Selling a junk or dead car in San Jacinto

We buy whole non-running and junk cars. Sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US, whether it waits on a side street off Ash Street or in a back lot.

The 12-day letter

Even a car taken without prior notice brings paperwork. "At or near the time of removal," the code says, the enforcement agency gives "twelve (12) day written notice to the registered or legal owner of the intent to dispose of such vehicle and right to reclaim," under Vehicle Code 22661(c).

Who the code means

Chapter 8.04 keeps its definitions short. The covered vehicle is any one "abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperable." The landowner is whoever the latest equalized tax roll shows, and the vehicle owner is the last known registered or legal owner of record. If you sold a car and never reported it, that letter can still come to you, which is the practical reason to file REG 138.

State law fills the gaps

The San Jacinto sections we found cover removal without notice and the disposal letter. Vehicle Code 22660 lets the city adopt its own abatement ordinance, so local deadlines may exist beyond what is quoted here. State law adds these:

• Vehicle Code 22651: a street-parked car that sits unmoved for 72 hours while breaking a local parking rule may be towed.
• A San Jacinto car left abandoned and worth $500 or less gets a 72-hour warning under VC 22851.3 before removal. Disposal may start on the fifteenth day after the owner is notified.
• VC 22523 puts the fine for dumping a car on land without the owner's permission at $100 or more.

Title and smog for a San Jacinto sale

On a normal sale, your signature transfers the California Certificate of Title, and a passing Smog Check comes from you beforehand unless an exemption applies. San Jacinto sales skip smog for electric cars and motorcycles. San Jacinto owners skip the test for a diesel from 1997 or before or a gas car from 1975 or before. San Jacinto gas and hybrid cars no older than four model years are exempt as well. Selling for wrecking or dismantling is exempt as well. The buyer owes DMV the $15 transfer fee, and an $8 smog transfer fee applies when a car new enough to skip the check changes hands.

Send DMV your REG 138 inside 5 days of the handover. Regular plates, as a rule, stay on the car. Failed inspection or rust and blown engine cover two common dead-car problems.

Nearby

Hemet is 4.5 miles from San Jacinto by straight line, Beaumont 5.9, Banning 11.6, Perris 13.0 and Menifee 13.2. The California page covers the whole state.

Getting an offer

Fill out the form or ring (877) 421-6008. Tell us about your San Jacinto car on the offer form. A 12-day letter in hand? Keep it close when you get in touch.