Selling a junk or dead car in Daytona Beach

The only two places a junked car may stay

Daytona's code names them: "within a completely enclosed building or parked in a carport, in such a manner that abandonment is not in evidence from adjoining private lots or public right-of-way." A garage works. So does a carport, if neighbors and passing drivers cannot tell the car has died. A cover in the side yard is not on the list.

Ten calendar days from the posted notice

Section 42-113 lets the city manager have an abandoned car hauled off a private lot, but only after warning. The notice goes on the car and says that if it "is not removed or repaired to a condition that is no longer deemed abandoned within ten calendar days of the date of posted notice," the city will remove it "at the lot owner's expense, including any storage or disposal costs."

A second copy follows by one of three routes: taped to the front door of the main building, handed to the owner or occupant, or mailed to the address in the county tax records. Look at who pays. Daytona bills the lot owner, and that may be a landlord rather than the driver.

Big trucks and towed cars

Section 94-56 treats a big parked vehicle as outside storage. No truck "in excess of one-ton capacity" may sit "for more than two hours on any calendar day" on a right-of-way or private lot outside a completely enclosed garage. A dead heavy-duty pickup can break that rule before noon.

Already towed? Section 110-40 keeps Daytona storage lots open for redemption from eight in the morning until six at night on any day the wrecker company tows. Phone after hours and the operator has one hour to get back. Once the towing and storage fees are paid, the car goes out within 30 minutes. Florida also requires certified letters from any tow company claiming a lien; Daytona car owners, their insurers and their lenders each get one. See towed or impounded.

The Volusia title counter

Daytona Beach has no title office of its own. The county counter is in DeLand, at Room 103, 123 W Indiana Ave., phone (386) 254-4610. From the center of Daytona Beach it is about 17 miles southwest, as the crow flies.

Who can buy on a derelict certificate? A licensed salvage business, or a metals recycler with state registration. Our guide to selling with no title walks through it.

Close by

Ormond Beach is 7.1 miles away and Port Orange 7.4. Each writes its own junk-car rules. For the state picture, see Florida.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or use the form. Give us the basics on your Daytona car: model, mileage, engine status, title status. A condo lot by the beach approach, a carport or a repair bay all make fine pickup spots.