Getting rid of a dead car in Panama City Beach

Two rules, two clocks

The city has two separate rules that reach a dead car, and the shorter one comes first.

Fourteen days, Section 22-47. Nobody may leave a vehicle "in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, rusted, junked or partially dismantled condition whether attended or not" on public or private property "for a period of time in excess of fourteen (14) days." The exceptions are a car "enclosed within a building on private property," a licensed business in the proper zone, and race cars.

Thirty days, Section 15-17. The nuisance chapter separately covers junk or unsafe cars stored unsheltered, or under an open carport, for 30 days or more, "except in licensed junk yards."

After the notice

Section 22-54 sets what happens when the 14-day compliance period runs out without a fix, or when a hearing is held and the city council confirms the violation: "the chief of police or his designee shall have the right to take possession of the junked motor vehicle and remove it from the premises." Blocking that entry onto private property is unlawful.

Responsibility is shared. Under Section 22-49, the vehicle's owner and "the owner or occupant of the private property on which the same is located, either or all of them," must remove it once given notice and a chance to be heard. That matters for vacation rentals and second homes where a car gets left behind.

Reclaiming a seized car under Section 22-59 means proving you own it and repaying the city's costs, a list running from removal and advertising to attorney's fees, a title abstract and appraisal. It has to happen before the car is sold or destroyed.

Beach roads, events and towing

• Shoulders after dark. Section 22-24 bans parking on "an unmarked or unpaved portion of any right-of-way of any Scenic Corridor in the City after dark," which the code defines as "from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise." "Offending vehicles may be removed by the City and stored at the owner's expense." Emergencies and an officer's direction are excepted.
• High-impact periods. During an active HIP, Section 22-30 lets an authorized wrecker charge "up to twice the normal maximum rate" for towing and storage out of the HIP area, if disclosed on posted signs. A vehicle used in a traffic violation in a posted special event or HIP zone can be impounded for up to 72 hours.
• Parking impounds. Section 22-18 has police impound unoccupied vehicles parked in violation and release them only after the court fine plus towing, storage and other charges.

If the car is already at a lot, read towed or impounded.

Title office for the beach

Bay County has one FLHSMV office listed, at number 850 on W. 11th St. in Panama City, phone (850) 248-8501. As the crow flies, that counter is about 13 miles east of central Panama City Beach. Electronic titles are reassigned there in person, seller and buyer together with photo ID.

Florida title and plate rules

• No notary. Every Florida title carries, on its front, a "Transfer of Title by Seller" block. Put in the purchaser, the purchaser's address, the odometer number, the price and the date.
• No title. Lost it? Get a duplicate before selling. Never had one? HSMV 82137, the derelict certificate, works for a beach car once two tests are met: 10 model years of age and a value below $1,000. A registered recycler or licensed salvage dealer buys it, and its titled life ends.
• Flood. A water-damage total loss must carry the flood stamp on its title before it is sold. See flood damage.
• Plate. Pull it at the sale and move it to whatever you drive next, or, if you are moving away from Florida or ending its insurance, surrender it.
• Notice of sale. Thirty days is the window for HSMV 82050.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or online. Tell us what the car is and how many miles it shows, if it runs, and the title's status. Pickup works at a condo garage, a rental's driveway or a shop. Lynn Haven and Panama City have their own pages, and Florida covers the state.