Selling a dead or junk car in Meriden

Thirty days from publication

The published notice must say the city "will remove and dispose of the motor vehicle unless it is removed and properly disposed of within 30 days of the publication of the notice." At the same time the city sends a letter, by first-class mail or by hand, to the landowner, with a copy to the last registered owner at that owner's last known address.

Once 30 days pass with the car still there, the Chief of Police or an agent has it removed. Then "the last registered owner of the motor vehicle and the owner of the property" are "jointly and severally liable for all costs of such removal, storage or sale", and a lien can follow. Either one can be billed for the whole amount.

How to push back

You have two ways out besides removing the car:

• Contest it. The landowner or last registered owner may contest the finding that the car is "abandoned, inoperable or unregistered" by "making a written application for a hearing to the City Manager". The City Manager must receive it "before the expiration of the thirty-day period."
• Disown it. When someone else's car sits on your land, tell the Chief of Police "in writing, that said motor vehicle was abandoned and that the owner of said property is not the owner of said motor vehicle and consents to its removal" before the 30 days are up. Then you "shall not be liable for any costs".

Once a car is taken into custody and stored, the Police Department must send written notice "by certified mail" within 48 hours to the owner, if known, saying where it is stored. Section 198-8 sets the towing charge under this chapter at "$0". Storage is a separate charge.

Winter on Meriden streets

Section 200-1 bars "parking any vehicle on any public street or highway from November 15 to March 15 of each year during any snow, sleet or freezing rain storm" until the Director of Public Works says the streets are clear. The first snowfall turns a dead car into trouble. To reclaim an impounded Meriden car, show who you are and that you own it to the police chief or that chief's chosen officer. Then pay towing and storage "for each day the vehicle is impounded in excess of the first 24 hours."

Paperwork from Meriden

Titles come from the state DMV; neither the city nor the county issues them. For Meriden sellers we checked the Hamden DMV at 1985 State Street, some 15 miles south as the crow flies. Hub offices do everything, and smaller partner offices do less.

Meriden sellers sign the back of the title, then give the buyer that title with a bill of sale. No notary appears on the DMV checklist. In Meriden, a licensed recycler has to turn away a car that requires a title if the title is missing. To replace it, file Form H-6B and pay $25, then allow up to 20 business days for mail. Is a family member listed on the title? Read car not in your name.

Hold on to the Meriden plates, cancel the registration with the DMV, and file the receipt away. Until you do, the city keeps taxing the car, so leave your insurance in place. After you sell has the steps.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or use the form for your Meriden car. If a newspaper notice already ran, share the date it was printed. Berlin and Wallingford are the closest towns with pages; state rules are on Connecticut.