Selling a dead car in Vacaville

Vacaville's own rules

Under Vehicle Code 22660, Vacaville and other California cities can pass an ordinance to clear abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles off public or private ground and charge back the cost. Whether Vacaville has, and on what timetable, is for Vacaville to answer. A driveway is not automatically safe just because the state law below speaks of abandoned cars.

The $500 track

For an abandoned Vacaville car valued at $500 or less, Vehicle Code 22851.3 lays out these steps:

1. Warning. A Vacaville car has a notice placed on it 72 hours ahead of removal. Vacaville cars worth $300 or under, removed under Section 22669(d), don't get this step.
2. After the tow. The owner has to be told within 48 hours.
3. Objecting. A hearing request has a 10-day window.
4. Disposal. Vacaville can dispose of it once 15 days pass from the notice.

Those dollar amounts are legal value tests, not what anyone offers.

Registration that lapsed long ago

Vacaville cars that sat for years tend to carry stale registration. California collects fees and penalties for every unregistered year, unless form REG 102, the Planned Non-Operation, was filed in time. Sitting for years walks through the flat tires, the dead battery and the paperwork.

Smog and plates for a Vacaville sale

A Vacaville seller normally hands the buyer a passing Smog Check. Vacaville sellers skip it when their gas or hybrid car is four model years old or newer, under California rules. Vacaville buyers pay an $8 smog transfer fee instead. Also exempt are gas cars from 1975 and earlier, diesels from 1997 and earlier, electric cars and motorcycles. So is a Vacaville car headed to a wrecker or dismantler. If smog keeps failing yours, see failed emissions.

Ordinary plates generally remain with the car. Vanity and special plates belong to the owner, who may pay to move them to the next vehicle.

Paperwork at the Vacaville handover

California titles come from the state DMV, not Solano County. Sign the title; any lienholder signs too. There's no notary step for sellers at the California DMV. In Vacaville, the seller files REG 138, the "Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability," within five days, by post or online at dmv.ca.gov/nrl. Then later tickets go to the buyer. The California page has more.

Towns near Vacaville

Fairfield lies 7.5 miles off, Suisun City 7.9 and Dixon 9.9. Napa and Davis each sit 18.5 miles away.

Getting an offer

Use the form or call (877) 421-6008 about your Vacaville car. Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or through the offer form. Vacaville driveways, storage spaces and shop lots all work for us.