Sell your junk or dead car in Tampa

The 72-hour rule in Section 19-56

The section has two parts. The first makes it unlawful "to keep, store or allow to remain on any property within any residential or commercial section of the city or upon any public property any dismantled, partially dismantled, inoperative or discarded machinery, vehicle, boat or parts thereof, scrap metal or junk." The second puts a clock on whoever is "in charge of or in control of any property," whether owner, lessee, tenant or occupant: such a vehicle may not "remain on such property longer than seventy-two (72) hours."

The exceptions are narrow. A vehicle "in an enclosed building" is fine. So is one at a business "operated in a lawful place and manner" under the zoning laws, when needed for that business. Enforcement sits with two offices: "The neighborhood improvement manager and/or the chief of police is authorized to remove or have removed" anything that "reasonably appears to be in violation."

Section 19-3 also covers the plainly broken car, one "in a state of disrepair and incapable of being moved under its own power."

Wide trucks and vans on home streets

Section 15-47 bars any motor vehicle 86 inches or more wide, not counting mirrors, from parking on a street, alley or city property next to a residential district, except to load and unload. The steps are spelled out: a written warning, then a ticket after 12 hours if it is still there, then immobilization or impoundment if it is not moved within 2 hours of the ticket. A dead box truck or a wide work van at the curb runs into this.

At meters, Section 15-63 makes it unlawful to leave a vehicle in a space more than 2 hours after a citation. A car that dies in a metered spot is on that clock.

Boots and impounds

Section 15-127 sets the release terms. A booted car is freed after payment of "all parking fines, costs, and immobilization fees," a parking division review, or a hearing officer ruling in your favor. With a self-releasing boot, the city gives a code to enter on the device, and "failure to return the self-releasing device within twenty-four (24) hours will result in additional penalties." An impounded car comes back on payment of penalties, towing, storage and administrative fees under Florida Statute 713.78, or on a cash or surety bond until the hearing. Section 15-128 lets the city dispose of unrecovered vehicles under that same statute, which also requires certified-mail notice to the owner, insurer and lienholders.

Hillsborough's title office

Hillsborough County's FLHSMV center is downtown at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.; the number is (813) 635-5200. Measured as the crow flies, it is around 2 miles southeast of the city's center point.

Florida's title and plate rules

Signing. No notary. FLHSMV's TL-11 procedure leaves it off the seller's portion of the title, where the price, date, odometer and buyer go.

Loans. Until the debt is paid and the lienholder reports it, the title stays put. See car loan still owed.

Plates. They are yours to keep and reuse on your next vehicle. A move out of Florida, or dropping the coverage tied to them, means returning them to a service center.

Notice of Sale. HSMV 82050 is due within 30 days, by Statute 319.22. In FLHSMV's words, filing takes your registration off the car and protects you from civil liability.

No title. Statute 319.30 uses the word junk for a car that cannot run and whose value lies mainly in its metal or parts. If such a car is worth under $1,000 and its model year is 10 or more years past, a salvage dealer or secondary metals recycler can buy it on derelict certificate HSMV 82137. From then on the state will not title it.

There is no emissions test in Florida. The inspection program ended in 2000.

Cities around Tampa

Temple Terrace is 8.1 miles away in a straight line. Pinellas Park is 15.9, St. Petersburg 17.5, Clearwater 17.8, Largo 18.5 and Dunedin 19.8. State rules are on the Florida page. Unsure whether to strip it first? Read part it out or sell it whole.

Getting an offer

Start online or call (877) 421-6008. Mention the model and year, the miles, if it runs, and any loan or title trouble. A truck can collect it from a driveway, a commercial lot, or the curb where the warning was left.