Selling a dead or junk car in Gary

When the dead car is on someone else's property

Gary covers 49.932 square miles. State law gives whoever owns the land under a dead car two ways to clear it:

• ask a police officer to haul away a car they believe is abandoned, or
• have the officer tag it, and if it is still there once the tag has been on a full day, call a tow.

So a car that quit in a friend's driveway or a store lot in Gary is on a short leash, and the call may not be yours. Ask the owner of that land for a few days while you sell it, in writing if you can.

Cars left on public property

State law also calls a car abandoned when the engine, transmission or differential has been removed, or it is "otherwise partially dismantled or inoperable and left on public property." A car stripped for parts at the curb is in that group. Our guide to a car that doesn't run covers what to do before it reaches that point.

Emissions in Lake County

IDEM runs emissions testing only in Lake and Porter counties, and says the program exists to cut ozone pollution in Northwest Indiana. Gary is in Lake County, so a Gary car falls inside the testing area.

The title, at a state BMV branch

Titles in Indiana are a state job, handled at BMV branches, kiosks and partial-service partners. A branch we checked is in Crown Point, at 1244 North Main Street, around 11 miles south of central Gary as the crow flies (888-692-6841).

Each Gary seller listed on the title must "sign and print their names in the seller section," then complete the odometer statement, sale date, price and purchaser lines. From then, a Gary buyer has 45 days to seek a new title, registration and plate.

Lost the title? Order a duplicate on State Form 205 with photo ID, for $15.00, or $40 with the $25 speed option, online at myBMV.com or in person. Once it is issued, the old one is void, so never hand an old copy to anyone. More in junk car with no title.

Plates come off first

Indiana's BMV FAQ stresses unbolting the plates before a sale. They stay with the Gary seller, returning them to the BMV is not required, and they can move to a car you already own.

Close by

Hobart and Highland are each about 6.5 miles from Gary as the crow flies, and East Chicago about 6.8. Statewide rules are on the Indiana page.

Getting an offer

Call (877) 421-6008 or use the offer form. Mention who owns the Gary lot and any duplicate title need. The truck can come downtown near the South Shore station, to a side street, or to the lot where it quit.