Middletown dead and junk car sales

When a car is inoperable, and the registration defense

The same section covers more than cars. It reaches "Any unregistered, inoperable car, truck, aircraft, camper, motorcycle or moped," plus boats, trailers, riding mowers and farm or construction equipment. Being inoperable takes "two or more" listed conditions showing the vehicle is no longer used for its intended purpose.

Registration matters here. The code says "It shall be a defense that the vehicle is not abandoned if it is currently registered" with a state or federal licensing agency such as a DMV. A car with a current registration is not abandoned under this section, even if it does not run. Once the registration lapses, that defense is gone. The rule on improperly stored abandoned or inoperable vehicles still applies either way. If you are clearing more than one, see several junk cars.

The boot, then 72 hours, then the tow

Middletown's parking chapter, Section 285-1, starts with a boot. A booted car carries a notice warning that trying to move it can damage it, and that the owner pays for any damage. If the car is "unclaimed within 72 hours of immobilization," or the owner does not respond within 72 hours, or the car is considered abandoned, the Parking or Police Department may tow it at the owner's expense.

Within 72 hours after the tow, the owner must get certified mail saying where the car is and how to get it back. Release comes only after "all unpaid City parking tickets and/or other City obligations are first paid in full," plus the tow and storage fees. After the first 24 hours, storage costs add up by the day. A booted car that does not run anyway can cost more to free than it is worth to you.

Title office and the state's rules

Connecticut titles are issued by the state DMV; the city has no title counter. For this area we looked at the DMV office at 7 Custom Drive in Old Saybrook, about 22 miles southeast of central Middletown in a straight line. There are other DMV offices, and most of them take appointments.

Most Middletown sellers will not need it. The steps:

• Sign the back of the title. Give the Middletown buyer a bill of sale too, with both parties and their addresses, the car and its VIN, the amount paid, the date and your signature. Hold on to copies.
• Unbolt the plates. The seller keeps them.
• Do the Middletown car's registration cancellation online and hold on to the receipt. Once the cancellation is done, the car comes off the town tax rolls. Keep the insurance until then.

Older cars are simpler. Connecticut does not title a car past 20 model years. A Middletown car that old changes hands using Form Q-1 plus its newest registration. Model year 2001 and older is also exempt from the emissions test, along with the newest four model years. So an old car may have no test to fail and no title to find.

Nearby

Meriden is 7.2 miles from Middletown, Berlin 7.4, Rocky Hill 7.5 and Wallingford 9.9. The Connecticut page has state rules.

Getting an offer

Reach us online or at (877) 421-6008 and share the kind of car, the mileage, if it runs, and what paperwork you have. For two cars, give us both. The truck can meet them in a driveway, at a farm or at a shop.