Selling a dead or junk car in Decatur

The 24-hour curb rule

Section 98-5 puts the duty on the owner or "person having right of possession," so the rule is not limited to the titled owner. The full test is a car that is "incapable of being moved under its own power, is in a state of disrepair which makes it unsafe to operate upon a public street or has one or more flat tires." Any one of the three is enough.

Off the street: Section 54-57

On private property, the code turns to open storage. Section 54-57 makes it unlawful to use any property in the city "for the open storage of any abandoned motor vehicle," along with old appliances and building rubbish, where it creates "an unsanitary or dangerous condition, health menace or fire hazard." An abandoned motor vehicle here is one "in a state of disrepair and incapable of being moved under its own power." The quoted section sets no number of days.

When Decatur impounds a car

Section 98-111 allows the city to impound a car parked against city code or state law, or one whose spot or state puts public safety at risk. It also covers a car whose driver was arrested with no one else available to take it, and a stolen car.

Under Section 98-116, the towing and storage charges become "a lien upon the impounded motor vehicle," apart from any amount a judge rules the owner does not owe. Georgia law then requires the towing and storage firm to send the owners a letter within 15 calendar days of removal. That letter notes the firm can seek to foreclose its lien in court once ten more calendar days pass.

Owners of work trucks should know Section 98-17 too. A truck over three-quarter ton capacity (8,700 pounds gross vehicle weight maximum), or a bus, may not stay on a residential street for longer than two hours.

DeKalb County tag office

We looked up one DeKalb County Tax Commissioner office: 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur 30032. Call it at 404-298-4000. As the crow flies, it is roughly 3 miles east of central Decatur. There may be other DeKalb locations.

Selling a DeKalb car: two steps

First, sign the title over to the buyer. Second, end the registration, either with the state's DRIVES e-Services site or a Form MV-18J. Finish step two before the insurance goes. Hand over the title and keep a copy of the transfer and any bill of sale. A pending-suspension notice that arrives after you sold the car can be ignored.

The plate stays with you. A car from 1985 or earlier needs no Georgia title; "the buyer provides a bill of sale." DeKalb is a metro Atlanta emissions county, and anyone who moves in must test and register within 30 days.

Getting an offer

Use the form or call (877) 421-6008. Use the form for your Decatur car. The truck can reach it in a driveway, a lot or at the curb before its 24 hours end. Atlanta lies 7.3 miles off. Rules for the whole state are on Georgia.