Dead and junk cars in Monrovia

The 48-hour driveway rule

Section 17.24.160 limits car work at home. On residential property, repairs, tune-ups and fluid changes are allowed only on a vehicle "registered to the occupant of the property." Repairs the public can see "shall not extend in a state of disrepair for a time period that exceeds 48 hours." A project car with its hood up all week does not fit that rule.

When the city calls it a nuisance

Section 10.28.020 declares an "abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private or public property not including highways" a public nuisance. The city's general nuisance definitions (8.12.020) list signs of an inoperable car: a "non-operational" status with the DMV, no current registration, or no working engine, transmission, wheels, inflated tires, doors or windshield.

The notice under 10.28.090:

• is a registered letter addressed to both the parcel owner and the registered owner of the car;
• allows "10 days from the date of mailing" for removal;
• warns that after that the City of Monrovia will haul the car and bill the landowner, administrative charges included.

Requests for a hearing under 10.28.100 have to reach the city inside ten days. A property owner's sworn statement denying responsibility is treated as one. The hearing notice itself is mailed ten or more days in advance.

Streets, lots and alleys

Under Section 10.16.100, no one may leave a car standing "upon any street, vehicle parking lot, alley or public place, for 72 or more consecutive hours." Police and parking staff can have it moved to a storage or impound area. The owner then gets a chance at a post-storage hearing. Streets posted for repair work are off limits as well, and so is the Old Town area set aside for the Friday Night Family Fest.

Civil Code 3072 allows a tow yard holding a car worth $4,000 or less to sell it at a lien sale 31 to 41 days after it mails notice.

California paperwork

Monrovia owners deal with the California DMV, a state agency with field offices that also takes title paperwork by mail.

• The seller signs the title, plus any lienholder; the DMV's steps for sellers mention no notary.
• Monrovia sellers file REG 138 no later than 5 days after selling.
• Regular plates usually go with the car.
• Junk cars sold for wrecking or dismantling are spared the Smog Check.
• If registration lapsed, every missed year owes fees and penalties, unless Planned Non-Operation status was on file.

REG 227 gets a replacement title for $28. See California and car sitting for years.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Monrovia? Call (877) 421-6008 or fill out our short form. Pickup happens where the car is, under the San Gabriel Mountains in Monrovia or at a Duarte shop 2.0 miles away.