Centennial's rules for a junk car, and how to sell it

What the nuisance rule covers

Section 7-2-40 makes it "a nuisance and unlawful for any owner to permit, authorize, allow, park, keep, abandon, demolish, dismantle or fail to remove a junk or inoperable vehicle" that is "either wholly or partially visible from public or private property." Note the last part: visible from a neighbor's yard counts, not just from the street.

Centennial leaves only two compliant spots for such a car:

• a back or side yard "behind a solid sight screening fence"
• "a fully enclosed and lawfully existing permanent structure or building"

Inoperable has two meanings here

The code gives two tests, and a Centennial car fails the rule by meeting just one.

It cannot be driven legally. That means no current, valid state plate or registration, or missing or inadequate safety equipment the law requires.

It cannot be driven mechanically. That covers a car that will not start or run because of a defect or damage, one "so worn or deteriorated" it is unusable, and one with "deflated tires," broken turn signals or broken headlights.

The word vehicle is wide too. The section lists trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, trailers and campers along with cars. The zoning code's own definition in Section 12-16-201 adds a car that cannot run because parts have been taken off.

Street parking

Check Centennial's own street rules as well, since state law is only the floor. Under Colorado law, a vehicle is abandoned after 48 hours or more left alone on public property, or if nobody claims it from a police impound lot 72 hours after notice. Left on someone's private land without permission, the state period drops to 24 hours. Plan on getting a dead car off the street fast.

Arapahoe County title work

Colorado sends title business to the county where the owner lives, which for Centennial is Arapahoe. We checked the Arapahoe office at 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton (303-795-4500). As the crow flies it is around 8 miles west of central Centennial, and Arapahoe may run other offices too.

Before you go, check the title. Centennial sellers sign in the Seller section with the exact name the front prints, and any co-owner named on the front signs as well. Add the price, date and odometer disclosure. The odometer rule covers a vehicle's first 20 years beginning with model year 2011, which leaves plenty of older junk cars exempt. Arapahoe-bound sellers should know the DMV's seller steps list no notary.

Missing the title? Order a replacement on form DR 2539A for $8.20. Applicants are limited to the owner of record, a lienholder, or someone authorized to act for them, and a recorded lien means only the lienholder side may apply. When no replacement is possible, the county route is Bonding for Title, with a surety bond set at twice the appraised value; anything over 25 years old needs no bond. See junk car with no title.

After the sale

The plates belong to you. Take them off, then drop ordinary plates at an Arapahoe County motor vehicle office or with a metal recycler, or move personalized ones to your next vehicle through the county. File "Report Release of Liability" on myDMV within 5 days so the buyer's later actions with the car are not tied to you. After you sell has the rest.

Getting an offer

Have a Centennial car to sell? Phone (877) 421-6008 or use our form. Pickup works from a fenced side yard, a garage or an office park lot. Parker is about 7.5 miles from Centennial and Englewood about 8; for statewide rules, see Colorado.