Palo Alto's rules for a car that won't run

The street, the driveway and the garage

For a dead car, Palo Alto uses three different rules based on its location.

On the street. The 72-hour limit covers streets, alleys and public parking facilities. Before a tow, police must fix a notice to the car "advising that the vehicle will be removed for violation of this section after seventy-two hours unless it is moved at least five tenths of a mile."

At home. Section 18.42.070 limits where a vehicle can be kept if it is "disabled, unlicensed, unregistered, inoperative," or missing an essential or legally required operating part. Working on a car outside a garage is limited to set daytime and evening hours, in an area hidden from the street.

Anywhere off the street. Under Section 10.34.020, such cars "upon public property or private property, except highways, are public nuisances" that "shall be abated."

The 10-day notice and what follows

Once the city manager hears of a car like that, Section 10.34.040 calls for "not less than ten days' notice of intention to abate and remove." The property owner may attend the hearing or mail a sworn written statement denying responsibility. After the notice period, or the hearing, Section 10.34.080 has the city remove the car "to any scrap yard, automobile dismantler's yard, or any suitable site operated by the city for processing as scrap." A car the city hauls away is a car nobody sells. If a notice has arrived, see our page on a notice to remove a car.

Title, smog and plates for a Palo Alto seller

Palo Alto has no local title office; the state DMV runs titles. The Certificate of Title needs the owner of record's signature, plus any listed lender's. No title in the drawer? A Palo Alto owner can get a new title with REG 227, mailed in or taken to a field office. In Palo Alto the cost is $28, and a new title most often arrives in 15 to 30 days. See junk car with no title.

Most sellers owe the buyer a passing Smog Check. Palo Alto cars that skip it: one headed to scrap, an electric car, a 1975 or older gas car, and a gas or hybrid model no more than four model years old. REG 138 must be filed within five days of the sale. Regular plates remain on the car.

Getting an offer

Reach us online or at (877) 421-6008. Send the form about your Palo Alto car. Our truck can reach a garage, a carport, a rental's parking space or a repair shop. Nearby: Los Altos, Mountain View and East Palo Alto. For the state rules, see California.