Selling a dead or junk car in Redwood City

Off the street: Chapter 39

On private land the process belongs to the police. Section 39.7 calls for "not less than a ten (10) day notice of intention to abate and remove," sent "by registered or certified mail to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicle." The landowner's copy allows ten days from mailing to remove the car. Otherwise, Redwood City has it towed and bills the landowner for the costs "together with administrative costs".

Disagree with it? Redwood City owners who object get those same ten days to put their hearing request in front of the Chief of Police. Under Section 39.8:

• A landowner can send "a sworn written statement denying responsibility," which counts as a hearing request without needing to appear.
• Notice of the hearing is sent by registered or certified mail ten or more days before it.
• If no request comes in on time, Redwood City can remove the car without a hearing.
• The land is not billed if the car was put there "without the consent of the owner of the land" and the owner never accepted it afterward.

Storing it yourself

The zoning code is stricter than many cities'. Section 31.18 makes it unlawful to store junk or salvage "in any amount except within a completely enclosed building," and the zoning definition of junk storage includes "wrecked, disabled, or inoperative automobiles." A carport or a fenced side yard is not a completely enclosed building.

If the tow already happened

The tow company gets a lien on the car once it tows it (Civil Code 3068.1). Below a $4,000 value, it has 15 days to get a lien sale moving. Its mailed sale notice sets the Redwood City auction 31 to 41 days away. A court hearing goes to the Redwood City owner who sends the Declaration of Opposition back in 10 days. Vehicle Code 22523 puts any sale shortfall on the last registered owner of an unclaimed abandoned Redwood City car. A filed report of sale protects you. See towed or impounded.

California title and plates

San Mateo County does not issue titles; DMV field offices and the mail do. Sign the Certificate of Title, get a lienholder's signature if needed, and note that the DMV seller steps list no notary. Your report of sale is REG 138, due within 5 days, and it is what protects you later. Standard plates generally stay with the car.

Along the Peninsula

San Carlos is 3.2 miles away as the crow flies, Foster City 4.0, Menlo Park 4.4 and Belmont 4.4. Statewide rules are on the California page.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or start online; a few lines on the car, its condition and its title will do. You sell the whole car as it sits. Our Redwood City driver can pick it up from your garage, the curb or a repair lot.