Selling a dead or junk car in Kaneohe

The county's free tow, or a sale

Honolulu runs a free Junk Vehicle Program that covers Kaneohe homes. The county tows a non-running car away at no cost and waives the back registration and fees. To qualify, the car must be free of debris, on your property or legally parked on a public street, reachable by a tow truck, and resting on two or more inflated tires at whichever end gets hooked. You fill in the junk form, "Remove the vehicle license plates", then book an AlohaQ slot at one of Oahu's satellite city halls to turn in the form, plates and title papers.

Junking through the county does not wipe out a loan, citations or criminal charges. Selling is the other route: the title goes to a buyer, and you file a Notice of Transfer instead of a junk form.

Honolulu's county code

Since Kaneohe is not a city, its local code is Honolulu's county code. Section 15-13.8 covers a vehicle abandoned on a street or highway. The ban is simple, and it includes trailers. The time line is a single day: a car left alone past 24 hours counts as abandoned.

Two county officials can order a tow: "the chief of police or director of customer services." The owner pays for it. The person who abandoned the car is "liable for all reasonable expenses incurred by the city due to such removal."

This rule sits on top of the state law below. A car that stopped running on a Kaneohe side street should be moved or picked up before a full day passes. The county's free junk program and a sale are both ways to do that.

A car left on a Kaneohe street

State law adds more. Under HRS 290-1 the county must take an abandoned vehicle into custody within ten business days. If no county ordinance sets a different rule, a car is abandoned when it sits unattended over a day and is illegally parked on public property, a highway shoulder, a setback or an easement. HRS 290-8 lets the county deem a car derelict when a part has been removed or damage has made it inoperable and one of the statute's listed conditions exists.

Under HRS 290-2, after a Kaneohe car is hauled off, the county sends a certified or registered letter to its legal and registered owner. The notice counts as received five days after mailing, and the car can be disposed of if nobody reclaims it within ten days of mailing. HRS 290-3 then allows a public auction after one newspaper advertisement. Anyone can report a suspected abandoned car online or at (808) 768-2530.

Where Kaneohe titles get handled

Kaneohe sellers deal with the City and County of Honolulu, because Hawaii has no state DMV. Its Department of Customer Services books title work through AlohaQ. We checked the 1041 Nuuanu Ave. Ste. A location, (808) 768-4325, which lies about 8 miles southwest of central Kaneohe as the crow flies. Other locations may exist.

Hawaii title and plate rules

• On the title's front, complete Section A: mileage (required for 2011 and later models), the date, your printed name and signature. Every joint owner signs. A notary is optional.
• Three papers go to the buyer: the signed title, the newest registration certificate, and a safety inspection certificate that is still current.
• Tear off the Kaneohe title's "Notice of Transfer" (CS-L(MVR)53) and file it within 10 days. Skip it and you risk a fine as high as $100. Keep a copy, since it records the car, the new owner and the date.
• Veteran plates must be swapped for regular plates before the county records the transfer.

Lost the title? A duplicate on Oahu is $10; see junk car with no title. The after you sell guide covers the final steps.

Towns around Kaneohe

Kailua is 3.6 miles off and Urban Honolulu 7.0. East Honolulu sits 9.5 miles away and Pearl City 10.8. See the Hawaii page for statewide rules.

Getting an offer

Ring (877) 421-6008 or fill in the form. The form asks a few short questions about your Kaneohe car. We reach the car in a Kokokahi Ridge carport, on a Kaneohe side street, or at a repair shop where the fix stalled.