Selling a dead car in Reedley

If it is time to clear that spot, we buy whole non-running and junk cars. Sell the whole car as it sits. Free pickup anywhere in the US includes Reedley.

Where a car can and can't sit

Reedley spreads its rules across several sections:

• Out of sight. Section 9-4-7 makes it unlawful to keep an abandoned or inoperative car, or parts of one, on any property in the city. The exceptions are a car "completely enclosed within a structure in a lawful manner" and one "not visible from the street or from other public or private property."
• Yards. Section 6-2-4 bars parking or storing vehicles on front, side or back yards and planting strips, disabled and unregistered ones included, except as that section allows. In a residential zone, one allowed spot is "a properly permitted and entirely enclosed space or carport."
• Loose parts. Car parts or scrap, tires included, that can be seen at ground level from a street, alley or neighboring property are prohibited.
• Dumping. Section 4-2-5 forbids leaving inoperable vehicles on any vacant lot, street, alley or other public place.

The street clock, and the four-hour catch

Section 6-2-4 limits any car on a sidewalk, curb, street or alley to "ninety six (96) hours." Moving it does not reset the count if it comes back within four hours to any part of the same footprint. After 96 hours, police can remove it under the state Vehicle Code. A resident can ask the chief of police for up to three extra days of temporary parking on the driveway or the street "immediately adjacent thereto."

City parking lots are stricter. Section 6-2-6 caps any vehicle, disabled or not, at 48 continuous hours. Every car parked there must meet the Vehicle Code rules for operable vehicles, including current registration.

Citations, hearings and removal

Section 4-2-6 lets the enforcement officer issue a citation and order the car removed under the city's administrative citation rules. Reedley drops the notice and order when signed releases come from both the landowner and the car's owner. The clock under Reedley's Section 6-4-8 starts the day the notice of intention goes in the mail and runs ten days. During those days, the Reedley landowner or the car owner may request a hearing from the police chief. The city manager runs that hearing. If the car turned up without the landowner's consent and was never accepted, the city manager "shall not assess the cost of administration or removal of the vehicle against the property."

A car Reedley has hauled off "shall not be reconstructed or made operable." Reedley lets that rule slide only for cars eligible for horseless carriage or historical vehicle license plates. Within five days, the city reports the removal to the DMV.

California title and plate steps

Reedley sellers deal with the state DMV, whose field offices handle titles. Fresno County has no title counter.

1. As the Reedley seller, put your signature on the seller line of the Certificate of Title. A lienholder, if any, signs as well. The buyer pays the $15 fee when filing. The DMV's steps for sellers do not include a notary.
2. REG 138 is due in 5 days, on paper or online at dmv.ca.gov/nrl.
3. Standard plates normally stay with the car.
4. A sale for wrecking or dismantling carries no Smog Check requirement.

Lost title: REG 227 replaces it for $28.

Getting an offer

Fill in the form or call (877) 421-6008. Fill in the form to tell us about your Reedley car. Our Reedley driver can get it out of a carport, from behind a side-yard fence or off a shop lot. Dinuba is 4.6 miles away in a straight line, with Sanger at 9.3 and Selma at 9.4. Statewide rules: California.