Selling a junk or dead car in Visalia

Visalia's reasons for calling it a nuisance

Chapter 10.32 draws on authority Vehicle Code 22660 grants cities. In Section 10.32.020, Visalia's council found that dead cars "invite plundering," "create fire hazards" and become "an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors." Unusually, Visalia's findings speak of "private or public property including highways," even though the ten-day rule in 10.32.010 excludes highways. Its conclusion labels such a vehicle, "or part thereof," a public nuisance.

Visalia's path from letter to hearing

Sections 10.32.090 to 10.32.110, in order:

1. Spotted. When Visalia's enforcement officer finds a dead car on any land in the city, the officer may "cause the abatement and removal thereof."
2. Mailed. A ten-day notice of intention goes "by registered or certified mail" to both the Visalia parcel owner and the car's owner, explaining their hearing rights.
3. Requested. The enforcement officer must receive a hearing request inside ten days of that mailing. Hearings go "before an administrative hearing officer" appointed under Chapter 1.13.
4. Scheduled. Registered mail announces the date "at least ten days before the hearing."
5. Skipped. If no request comes, Visalia may remove the car "without holding a public hearing."

A parcel owner can attend in person, or file a sworn written statement denying responsibility. The officer "may delay the time for removal" when, in the officer's view, "the circumstances justify it." When the car landed there "without the consent of the landowner," and the owner has not "subsequently acquiesced," no costs may be charged to that land. See car abandoned on your property.

Visalia impounds

Section 10.04.140 bills "an administrative fee to recover the city's administrative costs" to whoever is the registered or legal owner of a properly impounded car. It applies to impounds under either Visalia's code or the Vehicle Code. Visalia revises the amount "from time to time," so request today's figure.

Civil Code 3068.1 gives a Visalia tow yard a lien as well. For a Visalia car worth $4,000 or under, Civil Code 3072 sets 15 days for the yard to start a lien sale. A Notice of Pending Lien Sale follows, with bidding scheduled 31 to 41 days out. A Visalia owner who wants a judge to rule has 10 days to send that "Declaration of Opposition" back. Under Vehicle Code 22523, any balance left on an unclaimed Visalia car falls on its last registered owner. Filing the sale report clears the seller of it. See towed or impounded.

Parking in downtown Visalia

Section 10.16.220 bars parking any vehicle "more than one time within any two consecutive hours" in Visalia's central traffic district, where posted. Delivery vehicles actively loading or unloading are exempt.

Title, smog and plates

The state DMV issues California titles. Tulare County doesn't. You and any lienholder sign the title. The Visalia buyer pays the $15 transfer fee when sending it in. California DMV's seller steps list no notary.

In Visalia, REG 138, the "Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability," is due in five days. In Visalia, use dmv.ca.gov/nrl, or mail it in. Once DMV has it on record, the buyer owns any tickets that come after. In Visalia a seller usually needs a Smog Check. For a Visalia car sold off to be wrecked or dismantled, California waives it. Standard plates generally ride along. See after you sell and California.

Towns around Visalia

As the crow flies: Tulare 8.9 miles, Dinuba 15.4, Hanford 18.2, Reedley 19.8, Corcoran 21.4 and Porterville 24.6.

Getting an offer

Dial (877) 421-6008 or send the form. Reach us about your Visalia car through the offer form and we will take it from there. Pickup is free anywhere in the US, so our truck can come to a Visalia side street, a downtown parking spot or a repair shop's back lot.