or other person authorized by the City Council" can enter private land to look over the car and confirm what it is, then take it away after it is declared a nuisance.
2. Notice. Livermore sends a notice of intention to abate before any removal, except where the landowner and vehicle owner both signed releases "authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicle."
3. Disposal. Once five days pass from the nuisance order, or from the mailing of the hearing officer's decision, the car "may be disposed of by the removal to a scrap yard or automobile dismantling yard."

Signing that release gives up any further interest in the car. Selling it before the clock runs out leaves you with the sale paperwork in your own hands.

Who is exempt

Exempt from the chapter is any car "stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junk dealer," and any car a lawful business has to keep on site. A broken commuter car beside the house fits none of these.

Highways sit outside the chapter. Vehicle Code 22651 covers Livermore streets, allowing a tow after a car stays 72 straight hours against a local rule.

Paperwork for a California sale

• Title. Put your signature on the California title, and have any lender still on it sign too. The Livermore buyer pays the $15 transfer fee at the DMV. No notary is needed for a Livermore private sale under DMV steps. If the title is lost, REG 227 costs $28; see junk car with no title.
• Release. In Livermore, REG 138 is due within 5 days, filed online at dmv.ca.gov/nrl or mailed on the paper form. After DMV records it, later tickets or claims fall on the buyer.
• Smog. Dismantling is the purpose of the sale, so the Smog Check does not apply.
• Plates. Regular plates generally stay with the car. If an owner files to record it as Junk, the plates are surrendered to DMV.

DMV reserves the word "junk" for a car that has been taken apart after a wreck, abandonment or breakdown. A dead car still whole in the driveway has not reached that stage. More on crashed cars is in wrecked or totaled.

Nearby towns

In a straight line, Pleasanton sits 6.8 miles off, Dublin 7.7 and San Ramon 10.9. The California page covers the state rules.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or fill out the form. Tell us about your Livermore car on the short offer form. Nobody has to tow it anywhere first; pickup is at the spot where it stopped.