Newport Beach junk cars and Chapter 10.52

The ten-day notice

Section 10.52.035 lets a designated city official start removal "Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle" on private or public property. Section 10.52.040 sets out how notice is given. The notice is posted on the car itself and mailed by certified mail to the landowner on the latest equalized assessment roll and to the car's owner.

It tells you to remove the car "within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice," or "the vehicle or parts will be removed by the City of Newport Beach." The landowner can be charged the removal and administrative costs. The code ties that to whether the car was placed there with or without the landowner's consent, so read your notice closely.

When there is no hearing

Section 10.52.045 lists the cases where the city may remove a car "without holding a public hearing":

• no hearing request or sworn statement denying responsibility arrives within ten days of mailing
• the car has no motor, transmission or wheels, cannot be towed, sits on agricultural land or land with no homes, and is valued under $200, among other conditions
• the owners of both the car and the land have signed releases "authorizing removal of, and waiving further interest in," the car

The release route is the quickest way to let the city take it, and you give up any claim to the car when you sign. Selling the car first keeps that choice with you.

After the city removes a car

Within five days, Section 10.52.065 requires notice to the Department of Motor Vehicles identifying the car and "transmitting any available evidence of registration including certificates, certificates of title and license plates."

Title and plates from Newport Beach

In this city, the California DMV takes care of titles for the state. You sign as seller, along with any lienholder. The buyer turns in the title and pays $15 for the transfer. The DMV's seller instructions for Newport Beach sellers never mention a notary. File REG 138 on the DMV website within 5 days, and tickets from after that date land on the buyer. Ordinary plates generally stay with the car, while personalized plates can move to another of your cars for a fee. Selling the car for dismantling removes the Smog Check requirement.

Nearby towns

The nearest pages, measured straight across: Costa Mesa at 3.8 miles, Irvine at 6.5, Santa Ana at 7.6 and Laguna Beach at 8.3. Statewide rules are on California.

Getting an offer

Start online or call (877) 421-6008, and have the model year, make, odometer miles and title details handy, plus whether the engine runs. If a notice has been posted on the windshield, share its date. Pickup works from a garage near Balboa Pier, a home driveway or a shop lot.