Selling a dead or junk car in Hamden

The rule behind the notice

Section 91.03 says no owner or operator of land in town shall "deposit or cause or permit to be deposited, or retain, or cause or permit to be retained, any junk vehicle or junk appliance on the land, except in a suitable enclosed and secured structure." A closed garage is the legal option. Covering it with a tarp in the side yard does not count.

The 91.04 notice then lays out what follows:

• 10 days from the date on the notice, not from when you read it.
• A fine of "not more than fifty dollars ($50.) for each day of noncompliance."
• Removal by the town, with "all costs and expense so incurred" charged to you as "a lien against your property".

A lien collected like back taxes follows the house. If you plan to sell or refinance, deal with the car first.

When the police tow it

Hamden has two impound sections. Under 70.20, a car parked against a parking rule can be towed "to a towing garage" and is not returned "until payment of towing and storage fees". There is one break: storage is not charged when the car goes to a town-owned garage or lot. To get it back, you show "evidence of his/her identity, and ownership", sign a receipt, and pay towing plus storage "in excess of the first twenty-four (24) hours."

Section 71.07 adds a step for cars impounded under Chapter 71: you must also show "that payment was made to the Hamden Police" for any citation issued under that chapter.

If what the car is worth is less than the storage bill, selling it from the lot may make more sense than paying to get it out.

The DMV is in town

Hamden has a DMV office inside its own borders. The one we checked is at 1985 State Street, a 4-mile trip south from the town's midpoint as the crow flies. Titles come from the state DMV, not Town Hall.

A Hamden seller signs the title on its back and includes a bill of sale for the buyer. No notary is needed per the DMV seller checklist. A Hamden recycler with a license has to get the title along with any car that needs one. Hamden cars over 20 model years old carry no title, so the seller passes along Form Q-1 plus the newest registration.

Hamden cars get the state test at private stations every two years, and it costs $20. The four newest model years are exempt, and so is model year 2001 and older.

Stopping the tax bill

Take the plates off, keep them, and cancel the registration with the DMV. When a refund applies, you can ask for it on a form during the online cancellation. The State Comptroller mails the check. Until the registration is cancelled, the car stays on Hamden's tax rolls, so keep the receipt. Hold insurance until the DMV confirms. Our car property tax guide covers a bill that arrives anyway.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or reach us online. Hamden sellers can start with the offer form, which covers what we need. If a 91.04 notice is on the fridge, tell us the date on it. North Haven and New Haven are close to Hamden; the Connecticut page holds state law.