Plantation car owners: selling one that won't run

A day on the street

Plantation police can tow under Section 25-21 when a vehicle sits unattended on a street for more than twenty-four hours, which the code says "may be presumed to be abandoned." The same section covers a car that obstructs traffic and, notably for a car on its last legs, one "found being operated on the streets" that "is not in proper condition."

Commercial vehicles have a tighter clock. Under Section 25-43, a commercial vehicle or bus that breaks down in a residential area must be moved within four hours.

When the city removes an abandoned car

Section 12-24 lays out two paths after the city takes an abandoned vehicle. If the enforcement officer decides it has enough value to store, the owner may regain it by applying "within two (2) months after its receipt by the city" and paying the removal and storage charges. If the officer decides it should be destroyed, the owner gets notice by certified mail, and the car "may be destroyed thirty (30) days thereafter."

At the tow lot

Section 12-62 sets the hours. Towing contractors must let owners redeem their cars every business day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and post a phone number when the site is closed. If police call to open the site for a car that is not on hold, the car must be released within one hour. After hours, an officer goes with the owner to witness the release.

State law fills in the rest. Section 715.07 of Florida law caps the haul for a non-consent tow from private land: storage must lie within 10 miles where a county counts 500,000 or more residents, 15 in a smaller county. A tow company claiming a lien under s. 713.78 must mail certified notice to whoever holds the registration, plus the insurer and each lienholder. That letter is due at day 35 for older models and day 57 for newer ones. If fees are piling up, towed or impounded explains selling a car that is still at the yard.

On your own lot

The sections in our review cover streets, impounds and city removals. Plantation may have its own rules for an inoperable car on private property, so check with the city. Florida's Chapter 705 defines abandoned property as property whose owner can't be identified, sitting on public land "in a wrecked, inoperative or partially dismantled condition." Officers post a notice, and the owner gets 5 days.

Title and plate, two miles away

With a paper title, a Florida sale needs no notary and no trip to NW 66th Ave. Complete the seller's portion on the title's face for the buyer. Electronic titles are different: seller and buyer go to the service center together, each with photo ID. The phone there is (954) 765-4697.

Your plate is yours to transfer onto a later vehicle. File HSMV 82050 within 30 days to end your liability for the car.

Surrounding towns

Sunrise is 3.2 miles from Plantation, Lauderhill 3.4, Davie 3.5 and Lauderdale Lakes 4.7. Statewide rules: Florida.

Before you call

Start online or call (877) 421-6008. Useful details: year, make, model, odometer reading, if it can roll on its own, and whether a title is available. More on cars that quit in car doesn't run.