Selling a dead or junk car in Duluth

Section 5-231 in plain terms

• No inoperative or unlicensed cars on any premises, unless another regulation provides otherwise.
• No half-stripped cars. Vehicles may never be "in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled."
• Big repairs go under a roof. Body work and other heavy jobs are fine "inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes."

So a plan to pull the engine in the driveway over a few weekends runs straight into the second line. If that project has stalled, selling the car whole is the other way out.

Duluth streets: five days

Section 8-89 lets a police officer impound a vehicle from a city street that "has been left unattended for a period of at least five (5) days," as long as it looks like whoever left it does not plan to come back. Police can also impound a car that must be towed by law, or one whose operation would break the law.

After a driver's arrest, the car can be impounded only after a reasonable try to reach the owner and only if no one there can move it. The driver must also be unable to name a person or tow company to collect it "within twenty (20) minutes," and the spot must not be one where it can safely stay. The code adds that "vehicles may not be left on the side of the roadway."

Getting it back

Section 8-94 is short: a towed vehicle is not released "until the person calling for the vehicle has afforded satisfactory evidence of ownership and paid all costs incidental thereto." Bring proof of ownership and expect to pay the charges before the car moves. If it was barely running before the tow, weigh that bill against what the car is worth to you. Our towed or impounded guide helps.

Gwinnett County tag office

Gwinnett's Tax Commissioner keeps an office on South Perry Street in Lawrenceville, number 750, which is the one we checked for Duluth; dial 770-822-8818. Duluth's center sits roughly 10 miles west of it, as the crow flies, and Gwinnett may have other sites.

Gwinnett is one of 13 metro Atlanta counties where emissions testing applies; the three newest model years are exempt. See failed inspection.

What Georgia asks of the seller

Fill in the assignment on the title's reverse, sign as seller, and record the odometer in whole miles. After that, a Duluth seller cancels the tag at a Gwinnett office with Form MV-18J, or online through DRIVES e-Services. Keep the plates yourself, since they don't go with the car. You can stop the insurance after the registration is cancelled.

Scrap buyers answer to the state as well. Salvage dealers report each purchase within 48 hours after closing time and cancel the title through Auto Data Direct. Where a vehicle is 12 or more model years old, recyclers and scrap processors are allowed to take a signed owner's affidavit. See after you sell.

Getting an offer

Start online or call (877) 421-6008. Use the form for your Duluth car. We collect from houses, townhome communities and shops around Duluth. Nearby: Johns Creek, Peachtree Corners, Suwanee and Georgia.